Last month, I decided to replace my belt because it was squeaking and getting cracked. Figured it was time since I haven't changed the belt since I bought the truck four years ago and had no idea when the last re out was changed. Since then, I've gone through three new belts AND the old one. My air pump pulley is wobbling ever so slightly, and I can't help but think that this is the issue. I've seen a few things about people bypassing this with a shorter belt, but nobody gives any information on what size belt to use. Anybody have any information on what I could do? I'm on a limited budget, and can't afford to keep replacing these belts after every 100 miles or so.

 

Pick yourself up a cheap roll of string and go around the pulley system with a bit of string, bypassing the air pump, this will give you a measurement that can be matched to a belt at the parts store. Make sure to follow the belt map that should be located under the hood and tell you the routing of the belt.

 

That depends on what engine and FEAD we're dealing with here. I've mentioned the routing and length for the 5.0L high-mount idler/low-mount tensioner FEAD many times on this site.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post11577213
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13240153
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10211643

 

Welcome aboard.

Yup...what engine?

Sometimes the tensioner can be wobbly and cause it to throw belts. Either the arm itself or the pulley.

I bypassed my 302 on my '89. The belt is 88" long(Autozone pt #880K6)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...989-302-a.html