Supercharger belt squeal

rantin'n'raven · #1 22-05-2008, 10:36 AM

I recently had the charger belt replaced on my VT S, no probs with it prior except it was fairly worn/perished. The new belt now squeals. Not all the time, but more often than not. And I cant pick when it will happen - sometimes it does it when the engine's cold, warm, at low speed, idle, during acceleration and at highway speeds.

Its pretty embarrassing!

I've had it back the the mechanic re this prob three times already - the final time resulting in another new belt, but to no avail.

Any ideas??

VN_Luke · #2 22-05-2008, 10:42 AM

de-grease all your pulley surfaces, can also try that 'belt grip' spray....

If it were my car, i'd say it's likely that the auto-tensioner(s) not keeping correct tension, allowing the belt to slip. (presuming the super 6 has a spring loaded tensioner like the rest of em)

Shounak · #3 22-05-2008, 10:54 AM

Put some Penrite Extreme Pressure grease all over the belt pulley and tighten it a bit.

You could also use Silicon Spray, but the grease comes in handy for a lot of car things.

stocky · #4 22-05-2008, 10:55 AM

i need details on that belt grip stuff. mine squeels too. i dont think my pulley has enough grip because of the material its made from. when im up around 4000+ revs and then let the revs drop, the belt must not be able to catch the pulley and i get a real bad squeel

rantin'n'raven · #5 22-05-2008, 11:29 AM

Thanks for your quick replies! I'm pretty sure that Belt Grip's been tried in this case, so maybe there is an issue with the pulley and/or tensioner. Will investigate...

KRUPTD · #6 22-05-2008, 01:52 PM

make sure it is the supercharger belt making the noise.remove the supercharger belt and start the engine if the noise is still there it must be the engine drive belt or visa versa.also check the idler pulley's for noises,make sure they can spin freely.had come across this on a vx supercharged commie and it had a seized pulley.

ozengines · #7 22-05-2008, 07:44 PM

My VX SS V8 has belt noise as well, you can't get your hands anywhere near them while to motor is running. On my VR V6 I rub chalk in the groves of the timing belt and it goes quiet, I think with age the belt wears and the pullys get a shiney glaze and this causes the squeal The chalk takes off that glaze. Watch you hands if your near a pulley as the chalk will grip and try and pull your hand into it, OUCH !!!!!

pablo · #8 23-05-2008, 12:39 AM

Surely a quick squirt of 'Belt Slip' or similar product would stop the slip. Run a thin zig zag bead of honey around the belt, that'll get it to grip quick smart!

blownba · #9 17-06-2008, 08:20 PM

This is a Very common occurance for me. Almost everytime I have replaced a supercharger blet it will squeel with the new belt. I get a wire brush and clean all the grooves of the pulleys carefully and the noise goes away.

rantin'n'raven · #10 18-06-2008, 01:30 PM

Most of the above 'easy fixes' were tried and failed, eg wire brush, belt grip, chalk - nothing helped! In the end it turned out the charger bearings were shot and have now been replaced - and the pulley too. Good as new!!

For some reason it is always the worst case senario on my VT....

don0xer · #11 18-06-2008, 05:53 PM

haha the exact same thing happened to me about 2 weeks ago, i let it go for a few days, decided to get a new belt. but after a bit of snooping around some people were telling me its the snout bearings if it squeeks on startup for a few mins then goes away when its warmed up a bit. also u can hear it if u get a stiff screwdriver and put it close up to the pulley on the snout

i still havent fixxed it yet but i was just planning on upgrading to a YT 10psi snout anyway so now its just giving me an excuse bahahaha

azman · #12 28-06-2008, 07:12 PM

I replaced my belt two weeks ago, and after a week it started squealing as well.

I took it into the shop (getting some other work done) and my mechanic pointed out the wear on the pulley itself.

Turns out the pulleys have a tendency to wear out if you have a tendency to accelerate somewhat enthusiastically.

Either way I got preliminary quotes on a 10psi pulley from Yella Terra and I am looking at around $150 - $200 installed (labour is being soaked up with my other work though).

Not suggesting you spend the money without getting it checked, but maybe have a good look at it and get you mechanic to check as well.

Might be time for an upgrade

I'm getting official quotes on the pulley and the package deals (EEPROM, pulley etc) on Monday.

PM me if interested.

cheers .. Az.