morpho18
Member
I've got an idler pulley bearing that is becoming increasingly noisy and was wondering how to install the new ones. I don't have them ordered, but figured I'd ask for a how-to from you know-it-alls. 
How to install idler pulley bearing?
- Thread starter morpho18
- Start date
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SHOtimer
#2910
Do want to know how to swap the pullies on the motor, or how to swap the bearing in and out of the pulley?
Doug
Doug
SeanMc
NoMoSHO
He probably bought a pulley from SHONut. The bearing needs to be pressed out and then pressed back in. Make sure you use green locktite, and that the bearing is pressed in from the outer ring, and not the center. Pressing from the center can cause damage to the bearing.
Off Road SHO
Moderator
I didn't know that anyone had found replacement bearings. I've been re-greasing mine. Does anyone have the part number from Josh?
Tom
Tom
Mr Anonymous
Tire Wall
He's got them listed on the "60K" page on his site, the first item under "Parts Common to both ATX and MTX" http://www.shonutperformance.comOff Road SHO said:
Black '93
Guest
I'm sure you checked this already, but I would take off the Serpintine/Accessory belt and spin the pulley before buying new bearings because it could be your waterpump bearing making the noise. If you are sure of the bad idler pulley then ignore this, sorry.
SolidState
No Mo SHO
yep, I have two bearings sitting in the console of my car...
Off Road SHO
Moderator
SolidState said:
I bet they make a lot of noise, especially on washboard roads.:laugh_ti:
Tom
Black '93
Guest
lol....
SHOslyter485
SHO Member
Does rockauto have idler pully bearings too, or is that just the pully itself?
SolidState
No Mo SHO
yeah, tom they do actually...
Off Road SHO said:
morpho18
Member
i haven't ordered them yet. i was just wondering how to do it. i don't know how to replace the serpentine belt either.
i know that i can do it if someone can tell me. i'm not paying for a mechanic to do it when i can do it just as easily with some research.
my friend said to be sure to diagram where the belt goes so that it goes back on right, but do i need to use something to decompress the tensioner to get the belt off?
i know that i can do it if someone can tell me. i'm not paying for a mechanic to do it when i can do it just as easily with some research.
my friend said to be sure to diagram where the belt goes so that it goes back on right, but do i need to use something to decompress the tensioner to get the belt off?
Black '93
Guest
the tensioner is also an idler pulley; pretend like your trying to tighten it with a breaker bar and youll see it move down... then you can take the belt off!
CerberuS
300 HP N/A SHO
Mine was noisy too , the bearing is pressed , so i took it out , went to a bearing place , they told me they didnt make that cose its an exclusive number part to Ford.
so i went to dealer , 180$ for a damned bearing.
so i went to dealer , 180$ for a damned bearing.
SHOslyter485
SHO Member
CerberuS said:
thats crazy. If you get it at rockauto, does it come with the whole thing, or just the pully itself?hawkeye18
Sorta cares
morpho18 said:
Replacing the whole pulley is dead easy. You'll need either a 14 or 15mm socket, I can't remember which. You might need both. Anyway, tighten the nut that's on the tensioner pulley, it's between the PS pump and the crankshaft pulleys IIRC. Keep tightening, and the belt will slacken up as the tensioner compresses. Don't worry, you won't torque the bolt itself. Take the belt off while it's slack, then SLOWLY let off the tensioner. It will come back up a lot further than it was! Don't bang your knuckles. Then, take the socket to the offending idler pulley bolt and simply loosen. It's a long bolt. Installation is simply reverse of removal.
There are some notes for the install, though. First, as you already know, make sure the belt is routed right! I believe it goes around the PS pump, over the tensioner, then all the way under the crankshaft pulley (you should have nearly 180 degrees of contact on the pulley, this is important!), then over the lower idler pulley, around the AC pulley and alternator, then under the upper pulley and over the water pump. It might seem hard to get the (hopefully NEW!) belt back on - you really have to crank on the tensioner. What I like to do is get the belt on all the pulleys except for the upper idler, then ease it under that idler as I crank on the tensioner; it's a smooth pulley and it's the easiest to access. Then, slowly let off the tensioner and you're done! Easy as pie. If you ever need to take your alternator off, it's only four big bolts past getting the belt off; you can see them all... but that's another story.
Lemme know if you have any problems.
SeanMc
NoMoSHO
I've been told by my local ford dealer that the pulley is discontinued. Have I been lied too?
TimboSHO
Intermediate
Ford has discontinued many parts for our poor old cars. Just turn to aftermarket manufacturers for help finding those parts.
morpho18
Member
hawkeye18 said:Replacing the whole pulley is dead easy. You'll need either a 14 or 15mm socket, I can't remember which. You might need both. Anyway, tighten the nut that's on the tensioner pulley, it's between the PS pump and the crankshaft pulleys IIRC. Keep tightening, and the belt will slacken up as the tensioner compresses. Don't worry, you won't torque the bolt itself. Take the belt off while it's slack, then SLOWLY let off the tensioner. It will come back up a lot further than it was! Don't bang your knuckles. Then, take the socket to the offending idler pulley bolt and simply loosen. It's a long bolt. Installation is simply reverse of removal.
There are some notes for the install, though. First, as you already know, make sure the belt is routed right! I believe it goes around the PS pump, over the tensioner, then all the way under the crankshaft pulley (you should have nearly 180 degrees of contact on the pulley, this is important!), then over the lower idler pulley, around the AC pulley and alternator, then under the upper pulley and over the water pump. It might seem hard to get the (hopefully NEW!) belt back on - you really have to crank on the tensioner. What I like to do is get the belt on all the pulleys except for the upper idler, then ease it under that idler as I crank on the tensioner; it's a smooth pulley and it's the easiest to access. Then, slowly let off the tensioner and you're done! Easy as pie. If you ever need to take your alternator off, it's only four big bolts past getting the belt off; you can see them all... but that's another story.
Lemme know if you have any problems.
i attempted to get the belt off this weekend, but to no avail. the tensioner would not compress. i'm not going to wrestle with this thing myself anymore...time to take her into the shop
Black '93
Guest
you must not be trying the right bolt. The tensioner is a smaller pulley that looks like a normal idler pulley. Take out your battery and move your power steering resevoir over so you can get a good look! The tensioner is actually an arm like peice that has the pulley at one end, and a spring loaded piece that mounts to the block.. The pulley has to be torqued on quite a bit to move, so use a 1/2 inch drive with a breaker over the socket. Make sure you are pulling towards the front of the car and not pushing to the back of the car! There is no reason you can't get that off yourself! Don't be a puss and take it into the shop just because you cant get the belt off.. You are either trying thto tighten the wrong bolt, or you are extremely weak and should eat some fruit or something..lol
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