Vehicle Maintenance: Understanding Drive Belts

Belts are used in automobiles to connect and drive two shafts to the motion of a rotary by using pulleys in a series. Various accessories mounted to the engine are powered through the use of this rotary motion. Pumps, exhaust fans and air compressors are all examples of accessories powered in this way and are essential to the successful operation of the vehicle.

Classifications of belts:

Designed to fit into a groove shaped like a V, V-belts provide high-traction power. Belts that have many V-shaped grooves on the inside and are flat on the outside are called Poly-V belts. These belts provide high-traction type of power. The V-Link belt is similar to the above V-belts, but is open-ended and does not need meal clamps. Although V-Link belts only carry a small load and can be quite expensive, they are used at times when other alternatives will not reach or fit.

Flat belts are much lighter in weight and function better at high speeds. However they do tend to slip as they do not have a lot of traction. Unlike other drive belts, the Timing belt operates without friction and does not have teeth. This is one of the most important types of belt. In contrast with other belts, the Timing belt has a small capacity for power.

Why are drive belts important?

The purpose of drive belts is to drive a variety of external parts of the engine. Even though these belts are very inexpensive, they have the ability to put a stop to a functioning vehicle if they break. If the belt driving a particular component breaks, that component will almost instantly stop working. A component like the pump that pumps the water through the system of the vehicle functions by the use of a drive belt. If the belt breaks the pump will stop working almost instantly and the water it takes to keep the engine cooled will stop and then the engine overheats. The serpentine belt functions the same way as a drive belt, however it connects a number of different components. If a serpentine belt breaks, multiple parts of the engine stop working.

What makes drive belts break?

Drive belts are made of inexpensive rubber. Over time, belts suffer normal wear and tear and this can cause them to dry out or crack. The belt will break as wear and tear compromises the integrity of the belt.

Are drive belts easy to replace?

In some cases, a basic understanding on the engine and its peripheral components is all that is needed to replace a drive belt. On the other hand, serpentine belts are harder to replace and should be left for a professional. Although the serpentine belt, along with the timing belt, can last for as long as sixty thousand miles, most mechanics will recommend that you have it replaced after thirty-five thousand miles.

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