Serpentine belt replacement

[freakstatus]

It may be time to replace my serpentine belt as I can't seem to get rid of a pulley squeal.

Any ideas as to how to get rid of the squeal or recommendations as to what kind of replacement belt is preferable for our cars?

Thanks.

[Zack]

Check the idler bearings first.

[Got_1]

if you suspect the belt. get your hands on some krown (canadian product) or WD40 and spray the belt with it running. if the noise goes away for a couple seconds - minutes then you know it is the belt. if it doesn't change then its a pulley concern and like Zack said - check the idler

[SAAAAAC]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0-ltd8vS8Q

Funny thing is I actually did this and it worked! But then it came back after getting up into the 3 - 4000 RPMs. Then I just replaced the belt and idler pulley.

[MrBluGruv]

Chances are if the bearing in any pulley is going, for one it won't be intermittent, and for two you could hear/feel it turning it by hand. Release the accessory belt and try spinning all the suspect pulleys by hand, if you can't feel anything or hear anything from any of them, try swapping out your belt for the Goodyear Gatorback, if it really is an old belt you can't really go wrong switching it anyways.

[Brian H]

just replaced all my idler pullys and tensioner pully,......$55.00. No more squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brian H]

and am also waiting on The Blue Belt!!

[fastblackmerc]

Belts:
Serpentine (NAPA) – PBH4060923 - stock
Gatorback (Goodyear) – 4060922 - stock
Gatorback (Goodyear) – 4060915 - / electric water pump

Belt Tensioner:
Dayco – 305291
Goodyear – 49293

Idler Pulleys:
Dayco (smooth) - 89007
FoMoCo (ribbed) - YW7Z-8678-AA

[freakstatus]

Thanks guys. Looks like I'll start with the idler pulley and go from there.

[tbone]

Don't spray wd-40 on it. It makes it worse after a while.

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks guys. Looks like I'll start with the idler pulley and go from there.

Why replace just one pulley? Both pulleys get the same amount of wear and tear. I'd replace both at the same time.

[sailsmen]

Water on the back side of the belt is a good test. Gatorback = rubber band. Maybe ok if you are N/A.

The best is Gates Fleet Runner Green Back.

[cougar9150]

Water on the back side of the belt is a good test. Gatorback = rubber band. Maybe ok if you are N/A.

The best is Gates Fleet Runner Green Back.
+1 on the Gates belt. Still had slippage with gatorback, put on a Gates and no WOT squeal anymore.

[MrBluGruv]

Gates was the brand that I just had to have replaced because after roughly a month of use it was starting to squeak. The MasterPro that I replaced it with is working so far. My $.02

[Got_1]

Don't spray wd-40 on it. It makes it worse after a while.

its not ment as a belt dressing. its to aid in diagnostics. if the noise goes away when the wd40 is sprayed then you replace the belt.

[tbone]

its not ment as a belt dressing. its to aid in diagnostics. if the noise goes away when the wd40 is sprayed then you replace the belt.

Not if it gets on a bad pulley.