***Need help, Question regarding replacing drive belt ***
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***Need help, Question regarding replacing drive belt ***
Hey guys I need a little help with replacing my drive belts. My 03 Z has about 23K miles on it and today the belt for the AC compressor cracked and half of it from a 5 inch section broke off. Given that my car is sort of close to the 30k miles mark, I am deciding to replace both the damaged AC compressor belt and the power steering/alternator/fan belt. The physical replacement looks pretty straight forward but I am having trouble with figuring out the tension and deflection when I turn the adjustment bolts under the two pullys. What are you guys using to gauge the correct tension and deflection? Can somebody please explain what I am looking for? Is there a tool I can get to measure this? Where can I get one like autozone or something? I kinda understand the tension but what am I looking at for deflection? The service manual reads as follows for each:
Power steering/alternator/fan belt
Tension new belt: 838-926 (85.5-94.5, 188-208) Unit:N (kg,lb)
Deflection adjustment: 3.5-4.5 (0.138-0.177) Unit: mm (in)
AC compressor
Tension new belt: 470-559 (85.5-94.5, 188-208) Unit:N (kg,lb)
Deflection adjustment: 8-9 (0.31-0.35) Unit: mm (in)
Power steering/alternator/fan belt
Tension new belt: 838-926 (85.5-94.5, 188-208) Unit:N (kg,lb)
Deflection adjustment: 3.5-4.5 (0.138-0.177) Unit: mm (in)
AC compressor
Tension new belt: 470-559 (85.5-94.5, 188-208) Unit:N (kg,lb)
Deflection adjustment: 8-9 (0.31-0.35) Unit: mm (in)
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Bump..anybody? Also, anybody have any ideas if there's belts out there better than the OEM ones? I'm using OEM I got from Courtsey Nissan but if there's something better I wouldn't mind switching.
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I use the gator back belts and just hand tighten them until it feels snug. One of mine had a horrible squeek, changed it, no squeek and still tight. The Gators are a little thicker and a pretty wide compared to OEM. Much metter IMO.
#4
Originally Posted by JDMFairladyZ33
Bump..anybody? Also, anybody have any ideas if there's belts out there better than the OEM ones? I'm using OEM I got from Courtsey Nissan but if there's something better I wouldn't mind switching.
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Originally Posted by JDMFairladyZ33
Hey guys I need a little help with replacing my drive belts. My 03 Z has about 23K miles on it and today the belt for the AC compressor cracked and half of it from a 5 inch section broke off. Given that my car is sort of close to the 30k miles mark, I am deciding to replace both the damaged AC compressor belt and the power steering/alternator/fan belt. The physical replacement looks pretty straight forward but I am having trouble with figuring out the tension and deflection when I turn the adjustment bolts under the two pullys. What are you guys using to gauge the correct tension and deflection? Can somebody please explain what I am looking for? Is there a tool I can get to measure this? Where can I get one like autozone or something? I kinda understand the tension but what am I looking at for deflection? The service manual reads as follows for each:
Power steering/alternator/fan belt
Tension new belt: 838-926 (85.5-94.5, 188-208) Unit:N (kg,lb)
Deflection adjustment: 3.5-4.5 (0.138-0.177) Unit: mm (in)
AC compressor
Tension new belt: 470-559 (85.5-94.5, 188-208) Unit:N (kg,lb)
Deflection adjustment: 8-9 (0.31-0.35) Unit: mm (in)
Power steering/alternator/fan belt
Tension new belt: 838-926 (85.5-94.5, 188-208) Unit:N (kg,lb)
Deflection adjustment: 3.5-4.5 (0.138-0.177) Unit: mm (in)
AC compressor
Tension new belt: 470-559 (85.5-94.5, 188-208) Unit:N (kg,lb)
Deflection adjustment: 8-9 (0.31-0.35) Unit: mm (in)
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I changed my factory belts with oem belts back a while ago. The FSM does settings but I didn't have access to any type of guage.
So I also hand tightened then drove a few thousand miles and hand tighthened some more. 30,000 miles later still no problems.
So I also hand tightened then drove a few thousand miles and hand tighthened some more. 30,000 miles later still no problems.
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Shade tree mechanic finger/tension test FTW...
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Originally Posted by Bevo
Just wondering how much did you pay for your belts?
They were dirt cheap. I don't have the invoice in front of me right now but from the dealership the two cost me around $35s.
#13
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I do it strictly by feel, but those measurements are obtained by laying a straight edge along the longest run usually and measured by pushing down on the belt and measured from S/E to belt. Notice the main belt is pretty tite, thats cool. The A/C is looser because you have less distribution of pulley/bearing/seal stress. A stressed A/C pulley will wipe out the seal and will cause compressor malfunction/failure.
If they squeal, turn them another 1/2 - 3/4 turn till they stop and feel the tension. Next time you will be able to just go by feel
If they squeal, turn them another 1/2 - 3/4 turn till they stop and feel the tension. Next time you will be able to just go by feel
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Hey... I am about to change my belts on my FX35 (which is basically the same motor)... Are you saying that there really is no need to buy a belt tension gauge (I found one for $50)? I am thinking that the current belts probably have the correct tension on them as they were installed by the dealer. If I figure out how hard I need to push down on the belt to get it to bend 4-5 mm on the main belt and 9-10 mm on the AC belt (which is the tolerances for a used belt) and then push the same amount on the new belt and then adjust it to 3.5-4.5 mm on the main belt and 8-9 mm on the AC belt I should be fine?
Or do you have a better method as I would prefer to not have to buy the used tool for $50 (it appears all the belt tension tools on the market are not high enough to calilbrate a new belt anyways as they typically measure from 30-180 lbs...
Or do you have a better method as I would prefer to not have to buy the used tool for $50 (it appears all the belt tension tools on the market are not high enough to calilbrate a new belt anyways as they typically measure from 30-180 lbs...
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