Belt Tensioner
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Pearl Harbor HI
Belt Tensioner
Hello everyone
It looks like the belt tensioner on my '89 auto coupe is about to go out. It's make a constant noise similar to when bearings are bad. would I need to change the whole thing or is there a way to only replace the pulley part? any suggestions or input on how to go about doing this?
It looks like the belt tensioner on my '89 auto coupe is about to go out. It's make a constant noise similar to when bearings are bad. would I need to change the whole thing or is there a way to only replace the pulley part? any suggestions or input on how to go about doing this?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,300
Likes: 4
From: Mississauga, Ontario Corvettes were built to be driven...not trailered
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Re: Belt Tensioner (akisana)
Pearl Harbour... :cool:
The TPI engines generate a whole mesh of torque...my experience (and that of my buddies) is replace the whole unit with the orginal GM part...for the extra few bucks, the piece of mind is worth it... :cheers:
The TPI engines generate a whole mesh of torque...my experience (and that of my buddies) is replace the whole unit with the orginal GM part...for the extra few bucks, the piece of mind is worth it... :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,439
Likes: 590
From: Tellico Plains Tennessee
Re: Belt Tensioner (akisana)
The bearing went out on the tensioner pulley, an all metal pulley, on my 89 coupe. I went to 2 autoparts stores and they only had plastic pieces of crap for a pulley, at $20 each!! :eek: I used my vise and a couple of sockets to press out the old bearing and bought a new bearing for about $6 and pressed it in. I'm pleased as punch to have kept my all metal pulley. You can get the bearing at any bearings and drives shop, or anywhere they sell bearings. It's a common size bearing. And it's easy to press them in and out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 992
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Re: Belt Tensioner (Frodo)
I wished I would have known that about changing the bearing before I bought a new unit....I went to dealer and it was like $90.00, so was not to bad...I broke the little nipple off mine when I was doing something on the motor one day..but did not know it till I went down the road and got on it and bang the belt flew off everthing ....It took me a minute to figure out what happened...good thing I was only a block away from home....Was my vette NOISEY driving home.....I wanted to duck down in the seat....But it's a Vette, so nothing is ever that bad...I would just replace the unit, for peice of mind....
Advanced
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: fort wayne indiana
Re: Belt Tensioner (akisana)
if your tensioner pulley is making noise, replace as soon as possable, or it seize up and shred the serpentine belt, and leave you high and dry in the middle of knowhere.. :cry :confused:
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Re: Belt Tensioner (Frodo)
I thought of just replacing the pully also. Went with a whole new unit. Glad I did. It was VERY apparent that the mainspring lost a LOT of it's tension over the years. (1990) Get the part from Jeff Kopp or Team Chev. in Neb. for ~$50. Not worth chintzing on the part.
