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Serpentine Belt versus V Belt — Why Carmakers Switched

Why Carmakers Switched from V Belts to Serpentine Belts

V belts were used to drive components like the v beltalternator, power steering pump, AC compressor and water pump in traditional forward-facing longitudinal engines where space wasn’t an issue. However, as engine compartment space became more scarce, carmakers switched from the V style to serpentine belts for two reasons; to save space and to reduce cost

It drives more components in less space.

Back in the V belt days, carmakers might have 3 V belts to drive the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, and AC compressor. The number of belts is directly related to the amount of “pulley wrap” they could achieve with each belt around each pulley.

Because of the way it’s routed, the new style belt can achieve much greater pulley wrap to drive multiple components with a single belt. So carmakers can use one belt and a smaller crankshaft pulley.

What’s the difference between a polygroove belt and a serpentine belt?

A serpentine belt drives components using both the ribbed and backside portion of the belt, while a polygroove belt only drives components from the ribbed side.

Carmaker often use polygroove belts to run one or two components. But a polygroove belt can’t be used to run components from the backside because they don’t have a special backing fabric needed to drive components from the backside of the belt.

 

image showing belt routing
What’s the difference between a polygroove belt and a serpentine belt?

A serpentine belt drives components using both the ribbed and backside portion of the belt, while a polygroove belt only drives components from the ribbed side.

All serpentine belts are polygroove, but not all polygroove belts can be used as serpentine belts because they don’t have a special backing fabric needed to drive components from the backside of the belt.

how serpentine belt works

Notice how the belt wraps around each pulley and drives the water pump from the backside of the belt

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Posted on by Rick Muscoplat



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