Broke the Adjusting Bolt on the tension pulley for my power steering belt

Hello All,

I have a question from a non-mechanic. I just changed my power steering belt, and in the process of installing the new one, I broke the adjusting bolt on the tension pulley; it split the bolt right in two with half of it coming off in my hand, and the other half remaining in the block. My question is; is it safe to drive, or do I need to have it towed somewhere to get tapped out and the bolt replaced? I know I'm going to have to get it tapped out, but I wonder about driving it? Will the belt loosen and slip off?
I know it may be a noob question, but my mechanical skills are 0 to non-existing so I appreciate all the help I can get.

 

DONT DRIVE IT. Why take the risk? Spend the cash to have it towed, I wouldn't drive it.

 

1. I don't have the cash to spend
2. I have to get to work in the morning. I may not have a choice.....

 

Take the belt off if you need to drive it.

Worse case the belt comes off takes out the other ones now you do have a problem

 

How difficult would it be to drive it with out the Power Steering belt?

 

Unless you have big tires not too bad. I drive an 81 pickup w/o ps no problem except for parallel parking w/ 33's.

 

For a truck that was designed to be driven with power steering it won't be super fun, but doable in a pinch. It won't be terribly safe as it'll feel like you're steering a cruise ship. Get it fixed asap.

You said adjustment screw, but that one doesn't go into the block. If it is the adjustment screw and you can grab the stuck part of the bolt with a vice grips, soak the bolt in pb blaster or a 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF overnight. Spray it again in the morning, then try to slowly get it out later that evening.

If the bolt you're talking about is going into the block, and there's nothing left to grab the bolt will likely need to be drilled out.

 

Steering is only heavy at slow speeds when you're parking or taking off from a stop sign. Once you're moving there won't be much of a difference.

 

Just saw this video tonight - don't know if this would help you. It's a pretty cool tool for guys that can't have a cutting torch around the house / apartment:

 

If you were installing the bolt when it broke, it won't be frozen in place. Take off the power steering brackets around the bolt so you can get to it. As stated in post #7 hit it with PB blaster or other penetrant. Try grabbing it with vise grips.

 

I had a 87 4Runner that the Pump started making noise I took the belt off drove it till it got parked over 15,000 miles to do a head gasket

It still sits

 

I broke my adjuster bolt, I just set the tension with a pry bar and tightened the mounting bolts down real tight. Has been fine for 2yrs now.

Saw something about the block, pics of the bolt? I broke the bolt that sets the tension on the pully.