Welp.....Stim $$ spent

Spent a chunk of the stim check on repair parts.

Serp belt, pulleys and tensioner.
U-joints front & rear shaft.
Carrier bearing.

This is the last of the 100 kmile maintenance the truck is needing. These should eliminate the belt howl and the low speed shudder.

Dealer wants $1150 to do the work to replace the Serp belt system. So, I'm supplying the labor, the parts coming from RockAuto. I didn't bother with a quote for the drive shaft work.

The remainder will be spent on the home.

Hopefully, when the work is done on the home, some $$ will be left so I can replace the speakers.........

In one pocket.....out the other pocket. Life.

 

Hey, repairs/maintenance items for "free"... can't beat that!

 

"Free" is debatable.

I'm sure we will see an increase in fees around April, 2022.

Ain't nuttin' free.

 

$1150 for the serpentine belt?!! Crazy...

 

My mechanic replaced my serpentine belt and I'm pretty sure it was in the $120-$150 range for parts and a labor...? Damn stealerships...

 

Belt and idler pulleys are not really a big deal. The tensioner is a bit more involved, if I recall correctly.

 

I spent the entirety of mine paying the principle down on my truck. Only $2,200 left!

 

Hence the quotes. We'll ALL be paying for that "free" eventually.

 

ok. To clarify.

The entire Serp belt system is being replaced. Belt, 3 idlers and the tensioner. Using the Gates kit from RockAuto. Parts arrive Friday. Work begins Saturday morning. I'm planning this as the only task for the weekend.

The tensioner is the complex replacement. Mostly due to having to dig under the Alternator and the A/C compressor working thru the LH front wheel well.

So, it is not a "simple" belt only task.

 

Why not just replace the tensioner pulley itself? That'll save you an hour or 2 and maybe a knuckle or 2 as well.

I've replaced idlers, but haven't touched the tensioner. That bearing sounds good with a stethoscope.

That being said: I replaced the idlers from under the truck. Twas an easy job requiring only 1 or 2 combination wrenches. I took tension off the belt and took the belt of off the PS pump. Also, the belt runs close to itself on the PS pump side. Pay attention when snaking the belt around everything or it'll scream like a banshee when cold.

Ask me how I know...

 

@Larzzzz I get where you are coming from.

That path was considered. I know the truck's history. 110 kmiles, lived on gravel roads, limited maintenance......... Also, there is a belt related howl coming from one of the idler/tensioner. Another consideration, the tensioner spring, like all springs, can take a set and weaken over time with constant load and heat cycles.

So, I'll be in there doing the work. My labor just costs a bit of time, a bloody knuckle or two and some bad language. Plus, I'd be immensely aggravated to replace the pulley, then have the tensioner fail in the dead of winter. Critical things always fail based on Murphy's rules.

 

I got that same kit for my 2012 before looking up the tensioner replacement procedure. I ended up skipping the tensioner and just did all the idlers. I didn't have any noise, just 90k on the truck and figured a new belt was a good idea, and the tensioner seemed fine. Figured I'd wait until something else broke requiring a bigger teardown and swap it then. At the time, I also had a timing belt replacement to do on a 4.7 V8 and figured I'd spend my time getting that right.

 

Like pay day. Its more of a middle man day than anything

 

Started the serp belt system replacement today. Began at 10:30 am. Finished at 4:30 pm.

The video of this work on an FJ leaves out several details which make the Tacoma more difficult.

Digging down to the A/C compressor is pretty straight forward following the video. After that, it becomes a different creature.
The A/C mount bolts are very shrouded, occluded and difficult to access. Many blue words, various tool configurations, a pneumatic impact........the bolts finally gave up. Tensioner replace was pretty straight once the A/C was dismounted. The idlers were no issue. Let me say, bolts that haven't moved since '06 and 100+ kmiles are stubborn cusses.

Belt on and routed, everything assembled. No left over parts. The howl in the front is gone.

Tomorrow, I'm expecting U-joints. Then onto the driveline shudder elimination.

 

Good job! That was my concern, looked like a PITA to do all that for just a belt refresh when I wasn't concerned that the tensioner needed a refresh.

Have fun with the u-joints! They aren't that bad if you have a vise or the proper tools.