Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

1987 Cherokee Serpentine Belt Squeal

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-09-2020, 08:35 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Don X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 66
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 - Renix
Default 1987 Cherokee Serpentine Belt Squeal

I'm trying to fix a belt squeal. I loosened the power steering pump bolts, 3 on the front and 2 on the rear. Tightened the belt and squeal goes away but after tightening the power steering pump bolts it starts squealing again. I'm assuming the pump is out of alignment but to my untrained eye it looks okay.

Is that the likely problem? If so, how do I correct it?
Old 05-09-2020, 09:02 PM
  #2  
CF Veteran
 
BlueRidgeMark's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Posts: 7,964
Received 952 Likes on 767 Posts
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Are you sure it's a belt squeal, Don? Maybe some work with a mechanic's stethoscope would be helpful.

Old 05-09-2020, 09:50 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Don X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 66
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 - Renix
Default

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMark
Are you sure it's a belt squeal, Don? Maybe some work with a mechanic's stethoscope would be helpful.
yes. When I squirt water on the belt it clears right up.
Old 05-09-2020, 10:32 PM
  #4  
CF Veteran
 
lawsoncl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 3,912
Received 1,080 Likes on 865 Posts
Year: 1989
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Get a belt tension gauge and set the belt tension to 180 lbs. The Kriket-II is around $11 at NAPA.
Old 05-09-2020, 11:31 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Don X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 66
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 - Renix
Default

Originally Posted by lawsoncl
Get a belt tension gauge and set the belt tension to 180 lbs. The Kriket-II is around $11 at NAPA.
it appears to be an alignment problem. Not tension.
Old 05-10-2020, 03:08 AM
  #6  
awg
CF Veteran
 
awg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,240
Received 613 Likes on 521 Posts
Year: 96
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Don X
it appears to be an alignment problem. Not tension.
have you observed the harmonic balancer from directly above with the engine running?..it was obvious mine needed replacing

my year model can have idler pulley bearing issues too
Old 05-10-2020, 05:04 AM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Don X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 66
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 - Renix
Default

I appreciate everyone's advice but read my OP a little closer. The squeal is not there when the power steering pump bracket bolts are loose. It comes back when the bolts are tightened back up so the problem is connected to the power steering pump alignment.

How do I adjust the power steering pump alignment?
Old 05-10-2020, 07:00 AM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
Cummins93's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Northern CT
Posts: 1,198
Received 150 Likes on 127 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Turbo 4.0
Default

Amazon Amazon

Need to know if you have an alignment issue first.
The following users liked this post:
country2 (05-10-2020)
Old 05-10-2020, 09:28 AM
  #9  
::CF Moderator::
 
cruiser54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,925
Received 1,532 Likes on 1,243 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

You could have an alignment issue if the harmonic balancer is starting to come apart.
The is no adjustment for power steering pump alignment.


The following users liked this post:
Don X (05-10-2020)
Old 05-10-2020, 10:38 AM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Don X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 66
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 - Renix
Default

I "think" I found the problem. The threaded part of the PS pump bracket that the adjustment screw goes through broke so it can't hold the tension in place. Looks like it's cast iron. The bracket is held on by only 2 bolts so taking it off with the exception of figuring out how the bolt at the bottom that the pump pivots on comes out. Off to search the manual.
Old 05-10-2020, 11:28 AM
  #11  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Don X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 66
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 - Renix
Default

Here is the part that broke. I don't know what it's called


search for 1 or any possible sources. Anyone?
Old 05-10-2020, 12:23 PM
  #12  
CF Veteran
 
Ralph77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,361
Likes: 0
Received 1,533 Likes on 1,175 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Default

If I didn't know any better I say it is part of what my '00 uses to tighten the belt.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NDP6...cleAddPDP=true

Problem is I thought older Jeeps were set up a little different for belt tension.
For some reason I don't have a '87 parts catalog. '84 to '86 and '88 to '90.
And even then I can't find what I think is used for belt tension in either of those so....
The following users liked this post:
Don X (05-10-2020)
Old 05-10-2020, 02:36 PM
  #13  
CF Veteran
 
lawsoncl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 3,912
Received 1,080 Likes on 865 Posts
Year: 1989
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

The parts catalog calls it a "collar", mopar part number 53002915. The first link below says the same part number covers 1987 to 1996 XJ, ZJ, and YJ.
https://www.moparpartsgiant.com/part...~53002915.html
Amazon Amazon

The usual reason for breaking that is that screw gets seized inside, or you forget to loosen the mounting bolt before reefing on the adjuster screw.
The following users liked this post:
Don X (05-10-2020)
Old 05-10-2020, 02:50 PM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
BlueRidgeMark's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Posts: 7,964
Received 952 Likes on 767 Posts
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Bummer. A couple of days sooner and I could have given you one from my 97, but it's gone to the junkyard now....
The following users liked this post:
Don X (05-10-2020)
Old 05-10-2020, 02:59 PM
  #15  
CF Veteran
 
Ralph77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,361
Likes: 0
Received 1,533 Likes on 1,175 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Default

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMark
Bummer. A couple of days sooner and I could have given you one from my 97, but it's gone to the junkyard now....
It is not the same part number so I am going with not the same part.
53010149 in a '97 to '99 parts catalog.
But then again it would not be the first time that Jeep assigned a completely different part number to the exact same part.
With the parts number lawsoncl posted I was able to search for it and find in my '88 to '90 catalog.
Still could not find it in my '84 to '86 though.


Quick Reply: 1987 Cherokee Serpentine Belt Squeal



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:58 AM.