5.3L Serpentine Belt Replacement

Jet-X · June 6, 2005

I'm coming up on 28K miles and was wondering what the recommended service life is on the serpentine belt? It looks like it's wearing fine and doesn't seem to be cracking much. As far as I remember, I think I changed the belt on my last truck at 35K miles. I'd like to keep the old one as a spare, so I don't want to wait until it's close to breaking. The dealer was no help, since they only replace them when they are worn out. Thanks, Glen

ness5575 · June 6, 2005

I'm coming up on 28K miles and was wondering what the recommended service life is on the serpentine belt? It looks like it's wearing fine and doesn't seem to be cracking much. As far as I remember, I think I changed the belt on my last truck at 35K miles. I'd like to keep the old one as a spare, so I don't want to wait until it's close to breaking. The dealer was no help, since they only replace them when they are worn out. Thanks, Glen

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i didnt do mine till 92k (i didnt always plan on keeping it this long!). It still looked ok and is now my "spare". you probably dont need to change it now, but if you feel more comfortable with a spare go ahead. I would personally do the ac belt at the same time if I was going thru the trouble of changing the serp...

Hotwire · June 7, 2005

I read through the owner's manual, recommended checking @ 60k, can't remember what the change interval was, I've got 61k on my truck and am getting ready to replace them. check insurance and I hate walking.

PELICAN · June 7, 2005

I have the 4.8L and have over 91,000 miles on the orignal belt. I was planning on changing out it out around 100,000. I thought those belts were suppose to last 100,000 on the new trucks? My is an 2002

az'03Silverado · June 7, 2005

I changed mine at 15,000 miles, BUT that was only because I wanted to carry a spare and I figured I'd put the nice new one on and use the original as a spare. You can go a long time on one belt, though.

Jet-X · June 7, 2005

Wow, a few of you guy's are doing 90K+ on the original belt. I never thought they would last that long. Maybe I'll do 50K, to be safe. Thanks for the replies....

dukbludvl · June 7, 2005

i've got 83K on the original belt on my 2000 Yukon and it has no signs of cracking or other hard wear at all. i'll keep an eye on it and probably change that and the AC belt out in the 90-100K range just to be safe.

what brand do you all recommend as a replacement? AC Delco?

Greek · June 7, 2005

My truck is a 2000 5.3 Silverado Z71. I believe every 5 years you should change belts and hoses.

Changed my belts at 60K miles. Changed/flushed the cooling system (dexcool) at 3 years. Will flush and replace hoses/thermostat in 2006.

ness5575 · June 7, 2005

Wow, a few of you guy's are doing 90K+ on the original belt. I never thought they would last that long. Maybe I'll do 50K, to be safe. Thanks for the replies....

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i cant say i reccondmend going as long as i did, but it all worked out ok. the belt still looks ok. I plan on doing the next one after 60k or so...

i used a goodyear gatorback belt. did a new tensioner as well - stopped the "squeek" on damp mornings...

99silveradoz71 · June 8, 2005

I think I changed mine out at 60k/5yrs basically just to be safe.

dukbludvl · June 8, 2005

when you guys say you are changing out the hoses, which ones are you referring to? Do you have part numbers you could share with me? Are they hard to do or is it just basically clamps off and back on?

I'm at 83-84K miles now and almost 5 years, and I need to do:

-- rear brakes and one rear rotor

-- first Dexcool flush (going to try to do it myself)

-- serpentine and AC belts just to be safe (recently did the belt tensioner when i replaced the P/S pump)

-- second tranny flush (did the last about 30,000 miles ago)

I'm thinking maybe I should add the hoses to that list and probably throw in a thermostat just to be safe. What do you guys think?