Can You Repair a Belt Tensioner? Lets Find Out

87 C4 Corvette belt tensioner repair. Is it possible and what needs to be done? Join me in my attempt to fix a belt tensioner because there isn't one available locally.
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Automotive technician

[@leskavage]

This is helpful now that it’s hard to find parts and they’re becoming so expensive. Thanks for posting this video.

[@mikem5475]

I fixed a seized one that wouldn't pivot with oil and working it back and forth in a vice. Greased the bearing too

[@thy6780]

I like what you did, regardless, whether it is a total success in repairing the tensioner or not

[@hornesbee]

Love the I can repair it vs replace it! Much better to think/try it before replacing it. If possible! Something I found was the pulley bearing in that tensor can chirp too. And hard to isolate sometimes. So I just went through this on my truck and a few times on and off I found the bearings squeaking. I pressed it out of the pulley, took the number and searched to find that they are really cheap and available just about anywhere. Amazon at the time was the cheapest for me, and didn't buy the cheapest I found. IIRC I bought Timken brand. My truck has 115K miles and 2 idlers and two tensioners, so I bought 4 and replaced them all for about $20. Done!

[@lilrip2691]

Always wondered what the guts of those things looked like. Well done 👌

[@CrazedPerformanceRepair]

Right, me to so I was glad I finally had a legit reason to pull it apart.

[@wadepatton2433]

Saved me some hassles. Going to R&R the tensioner and toss it into the scrap pile. Way too many miles to even try to fix bushings.

[@sunyoungg5634]

Your opening image shows the "damper" - in your example it is a flat fiber washer which serves the function of a friction damper and needs to be under tension to function - a drop of oil on a new tensioner would defeat this friction damper - without the damper functioning the tensioner is able to "dance/jiggle/oscillate".

[@2Truth4Liberty]

I have a 1991 Town Car for which the tensioner came apart. Two have and a huge stiff coiled spring. I just need to compress the spring while twisting the two halves together but I think it might slip and spring(explosive force) apart during that attempt. Decided it's worth $60 to avoid that widowmaker risk.

[@josefasoh]

I have tried it. It works but it requires a small workshop tools to dismantle and reassemble

[@bradleyblaylock1225]

Didn't know they can be rebuilt definitely gonna give it a shot on my SHO since there's no parts available anywhere...

[@treefrogjoness]

The last part of the video where he noticed the belt squeak is most likely still caused by the tensioner. The bushing in the tensioner is worn, so the pulley on the tensioner will be slightly out of line. Replacing the belt will stop the noise temporarily. After awhile the belt noise will start again.

[@wadepatton2433]

This has been what I've gone through--but it's now quiet--but running wonky. I'm going to replace the tensioner rather than attempt to rework it. The tensioner has about 350k on it, I'd say I got plenty of service from it. I should have replaced it 50k ago.

[@jamesjallalabad3783]

Yep just learned that for myself. Mine happened when the engine was at temperature, and only then

[@user-nq4go9pn4n]

والله ما قصرت الصراحه استفدت منك وايد ❤❤❤

[@rahrah8076]

I have a similar tensioner off a 2010 Dodge Charger3.5l right now and the problem with that one is that pin that sticks out on tensioner housing goes into the timing cover broke off lol

[@michaellorenson2997]

A fascinating and comprehensive tutorial on how a belt tensioner wears out and needs replacing, as does the pulley. Chances are, if the tensioner is worn out, so is the pulley bearing. This process can probably buy time, but then the R&R will have to be done again, and probably fairly soon. A factory AC Delco complete tensioner/pully set is about $65 on Amazon right now. A good Dayco pulley by itself is about $20. Gotta love the affordability of SBC parts.

[@CrazedPerformanceRepair]

Pretty sure when I did this I couldn't get ahold of a tensioner at a reasonable price or in reasonable time. May be some available now though. Funny how availability changes things.

[@michaellorenson2997]

@@CrazedPerformanceRepair Sure, I understand that you felt a need to get your customer back on the road right away, and that a Corvette tensioner can be tough to find locally. I mentioned the Amazon listings just so people know what factory-quality parts cost at the moment. As a result of this video, I inspected the tensioner in my 1988 C4, which I'm currently refurbishing. The tensioner seems very tight and free of any slop, so I'm only replacing the pulley, which sounds a bit rough when I spin it by hand. I appreciate your sharing the 'failure mode' of the tensioner so that I knew what to look for.

[@leskavage]

Got to stop buying parts from China just because they are less expensive. When you buy from China you are supporting our country’s enemy.

[@user-xn4fm2dh1n]

The noise is not from spring chamber, it is from the belt roller bearing, it is worn deformed, deformed bearing will make noise. try press out the roller bearing and replace a good one may solve the problem.

[@Hedgehodge-]

i wonder if you are able to find another make car with a similar looking tensioner that you can take apart and use the pieces from it inside yours. lots of work but stuff starts going "NLA" and it sucks

[@josephbohme7917]

since the inner plastic had plastic splines you should have placed (10 +)nylon fishing line loom in the sections to space it out and grease it all- ADDITIVE would have been better than your grinding off ideas. Sometimes simply wrapping teflon tape evenly on a wear surface adds enough surface to fill. and wears well. Wrapping the steel cylincer would have done it.. Then grease.

[@petuliakowchee9017]

So I was right to buy a new tensioner?

[@CrazedPerformanceRepair]

Yeah, I didn't have one available at the time.

[@mikethacker8558]

Youre putting lube on a belt? Try toothpaste on the driven side.