what's with ls1 and pulleys

[ryan101]

Is there an issue with the ls1's that make them need new pulleys all the time?
A pulley is starting to get noisy like a little bird chirping, this will be the 3rd set in 65 000km

 

[accentstencil]

My LS1 is 12 years old (326,000 kms) and I haven't changed one pulley that I can remember.

 

[ConstantVelocity]

Check pulley alignment especially power steering pulley. Also make sure the crank pulley/balancer is running true. Your pulleys are probably fine, those little chirps are often caused by misalignment. A new belt fixes it for a bit.

 

[ryan101]

Ok cool, what would make it misaligned?

 

[ryan101]

Sorry also of added only really does it when it's warm, if I turn the car off for 5-10mins it won't start doing it for about 30secs then starts chirping again

 

[fpveta01]

i have the same problem with my vu ss replaced both idler pullys on the steering belt not even 1000kms ago and they are grinding all ready

 

[Drewie]

Had my VX SS from new and never had any pulley issues, still on the originals.

 

[ryan101]

Not a grinding noise more of a chirp chirp noise

 

[ConstantVelocity]

Sometimes the power steering pulleys are pressed on too far or not far enough, this will make it chirp, as will a crank pulley that's going bad and wobbling. Also check for coolant/oil leaks onto the belt. There's a little hose under the throttle body that can leak onto the belt.

That being said I've checked all this stuff and mine still chirps every now and then on cold starts!

 

[BlackoutSteve]

You may be surprised as often the belt can be making the metallic noise of a bad bearing.
It can be tricky as I just pressed in two new bearings in both the tensioner and idler pulleys on the air/con belt. One bearing was rough and the other sloppy, so I was sure I got to the cause, but the noise remained.
I replaced the belt with a new one and Presto!
It sure sounded like a bad bearing to me and my friend.