Is mine broken? It seems as if it is stripped or something... (will not "tighten" down...) what is the point of the bolt in reality, and doesn't the other 3 bolts really keep the pump in place?

Need some education on this one.

Thanks,
GD

Same point as the tensioning bolt on the alternator. An anal German engineer calculated one day that there was about a 2% increase in likelihood of the correct tension remaining on the belt with an adjusting bolt than without. So, MB put it on.
Check your sentiments about that engineer when your stretched out alternator belt breaks and you have to turn the fine threaded bolt an eighth of a turn at a time, all the way in to get the new belt on, then turn it back out again to tension it.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Ok, so you're saying I should stress over it?

Gotta diesel,

The internal nut on the power steering pump is made of plastic and can be stripped if one doesn't know that. I've accomplished the stripping on one of mine and since I've power tools, I just made myself one of steel and never regreted the time spent.

Alternatively, it's the dealer for a new one or the junkyard.

Good luck
Ben

www.reproduce100s.com

__________________
www.reproduce100s.com

Ridge,

If the three bolts are keeping the pump in place, what's the point of that bolt? Or, in other words, am I ok to drive it like this? I can easily make the part with nut core and tap...

I just want to know if it's something that I should deal with right now or not a big deal.

Thanks,

GD

gotta Diesel,

Shouldn't be a problem as long as you can get enough tension on the belt so you have power steering.

Ben
www.reproduce100s.com

__________________
www.reproduce100s.com

Yup, plenty of tension on the belt -- one more question. Will this cause the belt to loosen prematurely or is it something that once those other three are tightened down, that's that?

Thanks again.

It's not to hold a properly tensioned belt in place but rather a method to get the proper tension on the belt. The benefit is that you don't need to pry against anything while you tighten the retaining bolts and the adjustment can be more exact.

Don

__________________
1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it

Got it! Thanks!