Serpentine Belt & Pulley Job - Which Pulleys Should I Be Replacing?

Just replace them all. I just did them on my 2006, easy peasy.

 

Planning on replacing all as well. Did you add a washer on the

$37 Gates 36173 DriveAlign Belt Drive Idler/Tensioner Pulley

36173 like the one used with OEM, or just install with the small insert that it comes with?

 

I bought OEM and either used the washer it came with or reused the old one. Didn't use any inserts.

 

You can use the oem washer if you want. It just provides the sealed bearing some added protection from debris.

 

I'd want to use the insert in regardless of whether or not I use an additional washer though, correct?

 

Yes, the insert centers the pulley.

 

Ok y'all.. Is there a special method used to torque down the tensioner pulley? My best guess is to use the allen key in the hole to keep tension off, and then continue with the torque wrench (going Lefty since it's reverse threaded). Is that a solid way of doing it or am I missing something?

 

It has a fairly low torque spec, so you won’t have any trouble tightening it up. I’m pretty sure I did it with the belt off so I probably had the allen key still in place.

 

Oftentimes I tighten those just by torquing against the spring stop. It doesn't need a very tight torque, around 20 lbs is fine most of the time. You're not gonna hurt it, If the tensioner arm was that brittle they'd be breaking all the time