Removing power steering belt on W126?
 

I have to drive my 85' to the shop tomorrow to have the PS leak checked out, but I will have to do so with the PS belt removed, because of the massive leak... no fluid in the pump and I do not want to burn the pump out. The shop is only about 4 miles away and is mostly all straight 4-lane highway.

So, can anyone tell me the procedures of removing the belt, without me having to cut it? Which I will do if I am forced.

BTW- my regular shop said they would not even "touch" a steering system on a Mercedes.... my gosh.

Now I have to take it to another guy that mostly works on Volvos and BMWs. Hopefully he will know what is going on here.


Thanks

If you remove those belts you will loose your water pump and cooling fan. Good chance you will never make it to the shop before it overheats. The PS pumps can operate for a short while without fluid. They are vane type pumps and although they quit pumping without fluid there is always some residual oil that stays in the pump. I would carry a bottle of fluid with you and every mile or two put a little in the pump just to keep it "wet" inside. You should be ok for the short distance you need to go.

In addition to pouring a little fluid in every couple of miles, I recommend staying out of the throttle and allowing the tranny to shift early. Try to keep the engine RPMs as low as possible which will also keep the RPMs on the power steering pump as low as possible.

Thanks for those tips.... I found that out today when I went out to see what was going on underthere.... this is the first chance I have had to come here today.

Anyway, yeah, I discovered that removing the PS beltS, also meant NO waterpump. :rolleyes: I called the man that I said I was going to call (that works on an array of European cars) and he said I should be OK driving it over the 4 miles to his shop w/o fluid in the pump. I did not even stop to add any (because I could not find what I had in the garage and I had to go right then- so I chanced it). Yeah, when going downhill, I would put it in "neutral" to lower the RPMS. I even had to drive the car back the 4 miles, because there was no room there on the lot for my car, except on the edge of the road and I did not want my windshield smashed.

Anyway, he said that he would replace the seal (he knew which it was) for $30-$40. Now, I just have to order it... now, on to my other thread....

Thanks again!