Quick/cheap 4.4 tensioner pulley replacement

[jgood]

Just an FYI for those in a pinch or looking to save some money if one of your belt tensioner pulleys goes bad on the V8 models:


Some, if not all, 4.4's have belt tensioners that only come as a complete assembly with 2 pulleys, as far as I know you cannot order just a pulley if one of the bearings goes bad. You can however get an A/C belt tensioner pulley, which is normally stocked at advance auto for $15 (Dayco 89144). It's the same inner and outer diameter, The pulley is about 1mm narrower, and it has a slightly narrower bearing. You can use a big (~19mm) drain plug washer as a spacer to get the pulley centered on the belt, since the narrower bearing causes it to be offset about 1-2mm compared to the stock pulley. Just put the washer on the tenioner, then put the pulley on. I ran the engine for 10 minutes with a new belt, and then looked at the alignment. The belt is literally perfectly centered on the pulley.

I just did this, it saved me the $130 and 3-4 days it would have taken to get the whole tensioner. Just an option for those in a pinch, obviously OEM parts are best.




Stock tensioner:







A/C pulley that fits:

[tomgtv]

I have a 3.0L with a bad tensioner pulley. I have done the bottom one
as whole assembly. It has always bugged me that you can't just get the
pulley.
What are the dimensions so I can see if that Dayco part works

thanks!

[jgood]

I already installed the pulley so I can't get measurements of it. I know it's 70mm outside diameter, and the same inner bearing diameter as the stock 4.4 tensioner pulleys. It's probably 2mm thinner (width wise) on both the bearing and pulley surfaces then a stock 4.4 tensioner pulley. It's only $15 so you don't have much to lose... You can take it back for a refund if you don't damage it.