nicks88

Ok, so I am changing the belts in my 1996 ES300, and I cant for the life of me find where the pivot bolt is on the PS pump. Any suggestions, or idea on how I can find this, and then loosen it to get my belt off? thanks in advance

KLF

It's hard to describe, but it's sorta below and to the right of the pump (IIRC), very difficult to reach. I believe I used a stubby Gearwrench.

Getting the new belt tight is even more fun.

nine3es

iTrader: (3)

whut he said ^

remove the right front wheel, then the inner wheel liner. get a drop light and look up in there. much easier if you have a lift, but can be done in the driveway with a jack and jackstands. be safe!

renatodato

If I'm understanding you correctly, there is no pivot bolt to relieve the belt to remove it. Just get a long pry bar and pivot the belt in the loosening direction. First, remove the 12mm bolt right in front where it's slotted. Don't remove the bolt all the way yet as you can use this bolt as a fulcrum to loosen the belt. You might need to hammer it to get it to budge, but it will pivot.

mooseboy84

I would like to bump this. Im having a horrible time trying to get the PS belt back on.

I could not get the PS pump to pivot when taking it off, and ultimately just backed off the crank pulley and it came off. Now, I cant get the belt to go on.

I have tried playing with this thing for nearly 2 hours prying on the top of it but its frozen and its not budging. Does anyone have tips or exactly where to pry to get max leverage so I can get the PS belt on?

LeX2K

Put the belt back on, and squeeze the belt together, it should move the pump. This is assuming you have loosened the correct bolt, follow what renatodato posted.

mooseboy84

Thanks for the help. I figured it out earlier today and took some pictures.

For those who are not the most mechanically inclined, I took shots for people in the future so they can know where to pry to tighten and loosen.

This is a shot of the belt with the pivot/adjusting bolt off. You could probably leave it on, but its easier to pry if you take it off.

This is a reference shot.


To take the belt OFF, you need to pry UPWARD here I have the arrow pointing. Its just under the little tab area of the PS pump, behind where the adjusting bolt is. Rest the pry bar on the outer cv axle and pry up hard so it will squeeze the power steering pump close to the engine enough so you can slip the belt off.




Lastly, to adjust the PS belt, you need to pry where I have it pointed here. You slip the pry bar under the rear bank of engine where that little nudge hangs down, this will push the PS belt further down, and this is also how you tighten the belt on the car.



It actually sucks, because you cant adjust PS belt while car is running [unless youre a major risk taker] so you have turn it off, pry down a little, turning steering wheel to lock out and see if squeels and back off/pry more.

schan1w

Nice info! I just wanted to add a few tips as well since I did this a while back:

1) It is possible to do this without taking off the right front wheel. Just turn it all the way to the right to expose the wheel well. There's just enough space to squeeze in there and do this without the safety issue of getting under there to pry while the car is on jack stands.

2) DO NOT PRY TOO MUCH. If you pry too much, you loose the gap that is needed along the track for leverage. I could barely get a screw driver in there after prying. If I lost the gap, I could not get a screw driver in and I'd be hosed as I have no way to pry.

renatodato

Excellent pictures,Mooseboy. Yes, correct belt tension is trial and error.

mooseboy84

To do this, you cant use a screwdriver. Well, maybe a really big screwdriver. I used my 24" pry bar, which basically is a giant flathead screwdriver, lol. If youre working on this car or any car, a large prybar is necessary.

Its a good tool you can do alot of things with. You can get a 24" prybar for around $20-25. Probably for $10 if you go to a flee market or garage sale.

PeeWee43

can someone please send pictures on how to put this ps belt back on please 1996 lexus es300

PeeWee43

were are the pictures