Power Steering Pump Bracket Woes

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

I had a '65 300 that I loaned to a friend for a few months (56,000 original 
documented miles). It had this "crocked power steering pump bracket syndrome". 
It is okay for the pump to be tilted, but the pulley is suppose to be nearly 
parallel to the block. The pulley on this car was slightly pointed toward the 
water pump.

I knew that the car was like that, and did nothing about it. One day during a 
difficult parking maneuver, the belt came off and got tangled up in several 
other accessories, the pump was damaged, the bracket bent like pretzel, the fan 
was damaged, and the radiator was punctured. I spent a lot of money fixing that 
car. I could have avoided the entire incident if I had taken care of that 
bracket. The reason I didn't is that I knew those brackets could be difficult, 
and I didn't want to mess with it.

My friend wasn't a car nut, but he really didn't do anything that much out of 
the ordinary. I would say if you see a problem like that on your car and don't 
do anything about it, you are asking for trouble. Sometimes nothing will happen 
for years, but there is a chance that it can pop and all "heck" breaks loose.

Paul

In a message dated 6/1/2004 12:50:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
jsadowski@xxxxxxx writes:

> This is a common problem on the early 60's Imps. I've found that the worst 
>that usually happens is the belt sometimes squeals & or wears faster then 
>normal. Al long as I was able to tighten enough to keep good belt tension, I 
>didn't worry about it. I had that 63 for 15 years.
> John
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: RandalPark@xxxxxxx 
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 6:40 AM
> Subject: Re: IML: Power Steering Pump Bracket Woes
> 
> 
> You should replace the bracket. I am sure that one of the parts sources on 
>the list can supply a good used one. Changing the bracket takes about two 
>hours, and isn't that difficult. Someday your situation could blow up when you 
>least expect it, and the consequences more expensive to correct.
> 
> Paul
> 
> In a message dated 6/1/2004 6:26:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time, TOMGLOZANNIS 
>writes:
> 
> > I also have the same condition on my 62 4drHT Crown Imp.  The pulley top 
>points toward the radiator and the bottom into the engine.  I keep looking at 
>it and trying to figure out how to correct it.  I drive the 62 a lot and it 
>doesn't seem to get any worst.  The pulley doesn't wobble, it just off 
> > center.
> > Tom Z
> 
>