So I think it's time to change my belt on my 6.0. I came back from Fort Hood, started the beast back up, and heard the belt squeal loudly at first, then settle into a rhythmic squeak that at first seems to intensify with RPM, then seems to die out at highway speed.

On every car I've ever owned, when the time came to change out serpentine or fan belts, I would also change tensioners and idlers. Is this necessary on these trucks? Or something I should do for peace of mind? Or not at all?

 

While you have the belt off, test the idler and tensioner. The squeal may be coming from one of them.

Personally, I would not change them out just for the sake of it, but no harm done if you do it.

 

If you do change it, save the old one just i case...

 

Save the belt? Yeah, I generally do, unless there is some severe evidence of damage (frayed, broken, etcetera) and until I do the next belt change.

Does anyone have a good writeup for changing the belt that doesn't involve disassembling the front of the truck? Some DIYs say I have to remove the small fan shroud and just yank on the belt until I can get it to clear the alternator, others say to remove the shroud and lock out the tensioner (which seems sound to me,) and still others say I have to take the shroud, the fan, intake, and about half of the front dress off of the engine to do it right.

I'm pretty much sold on changing the belt, just need to price out the idler and tensioner and determine if I want to spend the money to do them while I'm in there.

 

Oh, and before I forget, thanks for the replies, fellas!

 

I would just take the alternator off, 3 bolts tip forward, botabing...

 

Oooooh, great suggestion, Curt. Thanks!

 

Definitely spin the idlers and tensioner during your replacement.

I personally changed the idler and tensioner on my V10 at the same time as a belt swap so there would be fresh bearings, however it is not completely necessary.

 

My 04 6.0 belt change was a snap, didn't have to take anything off. Google this, i'm sure its written better somewhere. From the passenger side, get on a stool ( ) pull as much as you can so the tensioner moves, reach down on the tensioner and there is "button" on the bottom of it that you can click upwards, it locks the tensioner in place and you can remove/replace the belt with relative ease and no other items come off. To re-engage, give the belt a good tug and you should hear it click when it disengages.