Chirping belt, replacing this weekend - Dayco vs Gates

[Mossyoakglock]

My belt is chirping in the mornings when I first start it so I am going to replace them this weekend. I can get both Dayco and Gates belts locally so I'll go with either one of those. I thought about the Gatorback belts but I can't get them locally anymore so I'd have to order them from Rockauto.com

I've read that the Gates belts might be a little better than Dayco but wanted your thoughts and opinions. Which belt are you guys going with when you replace yours?

Does anybody know who is the manufacturer for the AC Delco belts now?

[kstruckcountry]

I have Dayco on my truck, I dress it every month though. I'm planning on ordering a Gatorback.

 

 

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[txab]

Gates over dayco

[Mossyoakglock]

Would it be a bad idea to replace the tensioners at the same time? I can get both at RockAuto for around $100 (AC Delcos) or get the Gates tensioners locally for a little less. Just not sure which ones are better quality although I've heard that Gates is the supplier for AC Delco belts and tensioners.

 

I'm going to replace the belt and check the tension to see if it is within spec first just to make sure.

[MikeInCtown]

Check amazon. They sell all the gates tensioners and idler pulleys as well as the gatorback belts. I just bought 2 new gatorback belts, upper and lower hoses, one tensioner pulley, a water pump, thermostat, and gallon of antifreeze from Amazon. $212 delivered. Locally would have cost me at least $50-$100 more, and rock auto would have cost a little more than what I paid and taken longer in transit. (I have Prime)

 

BTW I have had a gatorback belt(s) on my truck for the last 75,000 miles and never heard a squeal. I highly recommend them.

[Bob D]

Would it be a bad idea to replace the tensioners at the same time?....

I replaced tensioner @ last belt change (140K) +/-$30 from RockAuto (saving original one as spare)..

New bearing in Idler Pulley as well.

[mike94silverado]

I have Dayco on my truck, I dress it every month though. I'm planning on ordering a Gatorback. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You use Belt Dressing on a Serpentine belt?

 

I'd vote for Gates just because we use them at work and they last longer than the Daycos we have used.

[1997SierraSLT]

Gates over Dayco. If not mistaken, Napa Auto Parts sells rebranded Gates belts. Bought tensioner and idler pulleys recently at Advance Auto Parts. One had a good quality Japanese bearing, the other had a Chinese bearing. Not thrilled. On the tensioner pulley, for years I'd simply pop the lip seal off the bearing, flush it out with solvent, dry, and repack with grease.

[montyss]

I Have always used the Goodyear belts and they seem to last a bit better than the Dayco belts

[CapitalTruck]

The serpentine belts on these trucks are good for at least 100k. My old truck, and heck, this new one also, chirps in the morning at first start, particularly if its damp. I think that is completely normal. The OEM supplier for belts is Bando. I would choose Gates belts and tensioners over Dayco. ACDelco is a rebranded Gates. The A/C compressor belt, at least on my 2013 is a stretch belt. A tool should come with the belt to stretch it over the pulleys. There is no tensioner. Having said that, if you don't have at least 90k on the truck I wouldn't be fooling with the belts. Unless you idle for hours and hours at a time.

[Mossyoakglock]

I though that the AC Delco tensioners were rebranded Gates. A few comments on Amazon said they ordered a Delco tensioner (same part number I need) and said it came in a Delco box but had Gates stamped on the part itself. This was a review from earlier this year so it was recent.

[kstruckcountry]

You use Belt Dressing on a Serpentine belt?

Yeah I always have. My 1990 would squeak without it with the AC on. It also seems to keep the belts looking newer. I have a bunch laying around for farm use so why not? Lol

 

 

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[Jsdirt]

..... On the tensioner pulley, for years I'd simply pop the lip seal off the bearing, flush it out with solvent, dry, and repack with grease.

Yep - me too. The lack of grease in bearings these days is astonishing - it's a wonder they last 30 seconds under the hood.

[BrianWheeler]

Come on, guys. No love for over 100-year-old, Made in America Dayco?

 

All kidding aside, my name is Brian and I'm the Marketing Manager for Dayco in North America. We believe our belt, the Dayco Poly Rib W Profile serpentine belt, is the solution to noisy belt issues. I won't go into all the marketing jargon here, but I will offer the person who started this thread a belt to give Dayco a try. Our belts are built for high-mileage drives and will solve noise problems, as long as your drive system is aligned properly. I also use Dayco on my own truck, a 2003 Silverado with over 140,000 miles on it.

 

Also, belt dressing is very bad for today's serpentine belts. Belt dressing makes the rubber compound swell, which will eventually make that belt squeal even louder.

[txab]