Best idler pulley

[Nick R]

Jeez, so what I thought was the tensioner making noise is actually the idler pulle, as evidenced by this diagram.

The tensioner is the red arrow, I thought it was the blue one, which is the one that is squeaking. Anyway, it looks like I have two choices. A $18 Dayco from Advance, or a $30 NAPA one. I'll of course try to find out if either is Made in USA (or canada) but of the two, which is most likely to last longer, and be of higher quality?

 

[The Critic]

Either one will outlast your car.

 

[Nick R]

Well thanks! :\

 

[willix]

The Dayco parts should be of reasonable quality.

 

[Hootbro]

Plan to get creative with some wrenches and/or shallow sockets to get both those replace with the engine still in the car. Plan to take the right wheel and fender liner off to get access to the tensioner.

I did both on my son's 98 CAV 2.2 and it was not fun. Good time to change the water pump if needed.

I see some cursing in your future.

 

[eljefino]

Might be possible to pop the bearing out and match it against a standard one at NAPA. Be about $6.

 

[Nick R]

Oh not doing the primary tensioner now, no reason. Just going to do the idler/tensioner between the alternator and PS Pump. Shouldn't be too awful hard. Might need to remove the engine mount again but no big deal.

 

[caravanmike]

dayco is an oem supplier for alot of manufactures. i don't know about who supplied the 2.2L idler pulley.

i have used dayco in a 1991 silverado and 50,000 miles later not one problem!

also dayco may even be the source for the napa one! mike

 

[Trav]

We have had a lot of comebacks with Dayco from AAP.Even the one on my Expedition failed 3 times (under guarantee) before i used another make.They ran fine all year but when it got really cold (below 0f) it would squeal loudly instantly when the car started,then it was noisy again permanently.

I can only guess this is grease failure causing the bearing to fail not an actual bearing defect.Seeing you live in NY i guess you have similar winter temps.

The one from OEM,Goodyear(RockAuto),Napa,have no trouble.
Its possible Dayco had a bad batch of bearings,it says Made in USA on the box but on the bearing itself it has Made in China.

 

[willix]

The wheel on the tensioner may be available separate if the tensioner itself is in good shape.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: caravanmike
dayco is an oem supplier for alot of manufactures.

Dayco aftermarket and Dayco OE are two entirely different things.

 

[Trav]

Yes it sure seems that way.In their online AAP catalogue it is listed as LT duty for the expedition anyway.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Trav
The one from OEM,Goodyear(RockAuto),Napa,have no trouble.


I was also going to mention that Goodyear now makes tensioners.

I wonder if it is made in U.S.A.??

 

[Trav]

The ones i got from RockAuto were made in Canada and on the bearing USA.

 

[Nick R]

The rockauto one for my cavalier is a Four Seasons one. Thinking about maybe getting that one.

 

[Trav]

Four Seasons is known for quality A/C parts,they make a decent blower motor.Sounds like a good option to me.