OEM idler/Tensioner pulley

All of the research that I did says the Ac idler pulley and the power steering idler pulley are the same. And I was going to just change the bearings in the pulleys but after removing both the original Toyota pulleys, it looks like it is not feasible to press out the bearings in the power steering pulley.

 

Yeah the two are the same...

you have a choice of gates, dayco, or oem is $50ish

For Toyota Tacoma GATES DRIVEALIGN AC Accessory Drive Belt Tensioner Pulley a8 | eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294705803965


there's a old thread here on rebuilding these.....
but if it locked up....

 

I think you are correct. You can interchange the AC idler pulley with the power steering idler pulley, even though they are not the same part number. I am not talking about buying a new pulley. I am talking about pressing out the old bearing and installing a new bearing. You can do that easily on the AC pulley, but not on the OEM power steering idler pulley because they are totally different

 

Difference is that center bolt.....

same pulley...

AC.........88440-04030 - Accessory Drive Belt Idler Pulley 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma | Ourisman Toyota Parts


I would just bite the bullet and buy gates or dayco.....
the toyota one may even be china bearings at this day and age...
no way to tell for sure......
......their new parts are not same as the older original ones...

its just too damn bad....

A lot of new Tundra's are sitting in owners driveways with blown engines....
while they're still making payments....

a lot of their part packages now say made in mexico....which means they're sourcing cheapest parts possible.......they're not charity or nostalgic....just want to survive...

 

The difference is not the center bolt that I can see. What I can see is the difference is - the AC pulley , you can press out the bearing and press in a new bearing but if you look at the two pulleys, the power steering pulley is designed so there’s no way to press out the bearing. The pulley on the right is the power steering pulley and the pulley on the left is the AC pulley as you can see they are totally different. These are OEM pulleys.

 

I just took those OEM idler pulley’s off of my 1998 reg cab 2.4L truck. The one on the left I have already pressed out the bearing, but the one on the right as you can see, which is the power steering pulley. It’s totally enclosed. There’s no way to press it out on either side. Now if you have an aftermarket pulley such as the gates, then it is open on one side and you can press out the bearing and press on a new one, but not on the OEM pulley

 

Again I have a 2.4 and I replaced both with...


Gates DriveAlign Power Steering Drive Belt Idler Pulley for 1995-2004 Toyota yq | eBay

 

Only oem I could find was whole assembly....

OEM GENUINE TOYOTA 4RUNNER TACOMA T100 POWER STEERING IDLER PULLEY 44350-34010 | eBay


So I can buy 5 of mine to one of these......

 

Yes, I understand what you’re saying but I don’t think you understand what I am saying. I am saying you can’t take the OEM Toyota power steering idler pulley and just replace the bearings in it because it’s not possible to just replace the bearings in that pulley. Yes, I understand that you can buy aftermarket pulleys, that fit in that application, a lot less than Purchasing the OEM Toyota idler pulley assembly. By the way, did you know the Gates idler pulley is made in Canada and that is correct. The pulley is made in Canada, but the bearings that are in it are made in China.

 

Both of my OEM pulleys were identical, with replaceable bearings.

I have a 2.7 - 1996 so perhaps not the same as your truck.

 

Are you sure your power steering pulley is OEM? aftermarket pulleys will work in this application And the bearings are replaceable in the Aftermarket pulleys. Maybe the 2.7 is different.

 

Yep, I'm sure.

 

It looks like that one pulley is so expensive....and rarely ever needed that no US importer keeps em in stock.

SO one of the rare items that you have to direct order from Japan......or Dubai

so like $100 for the pulley and another $50 to ems it....


reason everyone here chose the $30 option



We risk getting pulled over by the Tacoma police......we're living on the edge