Serpentine Belt

[RyanbabZ71]

Have you changed yours?  If so how many miles did you go?

 

Mine is making a screeching noise when it is damp/rainy so i figure i may change it

 

What brand belt did you go with (price?)

 

Are they a PITA to change?  

 

Thanks

 

[k1500chevy97]

just changed mine at 94000 miles it was a sob to get on it cost me 35 dollars from napa

[firecadet613]

Hey Ryan I just changed the serpentine on my Blazer a few weeks ago.  I got the Goodyear Gatorback for $27.99 at Autozone.  It was a piece of cake for me since I had the fan off (I replaced the water pump at that time also), but I don't think it should be that much harder to do it while the fan is on.  Took maybe 3 minutes tops for me to do.

[moscow_silverado]

Hey Ryan,

I bought an extra serp. belt but haven't changed it yet.  If I remember right it was something like $68 or so.  It was EXPENSIVE!!!  In the new models there is only one belt to run everything so it is bigger and more expensive.

 

Ben

[RyanbabZ71]

$68?  

 

I found em at partsamerica for like $18-34

[MountaineerTom]

The AC belt on mine broke back in May.  I had to remove the main belt in order to install the AC one, so I replaces them both.  I bought some Gates belts from Car Quest.  $12.48 for the AC belt, $36.09 for the main belt.  Easy job, just make sure you have it routed properly.  

 

I looked at a couple belts at Advance Auto Parts (can't remember the brand) that were about 3/4 the price of what I bought, but didn't get them.  They looked pretty cheaply made.  They had a velour looking coating on them, don't know what that was for.  

 

I forgot to add, I had approximately 35,000 miles on the originals.

[Don99]

My A/C belt broke at 105,000 miles.  I went to the dealer and had both belts changed for $94.  I normally do that kind of thing myself but that A/C belt is buried in there.  Plus it was a weekday, I didn't have time to fix it myself and didn't want to drive the rest of the week without A/C.  I didn't think it was too bad considering my hands stayed clean.

 

Don

[DeezBlueZ]

I'd go with a quality belt such as a Gates or Goodyear.  This is also a good time to check your tensioner/idler.

[Suburbanite]

Might also want to consider age, as well as mileage, in determining whether belt needs replacing. Replaced belt on '95 K3500 w/~68K miles as preventative measure. Old belt worked fine but did have cracks in it (now serving as backup).

 

Happened to find a Goodyear Gator(back?) belt on sale at a local auto parts store for less than $20 for that vehicle, but same brand replacement belt for my current vehicle, '95 K2500 Suburban, & bought at Autozone cost about $24.

 

Pretty easy to change. Easier to do with long-handled tool to de-tension the tensioner but can be muscled into place.

[SilveradoWV]

It doesnt take long to get cracks in a belt, so I dont think that is a fair judgment alone (unless they are some pretty large cracks).  I usually go about 60,000 on belts, the last one we put on my dads '91 was a Kelly Springfield from Autozone and it appears to be very good!

[THE BIGPUNN]

ryan, at about 30k my belt would squeal whenever i went through car wash or it rained. our belts supposedly are supposed to be "long lasting". the dealer replaced it under the manufacture warranty.