Old v belts vs new v belts

[dkraven]

This is part of trying to diagnose why my power steering pump pulley is slipping. When I took out a broken v belt from the alt and crank pulleys it was actually shaped like a v, fitting deep into the slot of the pulleys. I notice the new v belts I get from auto parts store aren't actual v shaped. They're tapered, but are flat. Including pics. They're supposed to fit my truck, which is stock, but I wonder if they make less friction because of not bottoming out in the groove?

Other possibilities for the pulley slipping, one person mentioned the pulley is rusty and that might be it, but it's not that rusty at the belt contact point. Or it's the ps pump...

 

[nvrenuf]

I don’t see anything wildly unusual.

New V belts are usually flat on the bottom of the taper, if you old belt was pointed on the bottom then I’d say it was excessively worn.

Don’t worry about the taper bottoming out in the pulley. You want the belt to be close to flush with the top of the pulley groove, the rest will fall in line. If a belt is noticeably high above the top of the pulley it’s too wide.

 

[Radiohead]

All the belt "traction" is on its sides. If the bottom of the belt is engaging, it's worn out.

 

[Finkaire]

Use only a quality belt, avoid cheap ones, too much depends on them. I run Dayco belts and hoses.

 

[Fastduramax]

Though I no longer have V belts on the Square Loren is correct, take it one step further and run Dayco "Green Stripe" belts, I run these on my Mack and believe me when I tell you they last twice as long as the standard belt...