Wipeout

So, I know my belts are about ready to be replaced. The last belt job (right after the car was purchased) saw everything done - belts, rollers, WP, everything. Do you guys normally replace the rollers every other belt change, or do you always replace the rollers when the belts are replaced?

Based on my reading at Clark's, it says "inspect and replace if necessary," which tells me that maybe every other time is fine, but I wanted to check the collective RL brain.

m73m95

I "inspect and replace as necessary". I think every other belt is fine, but give them all a spin when you do this belt.

If it sounds like an old, dried out roller skate wheel, then its time for a new one.

Wipeout

Would suck to have it apart and not have the rollers, though. Maybe I'll just grab everything and see what things are like for next time.

m73m95

yeah....They don't go bad sittin on the shelf...like milk do

FRporscheman

Actually they can. If you are going to store them, make sure to put them in sealed air-tight bags or moisture will rust them up sum' fierce. Just today I found a box with brand new spare rollers, and they feel good and fresh but they are covered in rust... It doesn't help that I live in San Fogcisco, where moisture isn't part of the forecast, it is the forecast.

I think in general every other belt is appropriate but I do them with every belt; I see it as cheap insurance. Give them a spin and if you hear or feel any roughness or looseness, it's bad.

m73m95

Yeah, thats the differenct in location

I'm in Las Vegas. Cars in the junk yard don't even rust here

Mike C.

Are ya feeling lucky?....

Honestly, if you pay attention to the sounds coming from under the hood, you will very likely hear a bad bearing before it grenades. It's also pretty easy to hear a 'dry' one using one of those mechanic's stethoscopes on the bolt/nut that locks each roller (front belt covers off, idling).

Erzengal

Every time. Cheap insurance to me. Mine were done 35k previous to this last time I did it, and I changed them regardless. 1 was slightly making noise, another was pretty worn out.

Jack Cheetham

So I have adjusted my new belts by feel and the 90 degree method, tight and loose at least 5 different tensions and observed them while reving motor etc for flopping and cannot get rid of the #$@*belt whirrrr noise that I think is excessive. Rollers and balance idler are perfect. The crank shaft cogg looks to be rounded off a bit so is this something that should be replaced and would it quiet this annoying whirr down? Engine is great but has 160K miles on it.

FRporscheman

LOL
Belt whine is from overtightened belts... actually the spec tightness will make it whine. So I just make my BS belt looser than spec but still tight enough to stay on there, and the whine is all but gone.

schwank

Don't worry Jack. I've adjusted my belts half a dozen times and the whine never goes away.

I just drive it harder so I can't hear them!

Wipeout

Does that thing have a hemi?