Plastic Pulley issues

[wicsmithb2300]

Its been a while since I've been on the forum but if anyone can help I know its you guys.

Here is my issue. I have a 94 Mazda B2300 Manual Transmission and No power steering. Where the Power steering pump would be is a plastic pulley. This worked fine till about a year and a half ago when it developed a wobble and I replaced it. Now here it is less then two years later and the wobble has returned. The wobble creates a clicking/klacking sound that is quite loud and irritating.

My question is when I acquire a replacement pulley is their something that needs to be done to prevent it from wearing out in two years? Or is their a metal option I couldn't find the last time I hunted this part down.

thanks.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

im looking at a belt diagram for a 2.3 without power steering, and it doesnt show an idler pulley in place of the power steering pump. i wonder if a previous owner removed the power steering and installed an idler in its place.

if it were me, id ditch that idler and get a belt for a non-power steering truck.

 

[wicsmithb2300]

Drove it from the lot with 45 Miles on the odometer February of 95 so no previous owner. Seems like last time I bought a belt though there was no option for one without power steering. I'll be more determined next time I go about finding one however.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

if there is no listing at your local parts store for a non-power steering truck, you can use a string to measure the length of belt you need, then your parts guys should be able to hook you up with one of the right length to bypass the idler.

 

[tomw]

I think it wobbles because the bearings are failing. Take it off and inspect the bearings for looseness, and dryness. You might be able to replace the bearings without replacing the pulley. It should likely be lubricated for life, but you may be able to squeeze in some llube using your fingers to push it past the bearing seals. You are not getting what I would call regular longevity from the idler pulley. It should last for a long time. Are you putting too much tension on the belt?

tom

 

[wicsmithb2300]

That's one of the issues with this pulley. Its plastic and rotates around a bolt. No bearings of any sort.

 

[Bryan22]

you'd be best doing like wick said and just doing away with the pulley and going with a shorter belt...

 

[wicsmithb2300]

sounds like it. But I'll have to find another pulley. In the diagram that Wicked_Sludge posted (which I can no longer see) showed a small pulley above the power steering pulley location. I don't have that pulley so I'll need to find that and find out if I have a mounting bracket there. Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get a closer look at it during some daylight hours.

 

[Bryan22]

why? I don't understand why you want to keep an extra idler on your truck so badly....

 

[Earl43P]

Any AP store worth a darn (NAPA) will match that diameter pulley and find you a metal replacement. Take it into the store with you. I can't imagine a pulley without a bearing, but I do know that some aftermarket tensioners come with a plastic pulley. Its bearing isn't replaceable like a metal pulley's is because of a lip molding.

As far as the diagrams posted above, they don't look like a sepentine setup, which is surely what he has in his 94.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

earl is right as far as the diagram i posted. i got it from autozones website, its supposed to be for a '94 2.3, but looking in my haynes manual, i dont think thats the right diagram.

your '94 should have one belt. if your truck has A/C, i think your going to have to keep the idler thats in place of the power steering. if you dont have a/c, you should be able to bypass the power steering idler, and the second idler just to the left (when looking at the front of the engine) of it.

found the right diagram:

if you have a/c (#5), youll have to keep the idler. if you dont have a/c, you should be able to bypass both idlers (positions 1 and 4).

 

[illumastorm]

i have a 94 , 2.3, no power steering or air, i just replaced my belt, got it at auto zone for around $12. it measures 43.5". the little pic in wicked sludges post (the small top left) thats how mine is routed.

 

[wicsmithb2300]

OK some updated info. My truck was purchased from the dealer without air or power steering. Before leaving the lot the Dealer installed AC. Ford no longer has available the kit that was used to install the AC. In the AC kit for vehicles lacking power steering was an idler pulley and an aluminum bushing for the idler pulley. After looking at the issue in more detail I do not believe its the plastic pulley that is the issue its actually the aluminum bushing that the idler pulley rides on. The bushing is cast aluminum and has an extension that fits into the center opening of the pulley. The Aluminum bushing has a whole threw the center that is threaded metric 10x 1.5 that a bolt goes through to hold on the pulley and the bushing to the engine where the power steering pump would be.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

so the issue is the idler pulley that takes place of the power steering pump.

there are lots of aftermarket places that make idler pulleys for people that wish to delete their A/C. i would look into getting one of those pulleys and replacing the dealer installed power steering/idler. if you can find a decent steel bracket with a pulley that has an actual bearing in it, it sounds like it may sold the problem.

 

[ZYTHUM13]

Had the same problem but found the pulley. Ford dealers carry the pulley they dont have it registered as a idley pulley but a powersteering pulley...wish I had the part # for you....but anyways they updated the plastic pulley to a metal pulley.