Silverado/Seirra idler & tensioner bearing life

[Jsdirt]

My buddy had a total tensioner failure a few months back on his '06 Dodge Hemi at about 85k miles (tensioner fell off! ), so that put the bug in my ear to check out my setup before I'm left on the side of the road hundreds of miles from home.

 

Just greased up the bearings in my idler and tensioner pulleys on both the main belt and the A/C, plus dry-lubed both tensioners after flushing them out with the lube. 75k miles - all were starting to feel a little on the dry side. I pry the seals out, grease them up, and carefully press the seals back in. Been doing this for years on all my vehicles in the fleet here.

 

Just FYI: the main tensioner and idler bearing is a 6003, and the little A/C tensioner pulley bearing is a 6001. Let me know if this has changed on the newer ones, just to keep it relevant.

 

 

 

Post up your pulley bearing failures, or pre-emptive pulley or bearing replacement miles. Post the year and engine size, and any mods to the pulley system (supercharger, underdrive, etc.).

 

These things are so lightly greased, I'm curious to see how many miles they can really spin for, before they spit the balls out and shred the belt.

 

Feel free to post belt failure miles as well - A/C or main. It's all related.

[Jsdirt]

Nobody has had a bearing or belt failure in their belt-driven accessories?

 

If replaced as a pre-emptive strike, post your miles at replacement time.

[Bob D]

I suspect your friend's drastic failure could have been avoided by occasional inspections.

Although I've experienced no failures, I replaced Tensioner & Idler @ 120K.

Replaced bearing in old Idler. Keep it and old Tensioner in tool box (as roadside swap, if necessary, is easy).

[Jsdirt]

Yep - no question about it.

 

I'm really surprised they made it that long, just judging from the condition of mine at 75k, and the amount of (LACK of, I should say ...) grease they use in these today. Good to know though. Thanks for the info.

[oldscsc]

I've replaced my main idler pulley, main belt tensioner, and AC belt tensioner, along with both belts. Doesn't take long for them to start sounding like a skateboard wheel rolling down an asphalt road.

 

I can't help on your mileage estimate, as the pickup had over 300k on it when I replaced the parts. I don't know when the last time was they were changes, but I'd assume this is probably its third set.

[Jsdirt]

That's a great description - exactly the sound they make, too. Mine were about 3/4 the way there when I greased them.

 

Thanks for the info SC.

[Wolverine350R]

Replaced mine around 150k (15 years), but I can't say that it hadn't been replaced by the prev owner (I bought at 86k). I was amazed at how much it quieted the truck down when replaced. I'll have to look into greasing mine as I think it is making noise again.

[Jsdirt]

Just make sure you use a light grease. Wheel bearing grease is too thick - it works, but it won't last. Something of a NGLI #0 is the best, #1 at the least.

 

I use a dental pick to carefully pry the seal out. Some seals can be tedious - they were never meant to be removed.

[CapitalTruck]

I replaced my tensioner/idler on my 800 at 95k with the serpentine belt. No failures/noises. I replaced all components with Gates, whom I believe was the OEM for the 800s. On my 900 it looks like "Bando"

[Jsdirt]

Not sure who makes them for GM - Gates sounds about right, but these days you never know. Could be some chinese company for all we know ...

 

Good info Cap - thanks.

[Jsdirt]

Just wanted to update this.

 

Just replaced my A/C belt and the tensioner pulley bearing. Turns out that bearing did not like the greasing I gave it - it's a small bearing and spins SUPER fast. Probably needed something even thinner than a NGLI #0 grease. Thing is probably spinning at 6k rpm when the truck is IDLING if I were to guess. Smallest pulley I've ever seen used in an automotive application! I was getting a loud screech/chirp from that bearing every time I started the truck up in the morning. Pretty annoying. The bearing did run about 600 miles or so like that.

 

Ended up using an SKF 6001 bearing, and a ACDelco K040378HD Fleetrunner belt (the green one). OEM belt still has plenty of life left in it, so that will be kept as a spare.

 

Still running on all the OEM bearings and belts on the main.

[WilliamBos]

My 04 was on original tensioners and pulleys. Truck had kind belt replaced as preventative msintrnsce. Traded the truck with 227,000 miles/350,000 km on it. My 11 has 62,000 miles, hope it is as trouble free.

[newdude]

A/C tensioners are notorious. 2009 they went to the tensioner free "stretchy belt" design on V8 applications.

[Jsdirt]

Interesting - good info there 15H. I didn't know that.

 

 

My 04 was on original tensioners and pulleys. Truck had kind belt replaced as preventative msintrnsce. Traded the truck with 227,000 miles/350,000 km on it. My 11 has 62,000 miles, hope it is as trouble free.

Wow that's some crazy miles for the OEM stuff! Seems like they all self destruct around here from 90-120k miles for some reason (usually lack of, or worn out grease in the bearings).

[WilliamBos]

I made a typo on the conversion, should be 217,000 miles/350,000 kms.

I hope the 2011 is as reliable as the 04 was.