Power Steering pulley Failure

[BLRDViper]

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I am with Daveg. I pulled the pump and replaced the pulley on the Bench. This also helped with replacing the mount bracket also.
My old back could not take slipping in under the hood and over the fender for any prolonged time.
Also, since I did this when I purchased the 1997 Viper I went ahead and flushed and replaced the old fluid.
Like others have said, not that tough of a job.
BLRD

[Fatboy 18]

Here's a couple of pics of the puller set I purchased on eBay
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[Fatboy 18]

Might be worth reaching out to other local club members to see if they will loan you a puller set or you might be able to rent one from a local Auto zone or NAPA store

[Boosted Motorsports]

Might be worth reaching out to other local club members to see if they will loan you a puller set or you might be able to rent one from a local Auto zone or NAPA store

Autozone rents it. I show the part # of their tool I rented in my vid

[Viper98]

Rented from O

[Viperenvy]

Autozone rents it. I show the part # of their tool I rented in my vid

27031

Worth watching Boosted Videos - very instructive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeXoK_JeTZg

[lane_viper]

So question, What replacement pulley are you guys using?

I know there is a billet Aluminum one out there but they seem pricey.

Found one on Rockauto that is all steel I might try. It's $10

I took the risk and bought this pulley.

It indeed is all steel and is the correct part. I installed the pulley with a new PS pump, and a new belt last weekend.

Pulley is $11.53

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...mp+pulley,7381

Finally an upgraded part that doesn't cost a bundle.

[Steve-Indy]

As several have suggested replacing the bracket as well, I am interested to hear about your decision to keep the OEM bracket which also has a history of failure.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

As several have suggested replacing the bracket as well, I am interested to hear about your decision to keep the OEM bracket which also has a history of failure.

What He Said.

Otherwise probably a good score......It appears COST was the prime motive....But Id be paying attention the shoulders of the serpentine belt on the $12 pulley!

[Racngrn]

Watched Boosted's video, bought a Harbor Freight Pulley puller ( not the best, but got the job done) and did it on the car. Aside from working up front under the hood, its a simple job. Follow the instructions to the T. The IPSCO pulley and bracket are the very best solution. Not pricey and a one and done. Wish I had done the hoses as well. Next year.

[M5toViper]

For the 3 bolts

[lane_viper]

What He Said.

Otherwise probably a good score......It appears COST was the prime motive....But Id be paying attention the shoulders of the serpentine belt on the $12 pulley!

FYI, I replace the bracket earlier this year with the billet one from Roe. Long story short, PS bolt broke when I replaced the timing cover gasket. It had seized in the OEM bracket. In comparing the OEM plastic pulley to the $12 Metal one, Dimensions seem identical in every way.

[Darth Menace]

Good snag! It is always good to save some money where we can. I have cross-referenced/found some universal pieces that worked for me as well. Thanks for sharing

[Fatboy 18]

FYI, I replace the bracket earlier this year with the billet one from Roe. Long story short, PS bolt broke when I replaced the timing cover gasket. It had seized in the OEM bracket. In comparing the OEM plastic pulley to the $12 Metal one, Dimensions seem identical in every way.

Interested to know how the install went with the all steel pulley? Using the IPSCO aluminum one, the pulley mount sleeves on, then when you mount the actual pulley wheel, that tightens down on the pump shaft.

How hard was it to press the new steel pulley onto the pump shaft?

[lane_viper]

Interested to know how the install went with the all steel pulley? Using the IPSCO aluminum one, the pulley mount sleeves on, then when you mount the actual pulley wheel, that tightens down on the pump shaft.

How hard was it to press the new steel pulley onto the pump shaft?

I used the same tool (Autozone Rental) one uses to "press" the plastic pulley as the metal one. I put a dab of grease to lube it to make it easier. I would say it was about the same difficulty as the plastic one. I noticed on my old plastic one, the middle section was metal also. Once it was on, it was firm and tight, and seems to be working well.

[Fatboy 18]

Great thanks, I will order one of these as a spare for the cheapskates in our club that Still have not bothered to swap out their pulleys

[lane_viper]

Great thanks, I will order one of these as a spare for the cheapskates in our club that Still have not bothered to swap out their pulleys

You're a great club member! Thats a really nice gesture.

[GTS Dean]

Mine broke at the track and I replaced it with a $15 OEM item I picked up at the local parts counter. I'm good for another 18 years. Why is it that those of us that decide not to spend $100 instead of $15 are berated?

[AZTVR]

Why is it that those of us that decide not to spend $100 instead of $15 are berated?

I didn't interpret any posts that way. One post above about watching out for belt edges appeared to me to be either about something known about the aftermarket steel reproduction by Cardone possibly being not the correct width, or it might have been about the use of an OEM Gen 1 style steel pulley on a Gen 2. Detail was certainly missing.

This is the first that I have read of a steel pulley being made to fit Gen 2. Back when I replaced my cracked 2002 plastic PS pulley, I decided to use the Roe Racing option of a Gen 1 OEM steel pulley. Roe also included a set of spacers for the pump mounting points in order to move the pulley farther forward so it was in the location that the Gen 2 pulley would be in. Apparently the Gen 1 & Gen 2 pulleys have different offsets.

From the post above, it sounds like the new Cardone pulley is made for the Gen 2 application. I wonder how long it has been available ?

[Fatboy 18]

Here's the Problem.....This is Just one instance....Few years ago the UK Organised an hosted a Viper Owners Europe event. The first evening went well, then day 2 of the tour one of the members cars had the power steering pulley Bracket failure, this was on a 4 lane motorway, so I pulled over to give assistance as I normally carry tools to help Viper owners out in such events, but in this case all I could do was to get his car recovered home for him.

So it cost the group time and delay and I then had to get up to the Hotel to host our European friends. I personally Know of 3 Pulley failures and 1 Bracket failure that caused the pulley to crack.

So basically not Upgrading to a stronger pulley and bracket means you are pontenty driving a ticking time bomb, and when it does fail (normally at a very inconvenient moment) You may inconvenience others as well as yourself.