serpentine @ 60K? Get it out!!

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changed serpentine this evening---OEM was uggleeee!Had never done a serpentine before, so it took me a few minutes to figure out the tensioner #ad
---best way is to get under front of truck w/ 3/8 square drive-- there's a hole in the tensioner that accepts it,apply torque towards center of truck, this loosens belt, snake it out of its pathway, and then replace the new one the same way, being careful to match the grooves in the belts and pulleys, and to follow the illustration on the decal,too... old one had stretched about 2" and there were MANY cracks in the grooved pieces--- no splits or external cracks yet, so I kept it as a spare. I think #2 will come out at about 40-50K

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98 12-valve qc2500(made in Canada,eh) 4x4,"old"scotty system, E-4opencshort5/,P-L w/restr guage,Warn Front receiver,100Watt offroad lights, 19. 5"Ricksons w/G'year U'steel 159's, c-shell, Westin step-rail/nerf bars, d-plate rail caps, bedliner,MHG, B&M remote ATF filter on framerail near t-case,P-BD5c,BD v-b,BD T-loc, BD p-loc, I-BD175's,Isspro pyro,boost,transtemp guages,BDbrake, 3 snide b-stickers, Taz'n Devil m'flaps & f'mats--"%$*#)%$^#"-(translation:"TAZ LIKE TORQUE")

 

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I changed mine at about 44K, it was cracked pretty bad. I think from now on I'll change it after 30K miles or maybe less. I'd rather change it on a sunny Saturday at home than on a cold rainy night out on the road somewhere!
Andy

 

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mine is the orig. with 173,000 miles on it and looks fine but i will get a new one now that you all mentioned it and keep it behind the seat,,,are there any brands that are better than the factory ones???

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94 2500 4X4 SLT LARAMIE,AUTOMATIC,172,000. MILES,ORDERED NEW,BRILLIANT BLUE/SILVER BOTTOM,7. 5ft. MEYERS POLYBLADE SNOWPLOW,12K REESE HITCH W/2 LIGHTS,30ft. FOURWINDS 5th WHEEL CAMPER W/15K REESE HITCH,CAR TRAILER,UTILITY TRAILER,K&N AIR,PUMP TURNED UP 20%,CAT. GUTTED,TST #5 250/635 PLATE SET FULL FORWARD,STAR WHEEL WIDE OPEN ,TST BOOST&EGT PILLAR MOUNT GAUGES,AMSOIL,RANCHO SHOCKS&STABILIZER,VENT SHADES,PRIME DESIGN(behind grille)BUG GUARD W/EYEBROWS,MOULDED MUD FLAPS,WINDOW TINT 15%,BEDLINER CUT TO FIT AROUND 5th. WHEEL HITCH RAILS,COBRA CB W/BOOMER AMP,102" STAINLESS WHIP,PA SYSTEM,SILENCER RING GONE,235X85X16 KELLY,3:54 REAR,BRITE-LITES(skeets design)** 2001 3500 QUAD 4X4 LOADED ON ORDER ( not parting with the 12v)

 

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I changed mine this weekend. What a great set-up! Took about 3 minutes! Gotta love that 3/8 socket drive. I used a cheater pipe, made it real easy. I bought my belt, a Kelly-Springfield part, at Auto-Zone for 23 bucks. The old one is now under the seat for a spare. #ad


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'96 Regular Cab, 110K, SLT, auto, 3. 54, Vista topper, Pillar-mounted Autometer Boost/Pyro, starwheel spun

 

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If you'll look in the tool section of most auto parts stores, you'll find a long thin serpentine belt tensioner tool. It makes it a breaze from above the truck. FWIW, cracks across the grooves are normal. Cracks along the length of the belt or threads showing are signs of wear and empending doom. But it's so much fun to change once you have the tool, you'll never get to that point!

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Steve McDaniel, IUEC local 74
98 2500 "Buckwheat" CC 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, Comanche 245/75R16Es, Monroe LT Plus shocks, Silencer ring removed, Stainless exhaust flex coupling. VDO boost and pyro gauges. AFC tweeked just alittle.
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1

 

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I replaced my OE belt with Goodyear`s "gatorback belt" #ad


Very pleased with it

Lots more info here: http://www.goodyear.com/us/beltnhos/cars/gatopoly.html

Now if they only made the Super High Miler "blue" hose kits for our trucks. #ad

#ad

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94 2500 SLT 4x4 5 Speed, 3. 54 LS, JRE 4" exhaust,Autometer Pyro & Boost gauges, Bosch 215HP injectors, Timing @ 14. 7 BTDC, JRE Stage III #4 plate 270/675, AFC spring kit,Pschotty Air, Optima Red Tops, Geno`s Exhaust Blanket, Synthetic lubes throughout.



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 08-11-2000). ]

 

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I just put the Gaterback on mine also. The Goodyear website needs to be updated. The local dealer list for me is obsolete. I emailed Goodyear but did not hear back. Got two from Summit (one for spare) for $56. 68 shipped. Quiet belt!

 

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The Goodyear gatorback belt is also guaranteed for life of the vehicle and so are Wagner brake pads. It blows me away every time I bring my worn out pads back to the store and they give a new set for free.

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96, 2500, 4X4, 5spd, SLuT, Moss green, Cab lights, factory tow hooks, Limited slip added , BD Exhaust brake with 60 psi springs, Isspro gauges. And no power mods, yet! NRA member.

 

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Fastram,

I read the lifetime warranty on Goodyear Belts, hoses ect.

It sez: This warranty is not applicable to parts used in commercial vehicles or vehicles over 8,000 lbs. (3636 Kg) GVW.

I wonder if this applies to most of our rams?

 

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hey HemiDart---Killer belt design--pre-cut "cracks" in the inner contacts, like tire tread---about those blue hoses, if you wanna send Goodyear a petition demanding BLUE for DieselRams, you've got my signature... going one better... look so "trick" if the intercooler, radiator, heater-core,and ATF-cooler lines were all color-coded red and blue for hot-n-cold...

 

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Changed my OEM belt at 582k till that point (about 3 years) no cracks BUT tensioner locked up. Not a sound before all of a sudden squeel and blue smoke. Replaced with new but now have a squeek but pully rolls free and no slop???
Don't panic get a replacement belt and carry it in the tool box--also get the belt for the same unit minus the a/c compressor-they have do fail also. At failure rotate fan pully-alt-idler& A/c in most cases the truck will be long gone before the belt fails. ( Bush jumpers not included)

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96-3500 SLT EXT. CAB AM/FM/CD-RINO LINER. D-CELERATOR EXH. BRK-RED LINE VAC. OVER HYD BRK CONTROL- AIR BAGS W/HVY DUTY AIR COMP. PUTCO S/STEEL DEEPBOARDS FRONT TO REAR. REESE 20K 5TH WHEEL & GOOSE -REESE 20K HITCH BELOW W/17K RECEVER. CLEAR COATED & SOUND DEADINGING &UNDER COATED 5 SPD/W 4:10 MCHLN'S 235/16'S UNIDEN PC76/WEATHER-WILSON 1000 MAG MOUNT ANT. 4 WHL ANTI LOC BRK SYS.

 

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130,000+ miles now with factory belt. Still looks good, but have a new Mopar one on stand-by. I check it out at each service and will replace when needed. I think the Mopar parts are about the best possible. I'd be happy if mine broke tomorrow--I'd just stick on another one just like it and get another 130,000+ miles out of it! #ad


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1996 White, Extra-cab, 4X4, 5-speed, 4. 10 Model 80 rear, Laramie Pkg, Rickson Truck Accessories 19. 5" wheels with Michelin 265/70 XZT load range 'G' mud type tires, 4" turbo-back full-straight pipe exhaust with through the bed stack, Mopar brush guard, K&N RE-0880 air filter,"Psychotty Air", removed turbo silencer ring, Banks Boost & Pyro Guages (pillar mounted) 'tweaked' injector pump (cam plate all the way forward, AFC control run all the way in), well over 120k miles, lots of GOOD, BLACK SMOKE!!, Rollin'-S 25-foot, 10 ton flatbed trailer, with Vacuum/Hydraulic brakes, 16. 5" tandem dual Dexter axles.
-->5th gear out Thursday, June 22 @ 126,680 miles<--
(Repaired myself Wednesday, June 28)

 

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You guys that are waiting on the belt to break are askng for trouble. i have seen these type belts seperate only partway and then the piece that is loose beats things and can cause lots-o-damage to radiaters, hoods, hoses.



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95-2500-ExtCab-LB-4x4-Auto-AMSoil Air Filter, Bypass Oil Filter by others, AMSOIL and Mobil Synthetics, TST 255HP and TransGO Shift kit .

 

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Having worked on the big rigs for 25 years these belts will stand 300+ best thing after nylon tie wraps and silicon bath tub caulking for gaskets .

 

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ok, so I mighta panicked--one thing I've noticed, though, no more intermittent KLUNK!! noise when engaging A/C compressor--- was worried that the AC clutch or internals may have been contemplating early retirement, but it must have been that extra couple inches of stretch??

[This message has been edited by rich m (edited 08-19-2000). ]

 

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Thank you rich m. For several weeks I've been hearing a "clunk" noise when the a/c was turned on. Just saw your post about your new belt eliminating the noise.