This is what my drive belt looked like.




I cut it off today.
Now just an fyi, when I initially put the belt on it squealed like no tomorrow. Used a lot of belt dressing to make it go away. Then started tightening the belt down which is a stupid pain in the rear end! But it continued to squeal so over a short period of time I did use an entire bolt of STP belt dressing.

So this might be my problem.

But when I cut the belt off, I basically had to peel it off the pulleys.


Now, could the dressing have caused how the belt looks, or was it on too tight? The adjustment is the power steering pump and the amount of maximum adjustment that is left is like 1/4 inch.


That belt is also a Valucraft belt and I am replacing it with a Duralast belt.

 

Belt dressing is worthless. Dont use it. I guess you found out for yourself what it does. Check all the pulleys to see they spin freely, and put the new belt on. Thats it. No dressing.

 

You get what you pay for "Valu-crap". I usually pay the extra and get a Goodyear Gatorback belt.

 

I've put Valucraft belts on my S10 and they do just fine. Guess this application is a bit different.
I always stay away from Valucraft, but sometimes thats the only possible route.

The pulleys spin freely, so Ill just clean them up, and throw the belt on. If it starts to destroy itself Ill loosen up the tension.