Tensioner Check

[BIGNASTY]

After reading the post by MFSchmit it got me to thinking about my own truck. Im rapidly approaching 100K and it's time to do the Coolant and pump and belt. /Tensioner. Some said that the bearing in the tensioner wheel could be replaced ok I have a grip on that but what about the tensioner itself? Is there something that can go bad except the bearing in the wheel or is the tensioner itself a ware item. If so how would you check for ware? Or just replace the whole thing after all its got 100K on it. I'd kind of like to know before I tear it all down and dont have all the parts from Geno's

 

[Bob4x4]

I think you worry too much :-laf:-laf

I don't see the tensioners fail except on hi mileage trucks... ... ... you have quite a ways to go yet

 

[BIGNASTY]

I was hoping you would chime in BOB as you see in a week what most never see. So what would you replace in the cooling system at 100k besides the thermostat and the coolant?

 

[Alan Reagan]

Mine went at 117K on my 2005. You can buy the pulley at Advanced for about $30. One bolt holds it in. I changed the belt and pulley and water pump all at the same time.

 

[steved]

Don't forget the other idler pulley bolted to the engine...



I replaced my idler pulleys around 200k, the tensioner itself was fine.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Quote I think you worry too much :-laf:-laf



Maybe so but the distances out this way are allot BIGGER than CA. It's said that it's in the middle of nowhere some of the places im MT are at the end of nowhere.



At times it makes the desert in Ca look populated :-laf Thanks anyway

 

[AEdelheit]

Is the Tensioner bolt left hand thread? I remember stripping out the tensioner pulley bolt on my old 5. 0 bronco cuz it was left hand thread, wasnt really what I wanted to deal with.

 

[steved]

Is the Tensioner bolt left hand thread? I remember stripping out the tensioner pulley bolt on my old 5. 0 bronco cuz it was left hand thread, wasnt really what I wanted to deal with.

No, right-handed. .

 

[macdaddy]

I think you worry too much :-laf:-laf

I don't see the tensioners fail except on hi mileage trucks... ... ... you have quite a ways to go yet

I agree... ...



If it isn't broke leave it alone.....



If you think about it you could replace a ton parts that dont need replacing at a 100 k ball joints, brakes, front wheel bearings to name a few.



Mine has 108K and is seven years old Tomorrow. I have never owned a truck this long so I sometimes struggle with the thought of replacing stuff that doesn't need replacing.



I have seen allot of 3rd gen trucks on here that are going a long way on the OEM parts that came on the truck.



Don't trouble the trouble until the trouble troubles you!!!!!



Mac

 

[AEdelheit]

Looks like I have some work to do this morning :-laf



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[AEdelheit]

Well got mine done along with a service and hopefully valve adj tomorrow morning. Couple things Id recommend, the belt is extremely hard to get around the tensioner pulley so I removed the tensioner assembly along with the old belt and but the belt around the new pulley as I put back together, was pretty easy this way. I also filled the block after I put the lower hose on but before I put the thermostat in, just put the coolant through the thermostat hole, figured this would help prevent getting a large air pocket in the block, after I drove it about 50 miles it took about 1/2 a quart to top the radiator off. I would also invest in spring clamp pliers, I did mine with channel locks and it was not fun, doable but some harbor freight spring clamps pliers would have helped alot. Im assuming they have them but point being buy a cheap pair that will work for this if you dont want to spend the money on good ones. Last thing I would take a picture of the belt routing, my truck does not have a diagram under the hood and its not in the manual either, I was able to jump online and find one easy enough but was rather annoying to take the time.

 

[AEdelheit]

If you think about it you could replace a ton parts that dont need replacing at a 100 k ball joints,

Mac

HAHAHHHHHAHAHAH stock 3rd gen ball joints that make it 100k, hahahhahaa... ... . Oooohhhhh wait was that not a joke :-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

From the look's of it the mileage varies wildly. So if I may be so bold as to suggest that mite be because of driving habits. IM NOT SAYING THAT ANYONE IS KILLIN THEIR TRUCK. But I do baby my truck. It goes back to my O/O days if you break down with a big truck that $650. 00 water pump replacement that was on a post AINT I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER it's a hard habit for me to break. Thanks for all the idea's I think I will make the BIGGEST BOONIE BOX in history eventually all the part's will get used as I keep trucks forever and more.

 

[ColemanR]

HAHAHHHHHAHAHAH stock 3rd gen ball joints that make it 100k, hahahhahaa... ... . Oooohhhhh wait was that not a joke :-laf:-laf:-laf

Mine have over 300k on them there is very little movement tires are still wearing perfect changed the whole frontend at 180k(ujoints were bad and I had a frontend with 9k on it)balljoints in my opinion were still good in that one as well. Just say'n

 

[AEdelheit]

I know im very hard on ball joints, but I still dont see many all stock trucks last to 100k, not saying they cant but I doubt the majority do, could be wrong. Not trying to start anything just meant it as a joke.

 

[BIGNASTY]

As for the ball joint post's some of the guy's that I see off road its a wonder how their truck even stays together !!!! and others it's like get out of the way it is off road. Both of you have 4x4's could this be the case? I had a gasser 4x4 and was always under it replacing things but I used it as a 4x4 and that's just off road and breaking it was just part of it

 

[Bob4x4]

I know im very hard on ball joints, but I still dont see many all stock trucks last to 100k, not saying they cant but I doubt the majority do, could be wrong. Not trying to start anything just meant it as a joke.

The Majority do make it past 100k... ... ... ... ... . but for those of us that do a good bit of off roading???

 

[ColemanR]

I know im very hard on ball joints, but I still dont see many all stock trucks last to 100k, not saying they cant but I doubt the majority do, could be wrong. Not trying to start anything just meant it as a joke.

No worry's I took it the right way. My truck miles are all hwy very little 4x4. I suspect people are told their balljoints are bad and still have life in them I was told by a tire shop 50k ago mine were bad is there movement yea are they bad I dont think so I check them every trip they havnt changed and my tires are wearing perfect. I am running stock tire/wheels which makes a differance as well. Cheers

 

[BIGNASTY]

Quote suspect people are told their balljoints are bad and still have life in them I was told by a tire shop 50k ago mine were bad is there movement



Thats one reason that I have a problem with big package store shops and dealerships. My Dad and I rebuilt my Brothers front end on a Chevy CAR. Brother took it out and ran it thru mud and dirt. Took it in to get it alined on Monday service writer came back and said bad news front end is shot. He came home and told my Dad that, HE WAS P O That still happens I know its been tried on me on different car services

 

[EDankievitch]

Cheap insurance I replaced my Water pump at 100,000 miles my friend's pump failed at 105,000. My pump's bearrings were making noise when ya spun them. The tentioner was worn, plastic roller was worn with a tapper causing the belt to start to run off. Geno's has all the parts except for the idler. The Gates water pump had much larger shaft and bearrings along with the seal. the Tentioner from Gates has a steel pully only issue with it is that you can't change the belt with out removing the tentioner asy. Both parts looked much better built than the stock stuff.