Our pump leaked a few years ago so I took the belt off and have left it that
way.  I do not need P/S and a waterboxer pushing a Westy Syncro needs all of
the parasitic drag reduction it can get.  I may fix it this Spring so the
wife can more easily drive the van if need arises.

Mark in AK
On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 8:41 AM, Andrew Philbrick <herrschildkrote@gmail.com
> wrote:

> Hello Volks,
>
> My '86 westy (original wbx) sprung a leak of power steering fluid last
> night.  The leak is coming from the lines near the nose of the tranny.
>
> My question is - Can I take the belt off of the PS pump and still drive the
> van without risk of damage to the pump or the steering rack up front?  Can
> I
> drive it short term with the pump off until parts arrive?  The only reason
> I
> ask is because our Beetle being a bit under-the-weather as well and we are
> essentially stuck without a car.
>
> Ideally, I do not want to damage the Vanagon at all but I also need a mode
> of transport in the next few days.
>
> Andrew
>