Replacing the Serpentine Belt Tensioner

[anupaum]

Has anyone done this? Does anyone know how it's done?

After REMOVING my heater fan and re-installing my supercharger, I had my saintly father-in-law evaluate the pulley alignment. He thinks my tensioner needs replacing. I've never done this before, so I was hoping someone here could give me some advice.

Thanks!

 

[srteach]

remove serpentine belt, after making sure you know how it goes on the engine. (3/8 rachet or breaker bar in the center hole of the pulley, lever the pulley back, slip belt off) remove the bolt at the center pivot arm (where it pivots on the mount of the engine) replace it.

 

[V8RangerBoy]

Hopefully you have more front-end clearance than my 5.0 does haha. My belt is a BITCH to get on and off, and even after I get it almost on I have to come up with another 1/2" of nonexistent slack to clear the tensioner. Needless to say, both times I've done it in the last four years I've hated it.

 

[anupaum]

remove serpentine belt, after making sure you know how it goes on the engine. (3/8 rachet or breaker bar in the center hole of the pulley, lever the pulley back, slip belt off) remove the bolt at the center pivot arm (where it pivots on the mount of the engine) replace it.

I've swapped the belt many times, so pulling it off isn't a problem. My belt tensioner has some kind of star-shaped hole in the center--there is no standard bolt head there. Also, I suspect that the tensioner has to be installed a certain way, but there's an awful lot of corrosion down there!

I don't like taking my truck to the dealer, but I don't actually OWN the tool to take the tensioner off. I can easily wiggle its pulley back and forth. That can't be good!

 

[Earl43P]

Pulley is available seperately, ~$18 everywhere. One bolt, not difficult. Putting the belt back on is harder, IMO.

 

[fastpakr]

The tensioner is held on by a T-50 torx bolt. On my '94, the back is keyed so that you cannot install it incorrectly.

 

[anupaum]

The tensioner is held on by a T-50 torx bolt. On my '94, the back is keyed so that you cannot install it incorrectly.

Ok, THAT was easy! I got the whole tensioner assembly from Lordco for $70 and it took less than 10 minutes to install . . .

So, everything is back together again and my truck is now "on road." I don't have a heater fan, and I'm STILL not confident about pulley alignment, but it's clearly better than it was before.

My saintly father-in-law is coming over for Easter dinner on Sunday. I'll have him look at it and see what HE thinks.

By the way, there is absolutely NO room for a heater fan in the stock location.

 

[wcurtin1962]

Thanks for the info about the T-50 Torx bolt. As far as being easy to replace, not so much!

 

[Irokranger93]

good info for this thread I didnt know how to remove it ...also,could be 13 mm socket

 

[bilzy7]

i bought a t50 and t55... t55 for bed... least now i know t50 has a purpose haha. i got some squeekin during cold starts so gonna replace these... hopefully it gets rid of it with new belt tensioner and idler pulley. so your supercharger ate up all your room? im gonna do a body lift just so my v8 swap goes a bit easier or so i hear some say.