You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

Last week I had to have the car flatbedded back to CT from NYC (good thing I have AAA plus). The idler pulley for the power steering and alternator belt had frozen up, which of course wore through the belt and there you go. It was very cold and at night, so the already weak battery drained and the car was really hard to steer.

Long story short, it might be a good idea to check and see if the pulley is still able to spin freely. New ones are available from Mother Subaru for about $50.

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

And the bearing can be replaced pretty easily for about $10.

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

I wondered if the bearing was easily available, but the pulley itself had melted belt on it, and it was a lot easier to just order it.

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

Unless you're a real mechanic you're better off just ordering the pulley as its a sealed bearing and you need special tools to get it out, and as cheap as they are its worth it for the work it saves you. No need to tow though. I drove my car from one end of the island here to the other without a belt. I heard a loud snap under the hood and instantly pulled over. I popped the hood and one little chunk of my belt was laying on top of the engine. Luckily since it was immediate and I still had full battery I just shut off my radio and unplugged my ipod and drove home. Even had enough battery the next day to drive to the parts store for another belt :) Also as far as losing power steering a lot of people try to drive slow but its actually a lot easier to steer the faster you go. I'm a petite chick and had to go through several hairpin turns and still made it home no problem! :D

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

Snap ring pliers, a hammer, a proper sized socket to punch the bearing out and a vice to press the new one in? Not exactly super expensive specialty tools.

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

lol well I don't have snap ring pliers so that makes them fancy :lol:

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

:lol: Understood, I know the feeling.

"Oh, that's a cool tool. What's it for?......Seriously?! I NEEDED that last week!!!"

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

I just changed mine a few weeks ago when my alternator went out. The bearing was pretty worn out and IIRC it appeared that the pulley was riveted together and you needed to take it apart to get the bearing out? I didn't bother messing with all that and just ordered a new pulley. Maybe I just looked at it wrong though lol

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

Where can one obtain the bearing? Mine is noisy and I'd like to avoid buying the whole stupid pulley. My car sounds like it has a Jackson gear drive on it at the moment! :lol::lol:

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

https://www.chaplinssubarugenuinepar...parts_cat.html

After you enter your year/make/model, go to:
steering gear and linkage-->pump and hoses-->idler pulley-->bearing

Took me a long time to find it on the site, especially since I was changing the alternator and so I kept looking for alternator tensioner/idler pulley. :lol: I ordered the pulley assembly, but it appears the bearing is only $4.31 if you wanna give that a shot.

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

I got mine here
http://www.amazon.com/SKF-35-Seals-B...dp/B000MNC68Y/

But it looks like Coan's link has a much better price.


These are an easy swap. No need to buy the whole pulley.

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

Man, Amazon sells everything... I bought mine from a local bearing store. They cross referenced the number on the old one, measured it, and set me up right away.

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

if you know the bearing number you can buy it at Napa/CarQuest/Autozone etc. pretty much anywhere

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

Just wanted to give an update on this. I was digging through the garage today and found the pulley I pulled off for this. As I originally thought, mine is in fact riveted together, and you cannot get the bearing out without drilling out the rivets which is why I bought an entire pulley. I'm guessing they must have changed at one point, mine is a '97 so perhaps other '97's have this pulley too. Just want others to be aware of this in case they run into the same thing. I can take pics if anyone is that interested to see...

Re: You might want to check the alternator/pwr steering idler pulley
 

I'm interested in pics of this. Curious to see how they riveted a bearing in place.