Belt Walking
 

Anyone else have major belt walking issues?

It seems since I entered the high rpm, high HP world, my belt tensioner hasn't been able to keep up with the rpm jumps.

I had a Duralast tensioner for a while, but literally snapped two of them off... then upgraded to a Gates, which was a much beffier piece, but my belt is still occassionally walking a rib or two off the end of the pulley every time I take the car out.

Anyone have any idea what to look into to fix?

I have found an interestingly loud bearing noise coming from, what I think has to be, my water pump.
There is also a decent amount of shaft play in the water pump pulley. Is this normal?
Is it possible that the water pump, being a Duralast as well, is not parallel to the rest of the pulleys and has worn the bearing out and doesn't keep the belt aligned?

You need a solid tensioner, and it sounds like your wp is junk

Is a solid tensioner pretty standard procedure?

Very, just bolts in place of the spring one. Katech makes a nice one

I had the power steering pulley walk forward on the shaft on my 5.3l. Shredded 3 serp belts. After the first belt I replaced the tensioner, still happened. Couldn't figure out what was going on for awhile. They are press on so after many many moons mine apparently vibrated forward. Got a new pulley and pressed it on and have not had a single problem since.

Just did a ict billet ( available on eBay or amazon or ict billet website) manual tensioner on my turbo 5.3 Camaro and cured my issue of aftermarket spring tensioners not holding up. 46 shipped can't beat it.

Sounds like something is out of alignment

i think the only thing I can see out of alignment is my power steering pulley might be maybe a half a rib too far in.

So your ICTBillet tensioner has held up pretty well?
ICTBillet is actually right down the street from me in Wichita. Good guys.
I'll probably be getting their manual tensioner soon.

"i think the only thing I can see out of alignment is my power steering pulley might be maybe a half a rib too far in."
Factory TSB on the topic. Most had belt squeak, including on my LQ4. Pressed the pulley flush.. cured the problem.

I have a Katech manual tensioner and it's a super nice piece and I can really tension the belt more than a stock spring type tensioner.

cool thanks. At the moment I'm actually running an f-body pump/pulley, which might have the ability to be overinstalled.

Only had it on for 2 days now. I've been beating the dog out of it from 10-18 psi. Big burnouts and 6800 shifts no sign of moving or losening. Love it. I didn't realize how much ls stuff they sell either. Would recommend to anyone.

Used to have this same problem on my TA. Would chunk the belt pretty much every time I spun it past 7k rpm. Installed the Katech manual, never had another problem and no more walking back to the on ramp to pick up the belt!

I install a katech tensioner on every project. Done 3 so far. Remember, tighter is not better. As I recall the spec is to use a torque wrench set to 18lb/ft, once it clicks, tighten. Going extra tight only wears out the bearing on the various accessories.

Andrew

If it's aligned properly with a new (quality) tensioner and proper length belt, It's not going to pop off in my experience. (assuming your accessories are spinning true.)

As the belt accelerates and decelerates it shrinks and grows. Manual tensioners don't allow for this and will increase wear on the belt and also don't hold as well. Not a big deal for some, but a properly setup tensioner is better for a "street car" IMO.

ive had 2 tensioners from advance fail me, 1 started bending and throwing my belt and another one snapped in half, i believe i have a gates one from Oriellys now and never had another issue

Try a fleet runner ( green belt) or a continental elite(Goodyear gatorback) . They won't stretch as much and seem to last. I have run both on my ly6/ whipple 2.9. No slippage @ 11 lbs boost with a 6 rib set up. This is with a spring loaded tensioner .