Secrets I Wish I Knew About Drive Belt Pulleys

The generic term drive belt represents a set of belts that helps in running the engine accessories like power steering pump, alternator, etc. You will have to route these belts in such a way so that the contact with belts as well as other components can be avoided with the help of an idler pulley. This will help you in locating the belt as well as allow it to move freely.

There are several different types of pulleys a vehicle’s engine could use. Some pulleys have a single belt groove, while others have multiple belt grooves to drive multiple accessories. Some pulleys provide a constant belt tension, and pulleys that direct belt deflection away from brackets, hoses, and wires.

Both nylon and aluminium have properties that make them ideal materials for timing belt pulleys, which is why combining the two is often the preferred construction method. Some pulleys are made up of plastics because they are light in weight, affordable,  and require less maintenance because they do not corrode or rust.

The crankshaft pulley constantly spins as the engine runs. This pulley is connected to other accessories of the engine like the water pump pulley, air compressor pulley, power steering pulley, and idler pulley. The crankshaft pulley rotates and transmits the power to these pulleys via a drive belt. The constant rotation of the crankshaft pulley and the drive belt enables power transmission to various components of the engine.

If you hear any noise from the idler pulley, possible causes could be the pulley has slipped, worn out, or is damaged. Here is an explanation for each of these causes in order so that you may know when these symptoms appear. You have to watch out for this noise as it might get worse. The less noise that you hear from the very first time is enough to have your vehicle inspected. The noises might get worse which can lead to serious issues and you will need a lot of money to get them fixed.

1.  Pulley Old and Worn Out - The idler pulley spins continuously along with the drive belt. If it spins repeatedly, then the pulley will be exposed to more wear and tear. If this occurs, then you will notice more scuffs and other marks on the surface of the pulley. This can lead to noises from the belt and pulley assembly. 

2.  Pulley Slippage - Slipping of the idler pulley is likely to happen if the pulley has worn out. If this happens, then the pulley will bind and it will start rubbing against the engine belt. As a result, you will see squealing noise from the engine which might get worse if the bad pulley is not replaced. As a result, the belts as well as other components within the engine might wear out and get damaged.

3.  Pulley Damage - In the worst cases, if the first two causes of the idler pulley are avoided, then the idler pulley might get damaged and broken altogether. With time,  the pulley will wear out and lead to problems like stalling and overheating of the engine. Apart from this, there will be more noise which might be continuous and annoying.

Idler pulleys are nothing but engine pulleys that hold responsibility for guiding as well as tensioning the engine drive belts. In a specific way, the engine drive belt is routed in a particular manner around the various engine accessories like power steering pump, alternator, power steering pump, AC compressor, etc. The idler pulley mainly helps to provide a smooth rotating point for the engine belt so that it can loop around and the expected routing can be achieved. Most engines use one idler pulley and one tensioner pulley, whereas some vehicles will use more than one idler pulley. As time goes by idler pulleys will be prone to wear and tear and has to be replaced. Usually, a damaged or faulty idler pulley will show a few symptoms which can help the driver notify of an issue:

1. Visibly worn pulleys - The first symptom of a problem with an idler pulley is a worn-out pulley. As time goes by, when the pulley keeps spinning against the belt, eventually the belt starts wearing out. This will lead to more damage to the pulley as it stays in contact with the belt. Ultimately both the pulley and belt will wear out to the point of reducing tension, where the belt will finally slip.

2. Belt squealing - Another common symptom of a possible problem with the idler pulley is the squealing of the engine belts. If the idler pulley’s surface wears out, or if the seizing or binding of the pulley takes place, then the engine belt may squeal as it keeps rubbing against the pulley’s surface. A few times, the damaged pulley may slip or bind which might cause the belt to squeal when you first start the engine. 

3. Damaged bearing or pulley - A damaged bearing or pulley is another possible symptom of a problematic idler pulley. In most scenarios, the pulley or the bearing might be worn out which might eventually cause the breaking, cracking, or seizing of the pulley. This might cause trouble in the rotation of the belt and lead to severe issues. A belt that is torn or seized can tear apart the belt and in less case scenario, the belt might fall off from the engine. The engine which does not have a belt can lead to some serious issues like overheating, stalling because the drive belt allows engine accessories for proper functioning.

Several skilled auto mechanics have a goal of opening their car repair shop in their career. But let’s face it; if you want to put up an efficient and profit-making shop, then you might need much more than mechanical skills. There are several tools that you might need to perform the car repairs quickly as well as reliably. Auto repair equipment that you will need to repair your Drive Belt Pulley may include:

• Replacement idler pulley

• Socket set

• Ratchet

• Wrench

If you know which car parts brand suits the best for your Drive Belt Pulley, then it would save a lot of your decision-making time. What we believe is that picking a particular brand would always help reduce the clutter, and would make it easier for the customers to find what they are looking for. That’s why we have listed out some top brands for Drive Belt Pulley below:-

• Gates Drive Belt Pulley

• Dorman/Techoice Drive Belt Pulley

• Dayco Drive Belt Pulley

• Four Seasons Drive Belt Pulley

• Cooling Depot Drive Belt Pulley

If you are like most of us, then you won’t know much about the related components of the car Drive Belt Pulley. Fear not! Here is a quick and easy guide to explain the related parts of the Drive Belt Pulley.

• Idler Pulley

• Idler Or Tensioner Pulley

• Tensioner Pulley

• Engine Pulley Kits

• Idler Pulley Adjustment Bolt

• Idler Pulley Bearing

There can be several factors that can lead to failure in the Drive Belt Pulley like poor car maintenance, some accidents due to which the Drive Belt Pulleys might get damaged or there might be some flaws during the quality control check at the factory where the car was manufactured or sometimes it might happen because of not changing the Drive Belt Pulleys on time. Whatever the cause might be, the replacement of the Drive Belt Pulleys is not at all an easy process and if you want to achieve success, then it’s essential to have the correct tools. This is the reason why you should leave the replacement/repair procedure to the skilled mechanics who have the tools and expertise to complete the task.

The approximate price for replacing a drive belt idler pulley lies between $122 and $168. The cost of labor lies approximately between $68 and $87 while auto parts are priced between $54 and $81. Taxes and fees are not included in the estimates.

Before removing the old drive belt pulley, make sure you have the right replacement. Have a look at the steps of changing the car drive belt pulley:

Step 1

The negative battery cable must be removed first. Then, with your socket wrench, unscrew the tension-adjustment bolt. To reduce belt tension, the entire alternator must be detached if the driving belt pulley is linked to it. If the pulley is directly attached to the engine block, however, the bolt connecting the two must be loosened.

Step 2

To release the belt, return the pulley to its original position. Remove any protective cases that may be found surrounding the drive belt as well.

Step 3

After that, take out the retaining bolt. You'll be able to remove the old drive belt pulley once the holding bolt is gone. Hold the pulley in place so it doesn't spin while loosening the central bolt with a socket wrench.

Step 4

To verify whether you have an acceptable replacement, compare the used drive belt pulley to the new one. It's time to install the replacement drive belt pulley into the car once you're certain it's correct. When the replacement drive belt pulley is in place, make sure to tighten the retaining bolt.

Step 5

To torque the replacement drive belt pulley to the specified measurement in your vehicle's owner's manual, use your torque wrench. A socket can also be used to keep the pulley from rotating. Finally, replace any screws, bolts, or protective casings that were removed when the previous pulley was replaced. Remember to reconnect the battery!

If you are still confused about which type of car Drive Belt you should buy, then you can visit our The Ultimate Drive Belt Buying Guide. You should always look for the warning signs of a bad Drive Belt and replace them at the earliest you can. With us, you can find Drive Belt at the most economical costs.