belt squeaks mini-rant
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 686
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
belt squeaks mini-rant
Seems like everytime I take a belt off for servicing alt. or AC, whatever, when I put it all back together the drive belt squeaks to high heaven, I mean, sometimes it makes some real nasty sounds.
So, I get out a handy can of "belt dressing" and sprtiz away at it. The noise quits as long as I'm spraying, then when I quit it comes back. I spray, quit, and the noise is back. Eventually, I say to myself "the heck with it" and drive around town a couple weeks with my engine sounding sick, till it finally goes away on its own.
36 years of playing with motors and I still can't make the belt squeak go away, except by letting it drive it off.
So, I get out a handy can of "belt dressing" and sprtiz away at it. The noise quits as long as I'm spraying, then when I quit it comes back. I spray, quit, and the noise is back. Eventually, I say to myself "the heck with it" and drive around town a couple weeks with my engine sounding sick, till it finally goes away on its own.
36 years of playing with motors and I still can't make the belt squeak go away, except by letting it drive it off.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,768
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I discovered a long time ago, those "belt dressings" only make it worse.
They silence the squeak for a minute or two, but thats it.
Also, todays serpentine belts really shouldn't need anything like that.
They don't slip like the old v-drive belts.
Make sure all of your pulley's are clean and aligned correctly.
Put on a new name brand belt, and you shouldn't have any squeaking.
If you do, something isn't aligned correctly, or a pulley bearing is going out.
They silence the squeak for a minute or two, but thats it.
Also, todays serpentine belts really shouldn't need anything like that.
They don't slip like the old v-drive belts.
Make sure all of your pulley's are clean and aligned correctly.
Put on a new name brand belt, and you shouldn't have any squeaking.
If you do, something isn't aligned correctly, or a pulley bearing is going out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,311
Likes: 1,126
From: Vermilion OH
^^agreed. replacing the belt is a good idea. belts tend to stretch over time and they never seem right after they are removed for service. while the belt is off check the tensioner and ensure its putting adequate pressure on the belt and is not hanging up.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 686
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Everything's clean in there, I had everything but the crank pully out.
Its nice having a new steering gear. Tie rod ends were funky - I'd torqued them to spec, drove a while and they were loose so I re-torqued them. Fun. Kinda fubared spec though, I mean, there's a torque spec but when you get to 35 ftlbs the holes in the bolt don't line up with the notches in the nut for the cotter pin, so I view 35ft lbs as a minimum spec.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,697
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
I've had to shim some of the brackets in my car to make sure the pulleys are aligned properly. Never had a problem with a squeaky belt. Maybe clean off all the dressing and start with a new belt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 64
From: Mystic CT
The main problem is there is a slight film of oil on the belt. You would have been better off spraying brake clean on the belt and pullys. I had the same problem on one of the CNCs in my shop.
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Quick answer; replace the belt.
I had a similar experience with a serpentine belt that was called a gator-back. No matter how tight or spraying with goop the darn thing squeeled like a cat was stuck in there.
Turned out the belt was worn and bottoming out on the ridge/grooves. The "grip" on the groove sides was gone. After a quick search this is not uncommon for this style belt to fail after a short service life.
I had a similar experience with a serpentine belt that was called a gator-back. No matter how tight or spraying with goop the darn thing squeeled like a cat was stuck in there.
Turned out the belt was worn and bottoming out on the ridge/grooves. The "grip" on the groove sides was gone. After a quick search this is not uncommon for this style belt to fail after a short service life.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 686
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
( Thanks for reminding me, I need to hunt down some bronze guides, they're harder to find than I thought. Those lightweight valves w/beehives and a David Vizard-type porting should be a hot ticket. Know of anyone who did a flame burnout on a vette ? lol
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 438
Likes: 14
From: Tucson/Santa Paula AZ/CA
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Quick answer; replace the belt.
I had a similar experience with a serpentine belt that was called a gator-back. No matter how tight or spraying with goop the darn thing squeeled like a cat was stuck in there.
Turned out the belt was worn and bottoming out on the ridge/grooves. The "grip" on the groove sides was gone. After a quick search this is not uncommon for this style belt to fail after a short service life.
I had a similar experience with a serpentine belt that was called a gator-back. No matter how tight or spraying with goop the darn thing squeeled like a cat was stuck in there.
Turned out the belt was worn and bottoming out on the ridge/grooves. The "grip" on the groove sides was gone. After a quick search this is not uncommon for this style belt to fail after a short service life.
You probably had the wrong belt. The Goodyear Gatorback serpentine belts are the best belts made in my opinion. I use them on all my vehicles and they outlast every other brand I've tried. http://www.goodyearep.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=3128
Last edited by QZRBLU; Feb 6, 2012 at 12:26 PM.
