ive got a weird noise coming from the front of the engine that sounds like bearings binding up. Last time i replaced the alternator tension pully i nearly fell over at the price. What im wondering is can just the bearing be pressed out and replaced and are the bearings in the pullies all the same size. If they are, does somone possably have a part number
I have replaced the bearing once before but it damages the pulley. You can just replace the pulley without doing the whole tensioner, it's just a 15mm bolt that is LH thread.
bearings cost about 4 bux from most places like holdens cbc bearings or motortraders and lots auto electric shops
Bearing noise If you obtain an equivalent replacement bearing from CBC etc from the number stamped on the original, it's not so straight foward. I have a feeling the bearing is actually moulded into the plastic pulley. Pressing it out will bugger a small retaining lip. (on Gen 3 at least) If it's been replaced with a Repco one before, it may have a metal pulley which means you can just replace the bearing as its press fit not moulded around plastic original. A vice and large socket can act as a drift. Because mine had a soft plastic dust cap, I stuck a jewlers screw driver under the lip, priesed it out, washed whole thing in Kero, air dried and replacked with hi-temp bearing grease. Pop the dust seal back in and no more sqweaks. That's so long as it was simply dried out not actually flogged out to begin with.
The actual spring loaded tensioner arms have a habit of dying in the arse too. Watch the tensioner arm as the engine idles, if it seems jumpy and doesn't adjust smoothly, youre in for a replacement. About $180 and a few hours work.
sorry guys, idler pulley not tensioner setup. Iii have a go at cleaning them up a little in kero, if not i might see if a can get a set of a VY at the wreckers or something like that with low k's depending on price
