Belt squealing
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
Belt squealing
Need some help...
When i start my truck the belts squeal for a few minutes, but then stop. While driving the belts start squealing when i hit 25-30mph. Will belt dressing help this? The belts are brand new.
Thanks
When i start my truck the belts squeal for a few minutes, but then stop. While driving the belts start squealing when i hit 25-30mph. Will belt dressing help this? The belts are brand new.
Thanks
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 63
^^^ This.
Belt dressing = bad.
Are the belts loose? Are they Dayco belts? Gates belts are better when it comes to not squealing.
A seized or unusually stiff fan clutch? Had a bad smog pump once and it was so stiff I was surprised it turned at all!
Just went through something similar with serpentine belt on daughters car and it drove us both crazy. A few drops of water on the belt anywhere in the system would instantly quiet it but it would quickly return. Belt looked great so I first replaced tensioner and idler but to no avail. A new high quality belt fixed it.
I know you're not running a serpentine belt but according to this chirp is a misalignment problem and squeal is tension.
Belt dressing = bad.
Are the belts loose? Are they Dayco belts? Gates belts are better when it comes to not squealing.
A seized or unusually stiff fan clutch? Had a bad smog pump once and it was so stiff I was surprised it turned at all!
Just went through something similar with serpentine belt on daughters car and it drove us both crazy. A few drops of water on the belt anywhere in the system would instantly quiet it but it would quickly return. Belt looked great so I first replaced tensioner and idler but to no avail. A new high quality belt fixed it.
I know you're not running a serpentine belt but according to this chirp is a misalignment problem and squeal is tension.
New User
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks, Alaska
ive got a similar problem going on, mines definitely the alternator belt as it stays squealing under load (lights, windshield wipers). belt dressing didnt do anything, might need to replace the pulley.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 5
From: Northeast Ohio USA
Belt squealing
First check for pulley alignment/bearing wear on all of the belt driven components.
If all is squared away there....
Remove all of the belts and "rough up" the pulley surfaces where the belts ride with 1000/1500 grit dry metal abrasive paper to deglaze.
Replace all of the belts with Gates.
Clean the new belts with rubbing alchohol or a product such as 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner prior to installation. The soap tricks and dressings are quick fixes but won't last the long haul. You want clean solid grip..not slip.
If all is squared away there....
Remove all of the belts and "rough up" the pulley surfaces where the belts ride with 1000/1500 grit dry metal abrasive paper to deglaze.
Replace all of the belts with Gates.
Clean the new belts with rubbing alchohol or a product such as 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner prior to installation. The soap tricks and dressings are quick fixes but won't last the long haul. You want clean solid grip..not slip.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,491
Likes: 26
From: Algona,WA
I've used Gates belts before and for the price they were thinner than OE and seem prone to squeaking. Goodyear gatorback only for me. Multiple vehicles, one set is 6 years old and none of them ever squeak. Dirt cheap on eBay too. Often less than $10 a belt.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
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I don't know about all engines, but the belts on my 460 were just ridiculously difficult to tighten. Much more so than any other truck or car I've owned. I had some loud belts, and it was just a matter of really tightening them down. I thought something might have been wrong, like misaligned pulleys, but after I really cranked down on them I was able to silence the belts.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,982
Likes: 7
From: Somewhere Saskatchewan
I don't know about all engines, but the belts on my 460 were just ridiculously difficult to tighten. Much more so than any other truck or car I've owned. I had some loud belts, and it was just a matter of really tightening them down. I thought something might have been wrong, like misaligned pulleys, but after I really cranked down on them I was able to silence the belts.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
I guess I never really considered too tight being an issue, so disregard my last comment! Although I'm not terribly worried about my belts right now, they are still noticeably more loose than my automatic tensioner equipped trucks..
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 63
I don't know about all engines, but the belts on my 460 were just ridiculously difficult to tighten. Much more so than any other truck or car I've owned. I had some loud belts, and it was just a matter of really tightening them down. I thought something might have been wrong, like misaligned pulleys, but after I really cranked down on them I was able to silence the belts.
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