Drive Belt Replacement

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In this video, we show you how to replace the belts that drive various components on your vehicle’s engine. The vehicle we’re working on is a 3rd Generation Toyota 4runner but the technique we use to replace the belts is similar to most vehicles on the road.
Belts are usually tensioned with some type of adjuster unless it’s an older classic car that doesn’t have adjusters. To remove a belt, you loosen a pivot bolt, loosen the lock nut for the adjuster, and then loosen the adjuster bolt to remove tension on the belt. Installation of the belt is the reverse. Some belts are tensioned with idler pulleys and the concept is the same. Loosen the lock nut for the pulley and then loosen the adjuster to move the pulley and release tension on the belt so you can remove it.
To access some belts, a skid plate might have to be removed, and in the case of the 3rd Gen Toyota 4runner we were working on, the front skid plate needs to be removed to access the AC Belt.
**Here’s Torque Specs for the 3rd Gen Toyota 4runner:
AC Idler Pulley Lock Nut - 29 ft-lbf
Power Steering Pivot Bolt - 32 ft-lbf
Power Steering Adjuster Lock Nut - 32 ft-lbf
Alternator Pivot Bolt - 38 ft-lbf
Alternator Adjuster Lock Nut - 25 ft-lbf
**Here’s the Belt Tensions for a 3rd Gen Toyota 4runner:
Power Steering Belt - 85 to 120 +/- 20 lbf
Alternator Belt - 100 +/- 20 lbf
AC Belt - 100 +/- 20 lbf
**Accurate belt tensions are important. If the belt is too loose, it can slip on the pulleys and not drive the vehicle component as effectively. If the belt is too tight, you put excess stress on the pulley bearings and they will prematurely fail.
*3RD GEN 4RUNNER DRIVE BELTS*
*AC Belt #99364-20870-78
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*Power Steering Belt #90080-91126-83
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*Alternator Belt #90080-91090-83
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*Helpful Tools*
If you're looking for other tools not used in this video, check out Timmy's Master Tool List.
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*1/4" and 3/8" Flex Head Ratchet Set
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*1/2" Drive Flex Head Gear Wrench Ratchet
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*1/2” Drive Regular Extension Set
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*3/8” Drive Regular Extension Set
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*3/8" Drive 6 Point Metric Standard Socket Set
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*3/8" Drive 6 Point Metric Deep Socket Set
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*1/2” Drive 6 Point Deep Metric Socket Set
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*1/2” Drive 6 Point Standard Metric Socket Set
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*Gear Wrench Flex Head Ratcheting Wrenches
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*OTC Belt Tension Gauge
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