L98 Eats Belts

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Aug 4, 2010 | 05:09 PM

Frank-in-San-Diego

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L98 Eats Belts

I have a 1987 Corvette. L98. It has always had a belt whine in it. It varies from really noisy to very mild. I have replaced the alternator and the tensioner (Both new). It still has the problem. It sounds like it is on the right (A/C compressor) side of the car. I took a stethoscope and the compressor sounds fine. All the accessories sound fine (I can not get to the water pump or the crank to hear these) All the spindles spin freely when there is no belt on the car, except the crank. It eats belts, the better belts are a few thousand miles and the cheaper ones less. I can now see it is destroying the front (leading) edge of the current belt. Is it possible that all the accessories are good, but one of them is mounted too far back by ¼ inch or so, forcing the belt into the lip of the pulley?? Has anybody ever heard of this? Also, how can I solve the issue? Shim out a pulley? Which one – how can I solve this one??
Other “Stuff” 80K on the car, yes the engine was out of the car at one time. New belts are quite (for a while), belt dressing immediately stops the noise, but it comes back quickly.

Aug 4, 2010 | 05:42 PM

floridamale

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From: Vero Beach Florida

I would take a look at the harmonic balancer pulley and check for run out.

Aug 4, 2010 | 06:10 PM

BADDUCK

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From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas

Something is out of alignment or maybe you have a rough edge on a pulley.

Aug 4, 2010 | 09:50 PM

ejscarfo

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From: Bay Shore, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by floridamale

I would take a look at the harmonic balancer pulley and check for run out.

I had that problem on an 87 Firebird. The power steering pump pulley didn't line up with the rest of the pulleys and it would eat leading edge of belts. I worked in an auto part store so belts were cheap. It turned out to be a defective pump bracket and GM had a recall on it. I got it fixed and no more belt problems.

Aug 4, 2010 | 10:12 PM

88yellowvette

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BADDUCK

Something is out of alignment or maybe you have a rough edge on a pulley.

One of the pulleys could be broke on the edge. Look at them close.

Aug 4, 2010 | 10:58 PM

Churchkey

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From: Cherokee National Forest TN

Had an 89 with a similar problem. The balancer bolt was loose & it took 6 full turns to reseat the balancer.

Aug 5, 2010 | 05:18 AM

Frank-in-San-Diego

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I will check all the pully edges and the bolts. Is there a way to measure these? I think the way the belt rides in a deeper groove on the A/C holds it more securely than the others and that seems to be the reason the whine is there

Aug 5, 2010 | 10:52 AM

engle1147

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From: Tampa Florida

If all the alignment check don't turn up anything and the tensioner pulley/assembly is good you might want to unplug the AC compressor's electrical connection for the clutch to see if that stops the whine/damage.