Idler Pulley Replacement. How to:

Hey I have a new Idler Pulley that I want to put on my truck. I searched on here for a how to and didnt see a writeup. Maybe I am blind, but I didnt find anything. I don't have a lot of time to waste as I am going to break some company policies by working on my truck in the shop so I was hoping to read a write up first so I don't run into any surprises. Any help is good help, if not I will just wing it. Thanks!

 

Anyone? ...Bueller? ...Bueller?

 

I guess I'm winging it

 

Good luck! It's not hard. I changed my lower idler today and it was fairly easy. If the V6 is anything like the 4 cyl then wrenches/sockets needed is all 14mm.

 

Here ya go, all the info you need.

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...154-idler-pulley-bearing-failure-what-do.html

 

Step 1 remove belt
Step 2 remove old idler pulley
Step 3 install new idler pulley
Step 4 install belt

It's usually that easy. Good luck

 

Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for! +1

 

Not sure why I need to remove my belt. I can't work on my truck if my pants keep falling down. Send better instructions

 

Why do you want to replace the idler pulley?

I notice my truck makes a squeaking noise when I first start my truck. I'm guessing it's the belt though. Almost 60K miles on it.

 

LMAO

Mine sounded like a roots supercharger. Bearing was shot.

OP's was even older than mine so it was probably time.

 

I replaced all 3 idlers and the complete tensioner assembly yesterday. I had plenty of tension but some internal part of the arm (a bushing I suppose) was worn out allowing it to misalign the belt.

First I starting by removing the following:

Battery
Engine cover
Skid Plate
Serpentine belt
Alternator and wiring harness brackets

Next I removed the four AC compressor bolts and moved it away from the tensioner assembly. The lower bolts are difficult but if you are patient and use a 12 point socket and fine tooth ratchet, no problem.

Removed the tensioner assembly via the 5 mounting bolts, Replaced with a Gates unit along with the 3 idler pulleys (I recommend these) and a new Gatorback belt.

Took me 2.5 hours start to finish, the FSM helped with bolt locations and the torque specs are listed in it.

 

My truck was doing this too and a new belt fixed it. Cheaper and easier to change the belt out first before messing with idler pullies.

 

Sir,
It’s been nearly 8 years since you posted this and tonight I started this job. I am no pro, but I got everything off to the 5 bolts holding the tensioner assembly to the block. I could not get them off. Neither wrench I used could get a good enough angle nor could I loosen it by hand. I tried for a while and failed. So I took the new pulley off my new Gates assembly and put it on the factory assembly. I will reassemble everything tomorrow and hopefully come out successful.

 

just an FYI that likely won’t work for Belt clearance reasons. You CAN order a replacement bearing for the factory tensioner OR febest makes a pulley that is compatible with the oem tensioner.

 

It's been a long time. Not sure how I got through it, I remember the AC compressor bolts being the difficult part.

 

Well the Gates pulley worked in Place of the old one. No rubbing or ill effects after two weeks.

I’m glad I had this thread to go by and I thank you all for contributing and replying!

 

I think my lower idler no 1 is bad. I can't get a good enough grip on the bolt because of the oil cooler. Can I simply unmount the cooler and move it temporarily to replace the pulley or does it need to be more extensive?

 

@b3itz - are you attempting removal from the bottom? On OEM setups, there is no need to remove anything but the belt and lower brackets that prevent the approach from the bottom.

 

Cool so I popped off my skid plate and I see I can get there from under.
What lower brackets?

 

@b3itz - They are the mounting brackets for the skid plate. You may only need to remove the driver side one, or not - for me, removing it made it easier to rotate my ratchet.
Edit: actually, for using my pry bar on that bolt.