My 1986 240 has A/C, so the power steering is driven off one of the dual pulleys on the A/C.

I was getting a lot of noise off the P/S belt, and someone pointed out that the belt seemed to be riding too low. Another clue is that the bottom of the pulley groove is polished, from the belt riding on the bottom. The belt on the other A/C pulley (to the main crank pulley) is wider, and seems to ride at the correct height. I checked with several outlets, and all seem to quote a 13mm wide belt for the crank to A/C, and a 10mm wide belt for the A/C to P/S.

Does anyone know if the P/S belt is supposed to be 13mm wide, and if there's an online source that quotes such a belt for the P/S?

The belts are supposed to be:

2- 10X920 for alternator/waterpump
1- 13x975 for AC drive
1- 10x850 for AC to PS pulley

FCP Groton lists the correct Volvo part numbers on their website.
www.fcpgroton.com/volvo.htm

You could have a problem with the belts running off center too due to worn out "accessory bushings". That's what the PS pump is mounted to on the engine brackets. They wear into ovals in the direction of the pull of belt tension and then you can't get proper tension on the belts.
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: "Roterande Fläkt Och Drivremmar!"

Just this one time, get a new belt from a Volvo dealer. The belt for the B230 engine is a 850mm long, for the B23 engine it is 1075 mm. There is a belt listed for the B23 without a/c that is 938 mm. You may have the wrong belt, although the difference is great enough to seem pretty obvious.

As I recall, the belt width and angles are the same for the ps drive and the a/c drive. The sheaves on the compressor are exactly the same, aren't they?

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)