idler pulley question

[savant]

Hey y'all,

I've been searching through the forums, and haven't found the info I've been looking for. Worse, the page I thought might have the info (Dead Link Removed) is giving me HTTP FORBIDDEN errors, so I don't know what's up with that.

Anyway, I'm going to be replacing my 1st gen's idler pulley tonight. Do I need any special tools to do this? Do I need to alot tons of time, or is it a fairly quick swap? For example, I know that the fan needs a special tool to remove it, so I just want to be sure I have everything I need, before the stores close tonight.

 

[BuffaloXplorer]

If it is anything like a 2nd gen (i've got a '96 4.0), you release the tension with a 3/8" drive (there's a little square in the front of the pulley itself that you put the socketwrench into - look at the new pulley to see where it is), take the belt off & Remove the bolt holding the pully on (i'm thinking 15mm but not sure). Reverse for the install...

 

[savant]

That sounds simple enough. I hope it's that easy.

 

[CTO]

Piece of cake. You should have no problems. I had the one on my explorer lock up and I didn't even know it til I went to change the oil and put on a new belt. Once the belt is off its a simple 5 minute fix.