Who has changed there serpentine belt? just wondering what brand you used, Iv'e heard to not use the Gates because it is just a little too long and will squeal. I have 250k on the original belt and it is still good but I am about to go to Daytona with some friends so just want to replace it now so I feel better about it. Should i just go to dealer and pay there price since I know how long it will last me????

 

250k on a belt is pretty hard to beat man... I'd be pretty hard pressed to not get a Ford one again after that...

 

thats alot of miles on one belt. i have to agree i would not even think twice about that one if it was me but i don't have that luck

 

There isn't anything better than the name "Gates"...............unless you're looking for software!!!

 

Well I bit the bullet and just got one from Ford, $76 but if it lasts just as long I can't complain

 

They are pretty well tucked away and hard to get to. I think its easier to pull the radiator to replace them. I am not sure how the book sais to do it. But that clears up so much room to just get it out of the way.

 

Not too hard, haven't done this one yet but I have done one before, there is a little secret that most people overlook, you don't need any tools to do this. you wrap a towel around the belt just below alternator and pull hard, there is a clip under the tensioner that you push down in place that locks the tensioner and you are free to remove belt, for putting it back on it helps to have a second person under the front to make sure everything is lined up then do the towel trick again and pop the little latch back up and you are done.

 

Wow sounds easy. Just did the belt in my wifes car what a nightmare that was.

 

Easy my ****, I've NEVER been able to get my tensioner to lock back. I can pull the belt and make it slip around every pulley before it will lock on man...

I sit on the passenger side battery with my legs across the motor and the belt directly between my thighs, just reach down by hand and yank up on it. Seems to work ok so far.

I also have the PITA dual alts and that means two belts, two tensioners, and no room.

 

Hopefully your luck is better than mine. I used a serpentien belt removing tool but i had to modify it to get the belt back on I also sawed a hole in the fan shroud to gain an extra inch of leverage. Ive replaced many belts before and this one was hands down the worst... I replaced mine when replacing the hpop some might recall the troubles I went through with that after stripping the rear turbo bolt... In my situation the belt was more of a PITA than all the other problems I encountered during the hpop replacement. But thats just me and i have terrible luck. I only have one alternator too