Is the idler pulley necessary on a 4.0?

So I did a SAS on my 09 and the tie rod is getting into my lower idler pulley.
I don’t really see why it needs to be there. Looks like I could remove it and just get a shorter belt.

thoughts?

 

Doing so would drastically reduce the the amount of belt surface on the AC compressor.

 

You should lose about an inch of contact surface

 

My WAG is they are there to keep the belt from jumping off. It also looks like they add more surface contact belt space. As always try it and report back. YMMV.

If Toyota could have eliminated the pulley I assume they would have.

 

Assuming that diagram is to scale (which it might not be) it doesnt look like you'll gain anything by removing the pulley. Wont it just hit the belt if the belt were to go straight from the crank to the AC?

 

Toyota engineers would have eliminated it if they saw that it wasn't necessary. If they could save a penny, they would have. There is a reason they put an idler pulley there, to increase belt contact and reduce belt slippage. Without it, the AC compressor will slip very very easily.

 

I agree. X2

 

I’ll take a picture. It hangs down an inch or so I would gain a little more space.

 

I understand but we all modify what Toyota engineers design anytime we modify our trucks. lol

 

To upgrade the truck to what Toyota should be selling.

 

And that's exactly why people have problems with their trucks. Not everything they designed was great, but many things were.

 

I'd bet money if you remove a pulley it will either slip on AC compressor or stress another component like the other idler pulley or the Belt Tensioner and you would be putting the pulley back on in 6 months or less.
The belt, pulleys, etc. are designed to work together.
Changing the belt length by just an inch could increase the speed on the water pump, alternator, power steering pump etc...

But, it's your truck.

Pull it off and get a shorter belt and report back.

 

I could see it slipping on the compressor for sure.
The speed wouldn’t change cause no pulley sizes are changing. I’ll see if I can get by without removing it.

 

Belt length and pulley speed are not related. The RPM of any given is pulley is only related to the size (diameter) of the pulley itself and the linear speed of the belt.

Also I dont think this will cause any additional wear, assuming the belt isnt too long or too short.. As long as the tension still sits about where it was before, then its doing its job

 

Here’s a picture from the interweb

 

Ahh yup I see what you're after. Wont be much contact with the AC after removing that idler, but thats not the end of the world I suppose if you're fine with maybe loosing AC and defrost haha

 

Just remove the tie rod and keep both hands on your steering wheel to keep you straight. Problem solved.

 

How much is it hitting by? I’m assuming this is under full compression of the suspension so couldnt you just extend the bump stops a smidge?

 

I’ve looked at your pics. The tie rod is no where near the motor. The drag link appears like it might be close though. Can you get a dropped pitman arm for whatever steering gear you are using?

 

So I had made a drag link and it was hitting so I notched it out.
I want to make a new one that’s not notched.

I ended up bending the current one cause it hit the passenger frame so I have to make a new one and notch the frame anyways.