Belt Chirping SOLVED!!!
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 144
From: Woodstock, GA
Belt Chirping SOLVED!!! This is a continuation of this thread https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...l#post18094491 but it's a new thread due to it never being an alternator problem.
Bottom line is I had an alignment issue. I swapped all the pulleys on the main drive and the alternator and the tensioner... not to mention a new gatorback belt.
The fix:
Removed the belt, wire brushed the PS pump pulley grooves, and sanded the water pump pulley until totally smooth. I think that was the cause of the alignment problems. While the car was running without the belt installed, I carefully inserted a flat head screwdriver in each groove of the crank pulleys (for both belts), essentially cleaning them. Installed belts and the screaming banshee is DEAD!!!
Bottom line is I had an alignment issue. I swapped all the pulleys on the main drive and the alternator and the tensioner... not to mention a new gatorback belt.
The fix:
Removed the belt, wire brushed the PS pump pulley grooves, and sanded the water pump pulley until totally smooth. I think that was the cause of the alignment problems. While the car was running without the belt installed, I carefully inserted a flat head screwdriver in each groove of the crank pulleys (for both belts), essentially cleaning them. Installed belts and the screaming banshee is DEAD!!!
This is a continuation of this thread https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...l#post18094491 but it's a new thread due to it never being an alternator problem.
Bottom line is I had an alignment issue. I swapped all the pulleys on the main drive and the alternator and the tensioner... not to mention a new gatorback belt.
The fix:
Removed the belt, wire brushed the PS pump pulley grooves, and sanded the water pump pulley until totally smooth. I think that was the cause of the alignment problems. While the car was running without the belt installed, I carefully inserted a flat head screwdriver in each groove of the crank pulleys (for both belts), essentially cleaning them. Installed belts and the screaming banshee is DEAD!!!
Bottom line is I had an alignment issue. I swapped all the pulleys on the main drive and the alternator and the tensioner... not to mention a new gatorback belt.
The fix:
Removed the belt, wire brushed the PS pump pulley grooves, and sanded the water pump pulley until totally smooth. I think that was the cause of the alignment problems. While the car was running without the belt installed, I carefully inserted a flat head screwdriver in each groove of the crank pulleys (for both belts), essentially cleaning them. Installed belts and the screaming banshee is DEAD!!!
I will try this as well I have the same exact problem. I replaced all the idler and tensioner pulleys and both belts are brand new and it still chirps when cold....thanks for the tip I will see if it fixes my problem
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 144
From: Woodstock, GA
Right on man... glad to hear it. It seems to me that gunk get's in the pulleys - that and the water pump pulley gets some grooves and not smooth.... so it doesn't track properly. If it comes back chirping, you may have to get a belt.
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I spoke to soon. I went out 10 mins ago. The chirping was back. The car was fine all day, but now that it's cool outside chirping like no tomorrow. I will try a new belt. Where are you guys getting your Goodyear gatorback belts from?
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Sorry if I missed where you did this but have you checked the ac tensioner? I had a squeak that drove e insane. I replaced both ac pulleys, cleaned the grooves, 2 belts and it still wouldn't go away. What ended up being the cause was the tensioner. It wasn't bent or anything but the spring inside wore out causing it to not apply enough belt tension... and wala the squeak.
Sorry if I missed where you did this but have you checked the ac tensioner? I had a squeak that drove e insane. I replaced both ac pulleys, cleaned the grooves, 2 belts and it still wouldn't go away. What ended up being the cause was the tensioner. It wasn't bent or anything but the spring inside wore out causing it to not apply enough belt tension... and wala the squeak.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 436
Likes: 41
From: Vancouver area, West coast Canada
Check the pulleys alignment to each other, both angularly and axially. You can get a rough idea by using a straightedge across the faces.
The belt can chirp in operation if it runs into the grooves on the pulleys at anything other than near-perfect alignment. It does this as the sides of the belt grooves have to slip/slide down the sides of the pulley grooves while it is entering the pulley. It is worst when two pulleys are close together and misaligned.
I had this exact chirping problem and solved by carefull shimming of the Pwr strng pump bracket.
The belt can chirp in operation if it runs into the grooves on the pulleys at anything other than near-perfect alignment. It does this as the sides of the belt grooves have to slip/slide down the sides of the pulley grooves while it is entering the pulley. It is worst when two pulleys are close together and misaligned.
I had this exact chirping problem and solved by carefull shimming of the Pwr strng pump bracket.
I check the alignment today, and the alternator looks off a little. The chirping started when I replaced the alternator. I put a little water on the grooves of the belt and the chirping stops. So I think the alignment is off.
GM issued a TSB about belt noise. Seems that some p/s pulleys were not pressed to the correct depth.
I had this same issue w/ my LQ4. I found that the pulley had to be flush w/ the shaft. Mine had been off, and wasn't back to flush. [MAYBE, a 1/16- 3/32"]. Pulled it on to flush... no more noise.
BTW, this was after 3 belts, shims on the KWIK brkt, sanded pulleys, Aftrmkt tensioner.
I had this same issue w/ my LQ4. I found that the pulley had to be flush w/ the shaft. Mine had been off, and wasn't back to flush. [MAYBE, a 1/16- 3/32"]. Pulled it on to flush... no more noise.
BTW, this was after 3 belts, shims on the KWIK brkt, sanded pulleys, Aftrmkt tensioner.
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 78
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From: Baltimore, MD
Uncap the long tube headers. No belt sound will be heard for miles!! LOL JK. I bet most of the time the dirt in the grooves and alignment is the prob. Also after making all the repairs, your gonna want to replace the belt, due to the old 1 being damaged by said problems.
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 144
From: Woodstock, GA
GM issued a TSB about belt noise. Seems that some p/s pulleys were not pressed to the correct depth.
I had this same issue w/ my LQ4. I found that the pulley had to be flush w/ the shaft. Mine had been off, and wasn't back to flush. [MAYBE, a 1/16- 3/32"]. Pulled it on to flush... no more noise.
BTW, this was after 3 belts, shims on the KWIK brkt, sanded pulleys, Aftrmkt tensioner.
I had this same issue w/ my LQ4. I found that the pulley had to be flush w/ the shaft. Mine had been off, and wasn't back to flush. [MAYBE, a 1/16- 3/32"]. Pulled it on to flush... no more noise.
BTW, this was after 3 belts, shims on the KWIK brkt, sanded pulleys, Aftrmkt tensioner.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 436
Likes: 41
From: Vancouver area, West coast Canada
See if theres is a spot that you can sight across the front edges of the belt as it passes across from side to side. Or, If you can get a straightedge on there contacting it at 3 points. The belt edges should be all flat to each other, IE all in one plane.
Especially try to see how it runs around the water pump, as it not running in a groove there and will find its own path if there is misalignment.
On my setup I could see that the belt was about an 1/8" rearward on the Wpump and that led me to check out the Steering pump. On the F-body belt routing, I would be real suspicious of the alternator position and how the belt runs off it and around the idler to the crank. The squeaks generally happen when the belt is entering the pulley, as opposed to leaving it.
Especially try to see how it runs around the water pump, as it not running in a groove there and will find its own path if there is misalignment.
On my setup I could see that the belt was about an 1/8" rearward on the Wpump and that led me to check out the Steering pump. On the F-body belt routing, I would be real suspicious of the alternator position and how the belt runs off it and around the idler to the crank. The squeaks generally happen when the belt is entering the pulley, as opposed to leaving it.
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,367
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From: Woodstock, GA
I ordered the Dayco belt alignment tool with laser. I am really curious to see what's going on. I'm tired of replacing belts that really don't need replacement. I will post my results. I should have the tool on Friday.