power steering belt

Merry Christmas folks.

While driving on a long strip of road yesterday in my Vette I was being pushed by a Nissan sportscar. I decided to let him chase me so I opened her up. I was leaving him but his persuit was on, last check of my speed was 120 mph and he was not far behind. As we were heading into a long open curve my Vette took a quick jolt and I almost swear I left the ground. After braking and getting control (and almost putting a stripe in my undies) we were both slowing, he had dropped a ways back. As I was pulling off the road I noticed I had lost power steering. I looked under the hood and the power sreering belt was gone.

Now my question, could losing that belt cause that kind of ACTION from my car???? It was really scary and I took pause to thank God that I was O.K. and for granting  me another Christmas. HELP PLEASE, again MERRY CHRISTMAS. Thanks, Gene gs77vet2008-12-25 12:00:14

No, If the belt was in good condition and pulleys properly lined up, the speed would not have been a factor.   I guessing there was a weak spot in the belt.

Gene..........stripe in your undies..........you were lucky the badge didn't haul you in................I know a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do.......it's in our genes(DNA)............good luck to ya!

I thnk the stripe was also in his jeans!

I think you were asking if losing a belt could cause the almost loss of control.  Ordinarily, you would just lose pressure to boost the steering, but the belt could have hit something, causing a quick twitch, or the fact you were in a turn could have an effect, which is all it takes at high speed.

You were lucky.  I am sure none of the rest of us have done any of that high speed stuff!

Larry

I think my other brother Larry has the right assesment here. Shucks in all of the excitement ya might a hit some road debrie or pavement blemish.

Either way looks like you will be installing a new belt. Doing a pully inspection. And have a great story to tell about the one who got away.

Glad your okay Chuck.

[QUOTE=gs77vet]

I forgot to tell you that after I replaced the belt and inspected the pulley that the pulley does not line up correctly. I'm thinking that the pulley brace might be replaced or maybe adding some shims might line it up, any suggestions?

I did not buy this car for speed, I've been there. I hope I might have LEARNED some kind of lesson. Gene[/QUOTE] Use a straight edge to get the alignments correct.......yes use shim spacers to achieve this. Belts out of alignment at high RPMs do fly off...good luck!

Now, once you get the belt situation taken care of......
Don't go racing on public roads anymore!!!

Shame on you!!!


Glad you weren't hurt...

They are CORVETTES after all... 

I had the same problem, except mine chose to exit the vehicle with any left turn.  It appears that this brought the pulley in contact with the frame crossmember.  I went to the local Auto Zone and got the Power Steering Pulley Puller kit (they loan them out, what a concept).  Using the straightedge mentioned above, I had to push the pulley in, went too far and had to pull it back out. 

Fortunately the tool kit comes with both the inney pusher and the outey puller.

Takes about an hour if your hands and arms aren't too big to get inside the shroud area.

Good Luck!

Nothing wrong with being able to define and know the limits of your vehicle should the need ever arise to have to call on it!