Non-OEM fan belts. Whose are decent?

[kdkrone]

I had an alternator belt go today and the others don't look all that good either! My dealer won't be open until the 27th.

who makes decent replacement equipment? Napa? Autozone? Kragen?

Sorry if the thought of non-OEM offends anyone, but I have a problem here!!

ThanksKen

[elwesso]

Kragen which is basically the same as o'reilly's have the wrong ones listed for the Q45. Dont ask me how I know!

Last aftermarket ones I got were carquest and they were more expensive than OEM.

[kdkrone]

Someone in a prior post mentioned that Napa belts are made by Gates. That seemed to be a name people respected. I have no idea. If I had the time, I would wait for a shipment from Joe, but I am going to have to wing it tomorrow, I guess.

Ken

[elwesso]

hopefully they stock it, sometimes they dont stock the ones you need!

[jamesmost]

stay away from DAYCO

[1990Q45'r]

Use Gates Belts.............. nothing else.

[kdkrone]

Gates supplies the belts for Napa, I discovered, so I purchased mine there.

Ken

[texasoil]

OEM belts (made in Japan) willl last longer than US made (Gates, Goodyear, ??) because Japanese manufacturers use better rubber and lots more anitoxidants. 10 year ols Japanese belt willlook nearly new. 10 year old US made automotive is dead.

[qship96]

I have replaced belts 2 times since new with factory parts in 11 years due to many small visible cracks- average 5.5 years service out of oem belts.

[Q45tech]

I change mine every few years [3 usually] just like tires because I don't want a flat or a failure on the road. Belt cracks per inch?

Belt life yaries with ozone level and ambient temperature.

ATL has high ozone"The 2006 ozone-smog season in Atlanta was the worst it's been in four years. During this summer's smog season, the metro area's air failed to meet federal ozone standards on 30 separate days, according to the Georgia EPD."

[1990Q45'r]

FYI,FWIW,Rockauto.com has excellent prices compared to NAPA online for Gates belts and hoses.For my 1990 Q45 w/145k mi.GATES Part # K040506 Fan & PSGATES Part #K060380 AltGATES Part #K040372 ACGATES Part # 20137 UpperGATES Part # 21935 Lower; Pipe To Rad.GATES Part # 21942 Lower; Eng. To PipeTotal $76.39 Delivered...........Anyone found a better deal? Don't play games..... change every four years regardless what they look like.
Modified by 1990Q45'r at 3:12 PM 3/23/2007

[CrimsonQ]

19 bucks for the oem alt belt at the local dealer. cant beat that.

now the pulley for 115? bastards.

[maxnix]

http://www.infinitipartsusa.com

Cannot beat price nor service for OEM.

End of story.

[bullittandy]

http://www.infinitipartsusa.com

Cannot beat price nor service for OEM.

End of story.

Those are not available at your neighborhood store, read the post in order to answer the guy's question.

[1990Q45'r]

19 bucks for the oem alt belt at the local dealer. cant beat that.

now the pulley for 115? bastards.

NAPA has the necessary replacement bearing for the idlers, too

[kdkrone]

(Somehow the point of my original post has been lost. The situation I faced was Saturday of Christmas weekend with no dealer parts department open and having been told prior to a trip that my belts were significantly worn. I wanted to know who made an acceptable replacement part. Had it been during the week, it would not have been an issue to obtain OEM parts...Thanks to those who helped, especially elwesso, who provided valuable tips on how to do the job.)

WRT the bearings, does it take special tools to remove and replace the bearings, or should the tensioners be taken somewhere (where?) to have it done?

ThanksKen K

[elwesso]

Ken was this the post you were thinking of...zerothread?id=217034

[kdkrone]

That was it!

Thanks again. You saved me that weekend.

Ken

[CrimsonQ]

the napa here said they didnt have the bearing nor could they get it, so I bought the whole assembly from the dealer. peace of mind i guess.

[1990Q45'r]

It has been 3 years since I replaced mine with Napa #6301-2ZJ. I still have one in a the Napa box.It is a bearing made by SKF, made in France. 6301-2Z/C3HT is stamped along ridge of bearing itself) .Checking on-line site, bearing number shows no match. HmmmFor further reference and using a pocket calliper, dimensions are 37mm outside diameter, 12mm inside diameter and 12mm thick. I am pretty sure it is a common size.Double check yours before purchasing to be sure.NAPA should have at least been able to cross reference, having the dimensions.Bearing is an interference fit.With a properly sized bolt, washer, nut and ratchet socket, removal & replacement is possible unless the sucker is rusted inplace. $20x3 vs $115x3 makes it worth spending a little time on the phone locating one.Check around for bearing and belt store in your area.
Modified by 1990Q45'r at 6:45 AM 1/16/2007