I figured this would be the best place to ask the question because these trucks use serpentine belts.... I have a '79 with a Mustang 5.0 with serp belts and factory pulleys. The setup uses a FMS AC delete bracket and I am only running an PS and ALT, plus the water pump.

I am not looking for the advice of add some belt dressing, baby powder will take the squealing away, but I wanted so see if there was some type of more permanent solution here because the crickets drive me nuts.... Let me know if this is a common problem with these setups or not...

 

Stuff that makes a serp belt squeal: glazed surfaces on the pulleys or belt, pulley misalignment or pulley axial runout, or a worn tensioner.

When my 95 351w was squealing, I found that the alternator pulley had some runout, and my tensioner was a little weak. I was able to remove and reinstall the alternator pulley so it didn't run out, and installed a new tensioner. At the same time, I wire brushed all pulleys to remove the shiny glaze, and installed a new belt. Problem solved.

 

Cheap belts squeal too. Replace the belt with a gates or goodyear belt

 

Thanks for the help.

The tensioner is new-er within five years, and the belt is a goodyear gatorback.... so those items are probably ok.... but I will look them over too.

When you say run-out you mean alignment... make sure the pulleys are all aligned correctly, and I will also check that.

In the past I have shut them up with talc powder, which shuts them up dead silent for a while, but the crickets eventually come back.

I will also try wire brushing the pulleys as well, because I know that has never been done, which maybe is where my problem is. There may be rust in the grooves, and then things get damp (usually where the crickets creep back) the rust will hold moisture versus a painted surface, and it could easily transfer to the belt and make the noise....

Thanks again for the quick replies... I really want to get rid of the noise permanently!

On the new years resolution list!

Already got the first project done... that was get a proper dual tank selector switch and install it!

 

My dad and a friend had the problem when they upgraded to high end belts. Funny thing was they put the old belts back on and no issue. Of course this sucks because both trucks need new belts. Not sure the ultimate answer.
One of the trucks runs a straight six the other a 5.8

Weird.

Z

 

Runout is when the pulley wobbles as it spins. Caused by the pulley not being straight on the shaft.

Either runout or alignment could lead to belt noise

 

I know you didn't want a belt dressing "quick fix", but I have had great luck with canning wax bars. I tried the belt dressing once, and boy that was a mistake as it actually got worse.

Take a bar of canning wax and c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y hold it next to the belt while idling. Did I mention to be careful?

Sincerely,

Two Finger Bob

 

check the belt tentsoner idler wheel bearing maybe bad

 

I went through the same thing. I had a pricey "Gatorback" belt on my old '92 F350 w/5.8L that started to chirp within a few thousand miles. After replacing the idler pulley/tensioner and the alternator ( I did a 3G upgrade) I still had the chirp problem. I ended up putting on a cheap Dayco brand belt....problem solved. Go figure

 

I just replaced the belt this weekend and and one of the pulleys and now have the chirp ugh so I feel your pain. I'm going to return the belt and get a gates one from the shop by my work. If that doesn't work then retuning the pulley to autozone for another one.

 

Update: I noticed that the belt where it traveled across the water pump pulley, was situated forwards on the pulley surface riding right at the lip.

I used a big screwdriver, and while the engine was running pushed the belt toward the engine with the screwdriver away from the front lip of the puller and the squeaking stopped.

It is weird I am running a NAPA stock replacement water pump,so the pulley should just have lined up, but it does't.

My next step was to purchase a Moroso pulley spacer set and us the spacer to move the pulley itself forward to center the belt on the puller surface.

That properly aligned the pulley, now the belt is in the center of the flat surface of the pulley, but the squeak is still there!!

I used the screwdriver again, and pushing back on the belt and it caused the squeak to stop.

Anybody have an idea now?

 

Try replacing the pulley
Maybe it got changed by a previous owner

 

At least I'm not the only one that has fought the "squeaky" belt syndrome.


What I found was, you can actually trace the noise to the point that you will see the part number area of the belt(paint) as it travels over the water pump pulley it will squeak. I've sanded the part number off and it helps, sometimes, at least for a short while.

I've sanded the pulley trying to get some "grip" back to the surface. Works for a short while.

I tried a high dollar Gates belt and it was quiet for a few months, til it started the infamous squeak. I then got a cheapo Azone belt and it has been quite since last fall.

It all falls to the water pump pulley and the fact the back side of the belt has to ride on it. Anything that that will cause slippage will make it squeak as it goes over that pulley. Stupidest setup I've ever seen!! Ugh.