DrCharles
Full Access Member
I thought I'd fixed it for good about 3-4K miles ago... my '93 has the "good" (shock) tensioner installed, but both the idler and the tensioner pulleys needed new bearings so I replaced them. Also a new 111.5" belt which was difficult to put on without partially unbolting the alternator, but ended up in the proper tensioner range.
The truck is only used infrequently so this was done three years ago. Recently it started chirping again, first on decel but got steadily worse until it squeaked all the time. I sprayed some carb cleaner on the back side of the belt and it stopped immediately. But the next day the noise was back!
This picture shows how the belt has always run slightly forward on the idler pulley. I just checked and there is no slop in either bearing. I think the belt has stretched with time so that the tension is less. Should I just replace the belt and see how long that lasts, or maybe go to the next shorter one assuming I could even get it on?
I've read many belt chirp threads here and on other IDI sites. No one solution seems to always be correct... any help appreciated.
The truck is only used infrequently so this was done three years ago. Recently it started chirping again, first on decel but got steadily worse until it squeaked all the time. I sprayed some carb cleaner on the back side of the belt and it stopped immediately. But the next day the noise was back!
This picture shows how the belt has always run slightly forward on the idler pulley. I just checked and there is no slop in either bearing. I think the belt has stretched with time so that the tension is less. Should I just replace the belt and see how long that lasts, or maybe go to the next shorter one assuming I could even get it on?
I've read many belt chirp threads here and on other IDI sites. No one solution seems to always be correct... any help appreciated.