What is tool that you release the belt tensioner with called? I thought it was a breaker bar, but I went to Sears to buy one and didn't see anything like what I needed. Would Autozone have been a better place to try?
Changing belts
- Thread starter Frumious B.
- Start date
351wcoupe
New Member
You should be able to use a fairly long rachet and a 16mm socket for the ACC belt. I'm not sure about the A/C belt.
Lex
Founding Member
I wouldn't waste money on a "Special" tool to loosen the tensioner. Just a racket will do , May want to put a pipe on the racket to get a little more torque. Thats my top secret 
You do need a lot of muscle to release that tensioner, the hardest part is trying to hold the tensioner with one hand while you slip the belt out with the other. Even I have a hard time doing that with a 2 ft. ratchet, so you better make sure you have a cheater bar or some pipe or something.
Lex said:I wouldn't waste money on a "Special" tool to loosen the tensioner. Just a racket will do , May want to put a pipe on the racket to get a little more torque. Thats my top secret
They make a tool for this
I never knew this 
No really even in Auto Tech we always used rackets 
Like Lex and the guys said use a racket and its pretty easy to do. I mean you want pull your shoulders out of socket doing it. Its all about leverage so the longer the racket the easier it is also
If you got one and it fits use a 1/2 drive racket it may be over kill but who knows 
glowstang93
20+ Year Stangneter 
Simple, cheap 15 mm boxend will do the trick. But, your right, it does take a little muscle. Start the wrench in a position so that you will have the most leverage with your arm. Putting the belt back on, just make sure its on straight with all the pulleys so that it doesn't cause your belt to wear out too early.
I use a really looong ratchet (I call it a breaker bar too). It's the same thing I use to tighten lugnuts, it's like a foot and a half long.
....Now that you mention it, maybe it's time for me to change my belts....hmm....
....Now that you mention it, maybe it's time for me to change my belts....hmm....
Speaking of break bars...anyone know where I could buy a 3/8 drive break bar? I'm looking for something like Craftsmen/Snap on, so if I break it its no biggy. I have a 1/2 drive but some times the 3/8 small head is way easier to work with in tight spots I been doing like Tayrn with the 1 1/2 racket but I really would love a 2-3' 3/8 bar.
Sorry about the Hijack
I been doing like Tayrn with the 1 1/2 racket but I really would love a 2-3' 3/8 bar. Sorry about the Hijack
Just curious, but what exactly are you guys referring to as "breaker bars?" I always called those long handles, with the socket fitting on the end that didn't actually ratchet, breaker bars, because they're just used to break stuff loose. Ratchets are just ratchets
I'm with Red, a breaker bar is a bar with a pivoting socket fitting. I also call the piece of pipe that you can put over a ratchet to lengthen it a breaker bar, although I've heard "cheater bar" too.
I changed both my belts in the Autozone parking lot with a single wrench - took all of thirty seconds.
Ash
I changed both my belts in the Autozone parking lot with a single wrench - took all of thirty seconds.
Ash
Asha'man said:I'm with Red, a breaker bar is a bar with a pivoting socket fitting. I also call the piece of pipe that you can put over a ratchet to lengthen it a breaker bar, although I've heard "cheater bar" too.
I changed both my belts in the Autozone parking lot with a single wrench - took all of thirty seconds.
Ash
Crap I can't spell that dudes name
This one is kinda short and most people perfer 1/2 drive.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42263&item=4302944755&rd=1
Yup, that's what mine looks like. It's a permanent fixture in my car, because my scrawny girlish muscles can't break anything loose lol.
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