Replacing belts, hoses, etc.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Replacing belts, hoses, etc.
Hi,
I'm a novice when it comes to repairs on my 1987 F-250 (6 cylinder) truck.
I have a few things I need to do and am looking for some tips/advice/direction on them. Please forgive me for any blunders I might make in describing what I need to do - I don't have much of a background with automobiles.
I need to replace the serpentine belt - I was told last year when it was inspected that it ought to be replaced, but they wanted a fortune to do it, and I only drive it about 7 miles a week, to take off the trash, so (being low on funds) I opted to attempt to do this myself. Is this a reasonably easy thing to do? I was told by a relative that the tensioner needs to be replaced when you do this, is this true? I'd like to avoid paying a shop a bunch of $$$ for work on a truck that only gets a few hundred miles a year on it.
Also, I know that the other belts and the hoses have not been replaced for as long as I have had the truck - about 5 years. What is the general criteria I should use when examining these for signs of wear? Would you say that the hoses and belts are something a novice could do with a little direction? Any pitfalls to watch out for with these?
Finally, I've noticed that my parking brake doesn't always want to stay set. This, of course, can be dangerous. I helped a guy replace a long cable that went to the rear brakes last year and it seemed to work okay for a little while but sometimes the parking brake pedal seems like it doesn't want to 'catch' when I step on it... kind of pops back up, but not always. Could this be the other cable that we didn't replace? I remember that there were two cables... one that went back along the truck and then there was another up closer to the pedal itself. Sorry if I'm not describing it well.
I suspect that there are some good manuals out there that might help me too - do you have a recommendation?
Thanks much!
Matt
I'm a novice when it comes to repairs on my 1987 F-250 (6 cylinder) truck.
I have a few things I need to do and am looking for some tips/advice/direction on them. Please forgive me for any blunders I might make in describing what I need to do - I don't have much of a background with automobiles.
I need to replace the serpentine belt - I was told last year when it was inspected that it ought to be replaced, but they wanted a fortune to do it, and I only drive it about 7 miles a week, to take off the trash, so (being low on funds) I opted to attempt to do this myself. Is this a reasonably easy thing to do? I was told by a relative that the tensioner needs to be replaced when you do this, is this true? I'd like to avoid paying a shop a bunch of $$$ for work on a truck that only gets a few hundred miles a year on it.
Also, I know that the other belts and the hoses have not been replaced for as long as I have had the truck - about 5 years. What is the general criteria I should use when examining these for signs of wear? Would you say that the hoses and belts are something a novice could do with a little direction? Any pitfalls to watch out for with these?
Finally, I've noticed that my parking brake doesn't always want to stay set. This, of course, can be dangerous. I helped a guy replace a long cable that went to the rear brakes last year and it seemed to work okay for a little while but sometimes the parking brake pedal seems like it doesn't want to 'catch' when I step on it... kind of pops back up, but not always. Could this be the other cable that we didn't replace? I remember that there were two cables... one that went back along the truck and then there was another up closer to the pedal itself. Sorry if I'm not describing it well.
I suspect that there are some good manuals out there that might help me too - do you have a recommendation?
Thanks much!
Matt
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: eastern Ma
87 Probs
Hi Mat,
The tensioner, and belt are pretty easy. I wouldn't bother with the tensioner right now..Just do the belt, and see if the tensioner has enough spring force to keep the belt tight. Pretty sure it has a left handed thread on the bolt that holds it on. You can check that in a Haynes or Chilton manual that most auto parts store sell for under $20. They are both good manuals, and the price is right.
On the Parking brake..try spraying some WD-40 on the mechanism under the dash. It might just be sticking. Always try the cheapest and easiest stuff first. It's easy to get under the truck, and spray alot of WD-40, or your favorite penetratig oil on the cables...end to end. Try the manuals and the penetrating oil. report back to us if you can about the results. Those manuals will tell you all about your truck, including drawings about routing your serpantine belt.
The tensioner, and belt are pretty easy. I wouldn't bother with the tensioner right now..Just do the belt, and see if the tensioner has enough spring force to keep the belt tight. Pretty sure it has a left handed thread on the bolt that holds it on. You can check that in a Haynes or Chilton manual that most auto parts store sell for under $20. They are both good manuals, and the price is right.
On the Parking brake..try spraying some WD-40 on the mechanism under the dash. It might just be sticking. Always try the cheapest and easiest stuff first. It's easy to get under the truck, and spray alot of WD-40, or your favorite penetratig oil on the cables...end to end. Try the manuals and the penetrating oil. report back to us if you can about the results. Those manuals will tell you all about your truck, including drawings about routing your serpantine belt.
