Here's what I did a few days ago. I was experimenting with my car because I want to get new underdrive pulleys and this is how the whole mess started. I cut the AC Belt since AC never worked anyway. Then I removed not cut my PS Belt. Drove it around for a day and loved it so much better. Power difference...don't know, not noticeable, but I love it so much better w/o PS. Anyways I put the belt back on tonight because I was told that running without PS will mess up my rack and pinion. I wish the first person who was with me when I did it would of told me. He said it wouldn't hurt a thing. Anyways when I get everything going I start it up and now it seems to whine. At first I think the belt was too tight so I loosened it a bit. Tried again and started turning the wheel. That whine that the car makes when you turn the wheels seemed to be louder than before. So i'm wondering somebody help me out. Am I screwed or do you think it's all in my head??

 

I think people run without the belt alot but I am not aware of it hurting anything.

 

I know of people running without a belt and have a Power Rack BUT I have never known any of them to put the belt back on so I can't tell you if it is messed up. If you like the Non power steering better then leave it off.

 

my original plan was to keep it off until I was told if I do I would loose steering all together. Anyone out there care to help me out.

 

You might want to try bleeding the system. My brother has reinstalled his PS belt after running without it for some time (before recently deciding to remove the whole system), and there were no problems or noises at all.

 

As long as you keep fluid in the system, i believe you can run wihtout the belt.

 

Its its more of a moan than a whine, checked the level of your power steering fluid. It may be low.