Help replacing belt tensioner pulley

[ZQQM]

Belt tensioner rattling and making noise. I need advise and direction on how to replace the pulley. Please help.

 

[Ken]

The retaining bolt is 15mm if memory serves me well. You'll need a breaker bar to free it up probably. R&R is pretty much a straight-forward job, "what you see is what you get" type of job. Piece o' cake.

 

[Tim Scales]

The serpentine belt tensioner is a pivoting arm device with an internal spring. The tensioner is attached to the engine block with a bolt that passes through the tensioner arm at the pivot point.
First relieve the tension by using (Probably) a 3/8" ratchet and remove the belt from the tensioner. Then use a 15-17mm (depending on model) wrench to remove the attaching bolt from the engine block. Installation is reverse. It is a relatively easy job compared to some other replacement jobs on the Vette. E-mail me if you need further assistance as I had a shop manual for most of all the C4's. scalestim@msn.com
Good Luck, Tim

 

[I_R_DA_ONE]

Zoom
The belt tension bearing has probably gone.....after you get the tensioner off go to your local parts store and have them order a new bearing...I releave the tension by using a 1/2 " drive long handle craftsman racheting breaker bar...this makes it a piece of cake....
If you have to replace the tensioner, go to eBay and you will find one there rather cheap....about $20.00.....Look under C4 corvettes.......

Hope this helps
Mike :cool

 

[mkapp7879]

The tensioner pulley(I've always called it an idler pully, don't know if I'm correct on that)should be available off the shelf at any GOOD parts store, about $20. Fairly universal part.
I also found out the hard way that it should be replaced whenever replacing the serpentine belt. I had one part company with the motor about a month after replacing the belt. At high speed with my wife's driver no less!! Expensive tow over a cheap part.
Mike

 

[G Winter]

On another GM car I replaced only the pulley. The bearing is near impossible to get out with any age on it. as a rule they are plastic pulley and do wear so is wise to replace the complete pulley. Also be sure the pivot works freely I have seen some get tight and not hold tension the way it should. Be carefull, my pulley bolt had left hand threads.
Merry Christmas

 

[Tim Scales]

The last time (2000) I replaced one was a '96 LT4. The part was $15.00 at a "High End" parts store (GM Goodwrench) I am sure Auto Zone would have 'em made in China cheaper unless the price has gone up since 2000.

 

[JonM]

Here is my .02...If its just the bearing in the pully...remove the pully...Their are three small nuts and bolts holding the pully togther (your earlier Corvette may be different) Remove the three nuts and bolts...take an old chisel and tap between the two halves to split the pully open. The bearing can now be removed. Look on the bearing and write down the number...go to your phone book and look under bearings in the yellow pages...call them and order a new bearing, they should be in stock...its a common bearing...I did mine and the total cost was 2.95 for the bearing. Now...if its the tentioner itself, go to an autoparts store and buy a new one. about 50 bucks with the pully. LINK

 

[tyrel]

I'd like to add that it may not be just the pulley bearing that is making the noise. My car started making a chirping sound one day, I knew it had to be a bearing. I got out my stethoscope and found it was my water pump, and what was worse the entire water pump pulley could be moved up and down! Well, I replaced the water pump, it wasn't nearly as bad a job as I was lead to believe. Sure a lot of stuff has to come off the front of the engine, but there are no inaccessible bolts. Anyway, the smog pump pulley was also making noise, who would ever think that a bearing could only last fifteen years (j/k). Now my car is very quiet at idle. A stethoscope is an invaluable tool to pinpoint where noise is coming from, a bad bearing is instantly recognizable with a stethoscope and by listening to each belt-driven accessory you get an idea of what the bearing should sound like: a nice, steady, quiet hum. If it makes any noise at all, you've got problems.

 

[WhalePirot]

You can also use WD-40, sprayed on the serpentine belt, to troubleshoot.

Often, a noisy belt can sound like many other, serious engine problems. Belt dressing, or a kids crayon, has fixed many 'bad' engine accessories for me.