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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 202
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From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '13
Working smarter or harder?
EDIT: Just ordered the parts from Rockauto.com...the ac delco pulley was $30, and the full tensioner was $62. I am so tired of the squeak that for such a cheap price online I just went ahead and bought the whole tensioner. I'd rather not get the parts in a week and regret trying to save $30 and waste more shipping cost and time getting the whole tensioner. 
PS: Thanks for the replies guys.
I removed the ac belt tensioner and the ac belt idler pulley. Both pulleys are done. They spin very freely and when I shake the pulley I hear rattling.
My question is, do tensioners really go bad so commonly, or is it really the pulley? They seem pretty solid. Could the pulley just be replaced and fix most issues, but the concept of full replacement is just another way of making money for the auto industry?
Sorry if I am being too skeptical, but I am not prosperous enough to not count my pennies. I want a new cam darn it...
PS: Thanks for the replies guys.
I removed the ac belt tensioner and the ac belt idler pulley. Both pulleys are done. They spin very freely and when I shake the pulley I hear rattling.
My question is, do tensioners really go bad so commonly, or is it really the pulley? They seem pretty solid. Could the pulley just be replaced and fix most issues, but the concept of full replacement is just another way of making money for the auto industry?
Sorry if I am being too skeptical, but I am not prosperous enough to not count my pennies. I want a new cam darn it...
Last edited by NotAnExpert; Jun 20, 2013 at 02:31 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Sometimes,,, just the bearing goes bad and YES,, you can find a new sealed ball bearing to press in the tensioner assy. Sometimes the entire tensioner goes bad.
Take it apart and if its just the bearing, find a place that can match you up a correct size bearing. There are post on replacing the tensioner bearings.
Mount the assy in a vise and move the arm. If it moves freely and quietly, its still good!
Hell,, I FIX more parts than I throw away! I too find ways to CHEAT GM Parts corporate.
Bill
Take it apart and if its just the bearing, find a place that can match you up a correct size bearing. There are post on replacing the tensioner bearings.
Mount the assy in a vise and move the arm. If it moves freely and quietly, its still good!
Hell,, I FIX more parts than I throw away! I too find ways to CHEAT GM Parts corporate.
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 5
From: Loveland CO
tensioners are cheap enough (40-50each w/ pulley) i would replace the entire thing. I have replaced 2 tensioners on my cars because they were bad, never pulley or bearings allways tensioners.. I would say replace it all, nothing more annoying then doing the same job twice because something else failed.
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