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Belt Squeal won't die!

flatlander745

flatlander745

New member
Hey all I'm posting on behalf of my H Body, just trying to get as much exposure to this problem as possible....hope you don't mind!

Here's the deal >>:th_angry-teeth:

This post was on the old engine and it still exists on the new engine will all different parts!! Here's what I've done, and where I'm at. (This is on the main accessory drive)

Used belt from old engine, Dayco less than 2,000 miles on it > was quiet for a day then started chirp, chirp, chirp, then on to constant squeak/ squeal.

Swapped tensioner pulleys (2 new ones,) > No Diff

Swapped tensioner assembly new dayco less than 2,000 miles from old engine > No Diff

Swapped alternator > No Diff

Noticed water pump pulley wobbling a little from wp wear, replaced it > Quiet for ten minutes while warming up then > No Diff

Replaced both belts with new Gatorbacks > Quiet for a day or so then gradual chirping turning into the regular constant squeal!! Not quite as loud as it usually is but still there!! Sometimes quiet at idle sometimes not.

Replaced p/s pump back before trans, less than 1,000 miles on it.

A/C compressor doesn't cycle but spins free and is noise free.

Reman p/s pump has maybe an 1/8" internal shaft play end to end....but I can't see any movement when the engine is running.

I'm going craaaaazy!!

It sounds like metallic noise like back of pulley bearing to mount or something. Definitely sounds like its coming from main tensioner.

Shoot the ribbed side of the belt with PB Blaster just under the alternator and it shuts up for a minute.

The belt runs true and straight over all the pulleys with no wobbles.

When you rev the engine the noise matches the spring travel on the tensioner when it moves with added engine load.

I am at a total loss and have had it!!!!

Has anybody been here before or know the solution??

Thanks!!
 


You might take a close look at the harmonic balancer. It can cause belt squeak and vibration if it is no longer holding center.

Sent from my SkyRocket
 
This is a duplicate problem from my original L67 with 133,000 miles that was seriously neglected and my new L67 with 62,000 miles and is ohhh so clean inside with almost zero wear on anything. I'm thinking it has to be some accessory thing.
 
check the idler and both tensioner pulleys. take one belt off , run the engine, if the sound goes away the problem is with in that belt. still there, take the main belt off, then run it for a minute, if its now gone is a pulley within that belt.

spinning these pulleys by hand, you should be able to feel if is spinning smoothly or not.
 
you can try cleaning the belt with warm soapy water and a scrub brush. take it off, clean it up good.

bend the belt over treads side up, bend it over your finger. is it cracked or missing chunks? if so its time for a new belt.
 


OK, I am having a hard time telling if it coming from the tensioner pulley or the alternator. With the engine running I pulled the tensioner bolt towards the front of the car (clockwise) to add tension and it shut up with just a few pounds of torque. I pulled the belt and spun the alternator by hand and there is a little chirp turning clockwise. Would that little chirp turn into obnoxious squealing under load of the belt when running?
 
Ok, I've poured excessive time and effort into this issue and I think there is a possibility of pulley misalignment with the symptoms I have. When spraying the belt with water while the engine is running the noise stops immediately, then returns. Also it is a continuous noise no matter what load. I replaced the p/s pump a few thousand miles ago and I am pretty sure this is when the noise developed on the old engine. I noticed there is some end-play in the pump shaft as well...not sure if the pulley is not aligned parallel with the alternator/ tensioner pulley that is causing this? Previously with the new Gates belt I flipped it around so it traveled in the opposite direction and it was quiet for a few days. Maybe a sign of wear-in on mis-aligned pulley and starting noise again?
 


Goodyear # 4060926/ 6PK2352/ 92.60 Main Drive. All the pulleys are stock size, tensioner is 3". I did look closer at everything and noticed that my replacement p/s pump pulley looked out of line with the rest of the system...as if the pulley is not fully pressed onto the shaft or it has walked off the shaft at least half an inch. Again, the p/s pump has <1,000 miles on it. I will get a pic up later if you guys can verify for me? That would be great!

Thanks!
 
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