Infamous Belt Tensioner Problem - Better Brand?

[cobrapete]

Howdy, has anyone had success with a particular brand of belt tensioner? I guess the only choice is between Gates from O'Reilly's or Goodyear from Summit.

I replaced it about 2 years ago from NAPA when I was on my way home from school. The familiar rattle is beginning to rear its ugly head more and more, so if people have had success with the Goodyear that Summit sells, then I rather get it now before I'm forced to fix it with a tensioner brand I don't want when it becomes a problem.

 

[aldive]

I have had the best luck with the Ford replacement part.

Good luck ....

 

[cobrapete]

Well, I figured that if Ford didn't design the part properly in the first place, then maybe an aftermarket company did a better job engineering the replacement.

 

[Bill MacLeod]

You can save a few bucks by just changing the pulley. Goodyear idler pulley and gatorback belt for my 99 was about $40 from Summit.

Even if replaced every couple of years, still an inexpensive maintenance item.

 

[cobrapete]

You can save a few bucks by just changing the pulley. Goodyear idler pulley and gatorback belt for my 99 was about $40 from Summit.

Even if replaced every couple of years, still an inexpensive maintenance item.

What does changing the pulley have to do with poor engineering of the actual tensioner assembly?

 

[Bill MacLeod]

Not sure what "poor" engineering problem you are referring too, but squeaking bearings in the tensioner and idler pulleys can be replaced.

Never heard a sqeaking tensioner before, but sure have heard the squeaking pulley bearings.

 

[wolfnutts]

ya 6 bucks for a new bearing into any of the pulleys an like magic the sqweek goes away )) its not hard to do u can find them at some hardware stores or were i go at my location is a specialty place that sells bearings an seals only

 

[cobrapete]

Not sure what "poor" engineering problem you are referring too, but squeaking bearings in the tensioner and idler pulleys can be replaced.

Never heard a sqeaking tensioner before, but sure have heard the squeaking pulley bearings.

I apologize, I believe I was vauge in my description. The squeaking only happens at idle, but it has gotten worse and worse as the idler assembly has weakened. The real problem is when accelerating there is a rattle at lower RPMs, and it goes away when the tranny downshifts increasing the RPMs. So that rules out any valvetrain problem, meaning it is obviously the belt tensioner because I've experienced this problem several time in my life with my '94 Cobra and with this '94 Explorer.

Even though I was vauge, I know what I'm talking about and I simply would like to know if anyone has had success with one brand of tensioner, specifically the Gates brand or Goodyear brand.

 

[73Elsinore]

Did you get an answer to this?

In my '91, I have blown up two factory tensioners: one went 135k and the second went 70k. The second one took a sh*t in a very dramatic manner: started the motor in the driveway at home one morning, heard a lil squeaking, got a lot louder, big cloud of smoke and then a huge BANG, all in 30 seconds. The bearing froze and the pulley sheared right off its hub and got thrown by the fan down onto the frame rail. Thank goodness it didn't get thrown into the radiator! Weird that the belt didn't slip and burn off, but it is a new belt, instead of shearing the pulley. Never seen that happen before.

I think they use Cheng Shin (Chinese translation for: Cheep Sh*t) bearings in those things. If they spent another quarter for a better bearing we wouldn't be having these issues.

The OEM unit is about $65 off the web, $85 list. The Dayco tensioner is $49 from AutoBoned. I think I'm going to try one of those and see what happens. Thanks! Pete

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

My '02's tensioner has just starter the wretched rattle at only 44k.

What brand should I buy? Which has most people has the most luck with?

Help!

 

[CDW6212R]

Make sure it's not the bearings of any of the pulleys, that is the most common belt related noise.