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I have always thought a good spare to carry in remote areas would be a shorter alternator drive belt so that if my power steering pump seizes up I can bypass it and just run the alternator. I wanted to do this before I went out west last year but never got around to it.

I went with a bosch 4PK685. Its only a 4 rib belt (stock belt is 5) but its only driving the alternator so I am sure it will be fine. I tested it on my spare motor and its about perfect length. about 1/3 of full adjustment.

I also think a 4PK695, 5PK685, and 5PK695 would work fine.

Byron: go buy one!

Good idea to have both spares in the spare tyre wall if you plan on a outback trip!
How often does power steering seize up - haven't seen it happen yet??
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven wrote:Good idea to have both spares in the spare tyre wall if you plan on a outback trip!
How often does power steering seize up - haven't seen it happen yet??
Cheers
AP

Happened to me - stuffed rack and seized column unis after my recent swim. I'm using a 4PK0695.

Dane.

apparently happened to Daza recently on the lifted green impreza...

I am always thinking about good spares to carry. You never seem to use the ones you carry yourself but it might get someone else out of trouble!

I've got a bosch 4PK685, that's what i was using on the Brumby.
Very handy to have!
Daza.

also good to have an old spare timing belt stored in your car as well!
Cheers
AP

This is a bloody good idea. I havn't had a ps pump seeze on me but I can imagine it happening. Such an important thing (alternator belt) and really small and light-weight to keep spares of. I'll have to grab a couple.

i had one of these on my subi motor in my buggy....but i got the 5 rib one

vincentvega wrote:I also think a 4PK695, 5PK685, and 5PK695 would work fine

I've been meaning to get one of these for ages. Necessity drove me to dig up this thread - last thursday while returning back up Mt Hotham after re-supplying in Bright my clunky noise under the bonnet caused the PS pump to spray oil everywhere and thus the need for this belt line up.

I got the 4PK685 as it was the only one I could find - I drove off hotham without the PS belt and thus no alternator, by the time I arrived in Bright I had 10.3 volts in the dual battery system that was fully charged before I left. I tried not to use my brakes coming off the mountain due to the rear brake lights operating and sapping the batteries. After cruising through Harrietville, I found out that I'd failed to turn the fan off

So I hunted around in Bright, the r.e.p.c.o service centre that found me one in Albury - but there was no way I could make it there. No worries, they got it on their freight mob - to arrive at 6pm. It was 1pm, so I had some time to kill. Anyway, the bloody thing cost me $39 including $7 in freight but it got me home to work on saturday so it did the trick.

I'd advise anyone who thinks this is a good back up to have to order one now as they're not a common belt size so not easy available on the shelf, typical!

Cheers

Bennie