General Maintenance & Repairs - Belt Squeak on the main belt drive?!

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Gah another belt squeak thread...
Well, I've got my car lifted right now and I'm trying some things I've read in threads.

I KNOW its on the main drive, (I took the belt off for about 5 seconds and ran the engine and it ran squeak-free!)

- Spin all pullies to see if there is any grinding or wobbling = I couldn't really feel anything grinding or being hard to spin...

I've got a new tensioner and belt about 3 months ago, and I just put a new idler pulley on a few days ago. (I'm also thinking of ordering a gatorback belt, part#s for that?)
I have seen that whole TSB that GM put out for 98-00 for the Alternator bracket... I'm trying that next.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I thought I'd put some WD40 on it.. lol lets just say now its the worst possible noise i've ever heard come from a drive belt.......... o__o

Any advice? New belt at this point?

Take the a/c belt off, start the engine. See if the squeak is gone. That will rule out the main belt. If its still there, it IS the main belt.

Don;'t spray things on rubber belts.......lol.

.

Since it was squeak-free with the main belt off, there is no reason to mess with the A/C belt system at all.

You did the tensioner (did you replace the whole tensioner, or just the pulley? Sometimes the tensioner itself gets weak and allows the belt to slip) and idler with no luck, so it's either the PS pulley, alternator or water pump. Or, it's the belt alignment issue mentioned in that TSB for the alternator bracket. If you go ahead with the alternator bracket swap, you'll need another idler pulley as well, since the early '00-98 idler will not work on the late '00-02 bracket.

A good cheap thing to try is to pull off the pulley seals, stuff a little grease in them, and then see if the squeak goes away. Use a sharp nail or awl to get the seals off without bending/damaging them.

A good cheap thing to try is to pull off the pulley seals, stuff a little grease in them, and then see if the squeak goes away. Use a sharp nail or awl to get the seals off without bending/damaging them.

New pullies shouldn't be making any noise nor need any servicing out of the box. Only the tensioner and idler pullies can be serviced like this, and he's already mentioned replacing those with no luck.

New pullies shouldn't be making any noise nor need any servicing out of the box. Only the tensioner and idler pullies can be serviced like this, and he's already mentioned replacing those with no luck.

Ah, I didn't see that he replaced the idler too.

Yeah I did just get those.
I'm going to try and order that new bracket tomorrow.

But as an update, we went and bought some belt dressing and applied it to the belt, it actually helped it quite a bit for a few minutes, but eventually that squeak came right back! :(

So i'm thinking it might be that bracket since lots of others are reporting success :D

Now when you mentioned I'd need a new idler pulley, should I just try and request one for a 2001-2002?

Now when you mentioned I'd need a new idler pulley, should I just try and request one for a 2001-2002?

Yes, you need the same pulley that would have come stock on a late '00-02 car, as those cars came originally with the revised bracket that you plan to install. I've heard of some people not being able to get the correct revised pulley through local parts store chains (only the old style one), but you can definitely get the correct one from GM. The GM part number for the new style pulley (to fit the new bracket) is 12563326.

Do you also need the part number for the bracket? I can find it if you need it.

Yes, you need the same pulley that would have come stock on a late '00-02 car, as those cars came originally with the revised bracket that you plan to install. I've heard of some people not being able to get the correct revised pulley through local parts store chains (only the old style one), but you can definitely get the correct one from GM. The GM part number for the new style pulley (to fit the new bracket) is 12563326.

Do you also need the part number for the bracket? I can find it if you need it.

No I should be good :) I was able to get a print-out of the TSB from my local GM dealer. I'm going to confirm what the part number is for the idler pulley I just bought that way I can see about returning it...
(Stealership charged me 82 bucks for it.......) :bs:

I really hope this goes away. But at the same time I'm learning lots about the LS1 belt drive as a positive note :D

Any links on how to remove the Water pump/PS pump pulley? if possible?

Thanks!

you can also get the pulley for the new bracket from DAYCO........40$ special order thru pep boys for me.......only 2 sources i know for the pulley.....dayco and GM

I'm going to return my Idler pulley they gave me for my 99 (part #12564401) on Monday.
And hopefully the bracket and new idler pulley arrive.

Did the older bracket and newer bracket have the same part#?
I know the difference is the idler pulley holder is 10 instead of the 8 length wise.

The new alternator bracket is part number 12563327. I do not have the part number for the old bracket, and my guess is that GM has probably discontinued the old bracket by now.

Well, now that its a Monday. I'm going to try and run to the stealership and return the pulley and get the new Pulley, Bracket, and probably a belt just to be safe.

i would use a goodyear gatorback belt......... .02

i would use a goodyear gatorback belt......... .02

thank god you reminded me, I forgot to ask, know the part# for the belt we would use? :)

I hope if someone stumbles across this thread they can get as much info out of it!

check rock auto for P/Ns

UPDATE: ---
I got that new alternator bracket, idler pulley, and a belt from autozone.
And this morning when I started my car NO SQUEAKS!!! :D (50 degrees F)

I'll come back and update this thread if it doesn't squeak for a little while, I'll also upload a pic of that new bracket installed!

:)

UPDATE: ---
I got that new alternator bracket, idler pulley, and a belt from autozone.
And this morning when I started my car NO SQUEAKS!!! :D (50 degrees F)

I'll come back and update this thread if it doesn't squeak for a little while, I'll also upload a pic of that new bracket installed!

:)

This is good to hear. I was equally happy when I finally figured out and corrected the source of a squeak I was having with mine as well. The squeaking can really get on your nerves. :shocked:

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af98/jon-n-kel/alt/DSC00114.jpg

This is good to hear. I was equally happy when I finally figured out and corrected the source of a squeak I was having with mine as well. The squeaking can really get on your nerves. :shocked:

Oh yeah, Id literally just sit there and be embarrassed cuz of the squeaking haha. I always hated pulling up to another car squeaking like crazy...

Now It starts up and doesn't squeak :) I'm still keepin an ear out just to make sure tho! :cool:

Just wanted to update this again as a confirmation.
NO SQUEAKS STILL :)

That seemed to have done the trick. :D (just in case anyone was following this thread)

glad you found out what we all already knew :P