how do i replace the belt tensioner pulley on my 89 camaro? i know its an easy job but i have never done it before and i dont want to screw anything up. thanks

 

a 3/8"drive ratchet should fit into the belt tensioner so you can release tension off belt. take belt off alternator pulley, no need to remove belt from engine. tensioner wheel is simply bolted onto tensioner. if memory serves, you might have to take tensioner assembly off engine, which is just one bolt. don't worry about reassembly as tensioner will only fit on one way.

 

small correction: use a 1/2" breaker bar in the square hole at the top of the tensioner arm, and rotate towards the passenger fender to release tension on the belt, remove the belt. Use a 13mm socket on the tensioner pulley bolt to remove the pulley.

I've found that the Autozone, and oreilly's replacements have bearings pressed too far into their bores resulting in the 13mm bolt actually locking the pulley against the arm - very bad for the belt. You have to press the bearing into the bore about a 1/4" further to get the depth correct.

But, a better, cheaper method is to press the old bearing out from the OEM pulley, and replace it with a NTN 203 type bearing (Grainger part number 1L016). They cost about $9 and let you reuse the OEM pulley.

 

Evel can the bearing be swapped without a press? Thx.

 

You can get just a replacement pulley (with bearing) w/o having to replace the whole tensioner if its still good i.e. moves freely, doesnt bind up. I think the pulley is like $15-20, while the tensioner is $50.

 

What's the bolt torque when replacing the whole assembly?