Thank You Jon B

[KyViper]

I just recently purchased a 97 BW GTS. After talking with Jon, I purchased new tires, Door spring kit and the Pwr steering Pulley and Mount. After Installing Tires, Spring Kit and all fluids/filters I got to the Pulley. Original Pulley looked good on the car but once removed it had a crack all the way thru from the hub center to the outer edge and I would guess fail soon.
It is what Jon says, It not a question of if, it is a question of when.
Thanks a bunch to Jon.
P.S. the 97 has 17K miles.

 

[Steve-Indy]

Congrats on your new Viper...and, upgrades! Hope to see you at a Spring C&C !!

 

[ViperJeff]

Congrats.....

 

[steve e]

Congrats on your Viper, Jon is the guy for your Viper needs, My 99 GTS has 3000 miles and the pulley had stress cracks, and the bracket is a repair waiting to happen.

 

[Steve-Indy]

You guys were smart to check...and replace. There have been many folks stranded when pulley or bracket fails. JonB knows Vipers !!!

 

[denniskgb]

Congrats on your Viper, Jon is the guy for your Viper needs, My 99 GTS has 3000 miles and the pulley had stress cracks, and the bracket is a repair waiting to happen.

Do not worry about the pulley on your viper, you don't drive it

 

[Free2go]

I had my power steering pulley bust into three pieces, but luckily I was only a block from my house when it happened. If it weren't for the enormous strength I have in my hands and arms, I might not have been able to drive it back to the house. JonB fixed me up with the billet cut stuff and I was good to go. I also received extra trinkets and doodads with my order, which means a lot to me.

 

[Edward 96GTS]

quick review of subject matter to me as ive not heard this before. why does both pulley and bracket fail?

 

[Peter K.]

+1
I have a squeal and have determined it is not the belt on my 92. I have mech stethoscope and was going to listen to what's going on.

 

[Free2go]

quick review of subject matter to me as ive not heard this before. why does both pulley and bracket fail?

The pulley is made of plastic, and I'm positive the bracket is made from pottery clay.

 

[denniskgb]

The pulley is made of plastic, and I'm positive the bracket is made from pottery clay.

When i had my pulley off the car to be replaced by IPSCO bracket and pulley, i could not believe how fragile that thing was. Almost thinking to myself that dodge just really "dodged" it big time.

 

[AZTVR]

quick review of subject matter to me as ive not heard this before. why does both pulley and bracket fail?

The PS pulley on the '96-'02 is a plastic material- looks like bakelite. ('92-'95 are steel, I believe)

You can bet on it having stress fractures. I replaced mine just because of numerous posts on this forum, and after talking with a guy holding a broken one in his hand at a Viper Days event. I found mine to be fractured also. I replaced the bracket because it was easy and cheap to do at the same time. I think that most those *** metal bracket failures occur on supercharged cars though. But maybe that is just accelerating the inevitable. JonB at Viperpartsrack sells very nice billet replacements.
My fractured pulley:

_________________________________________________
Jim – ‘02 GTS ACR gray/silver -- sold – ( enthusiastic custodian for 8 years )

 

[Edward 96GTS]

easy diy for the non viper tech owners?

 

[AZTVR]

easy diy for the non viper tech owners?

It depends on your mechanical aptitude. There is a specific style puller that works best. The style shown in the service manual is not as good as some other styles available at O'Reilley's loaner tools and elsewhere. Some people can pull the old pulley with the pump mounted, others remove the pump to the work bench, and others end up having to cut the pulley off the shaft. The service manual shows how to remove the pump and pulley.

There is a DIY on this forum; but, it is in the members only section. There are some good DIY photos elsewhere on the internet and many threads here and elsewhere. Google the following words:---- power steering pulley puller viper ----;and, you will find relevant threads and also images from a DIY post.

 

[Free2go]

This is the one I bought. Worked like a charm removing the pulley. The lower bolt on the pulley bracket was a ***** if I remember correctly.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[AZTVR]

This is the one I bought. Worked like a charm removing the pulley. The lower bolt on the pulley bracket was a ***** if I remember correctly.

You must be registered for see images attach

That's definitely the type that several people have posted worked well, and it looks like a much better design. I rented the type shown in the service manual (kind of like a specialized 2-jaw puller) and it sucked. It wanted to slip off. Sure, it was probably not as high quality as the factory tool; but, the one you show looks like its's design would make it more difficult to slip out of place.

 

[Free2go]

The first one I bought (pictured here) was a massive piece of $hit. Got it from Harbor Freight. The good one (pictured above) was a loaner from AutoZone that they let me purchase for $25 bucks.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Sybil TF]

The first one I bought (pictured here) was a massive piece of $hit. Got it from Harbor Freight. The good one (pictured above) was a loaner from AutoZone that they let me purchase for $25 bucks.

You must be registered for see images attach

Yep not the correct puller. The second one you got is also the one I got the first time after research.