Idler Pulley replacement

[93 LX]

On my 93 Stang the ideler pulley is bad. I have replaced it once but what the parts house gaveme was a plastic unit. This unit is now cracked and a piece has broken off. I think this cause the edge of my belt to start ripping away.

Anyone know where I can get a new metal unit? I do not want the billet unit that I saw on the LRS website. I just want a new steal unit like the stocker.

Any one know of a place?

Allen

 

[ss93cobra]

I assume you mean the belt tensioner pulley as your car doesn't have an idler pulley. Typically those are designed to be replaced as an entire unit from Ford, but I don't see why you couldn't remove the pulley (backwards thread) and have a parts store simply match it up to a metal one vs. giving you the plastic one by application. Tell them to match it with a metal one and see how it goes.

 

[HISSIN50]

I know what you mean - it is hard to find metal ones these days. Seems to me that you could hit up Wazee and get one of his pulleys.

FWIW, I just ordered a new idler for the SN (94-95's do have a stationary idler) and it was a plastic ford Unit. I hate plastic pulleys.

Oh yeah, it seems to me that there is a spacer/shim behind the pulley - if so make sure that is there or the pulley's lifespan can be shortened.

Good luck.

 

[jrichker]

Try NAPA auto parts. I got a replacement tensioner assembly for $73. The metal pulley by itself was only about $18.

A word of caution - the pulley has a LH thread, so it loosens turning clockwise. Don't ask me how I know...

 

[93 LX]

Cool I will give my local NAPA a call. I was also thinking maybe of having the bearing replaced in my stock metal pulley.

 

[Henceforward]

I bought a new Metal pully today without shoulders for $15 at Autozone.

Do not buy the tensioner assemblies they sell. They are cheap, with the plastic pullies, and cost a grip $75.

 

[HISSIN50]

I bought a new Metal pully today but it does not have ridges on the end of the pully that keep the belt on the pully at Autozone for $15.

Do not buy the tensioner assemblies they sell. They are cheap, with the plastic pullies, and cost a grip $75.

I cant remember what the fox pulley looks like, but today while replacing the idler on the 94 (it does have an idler), I noticed my tensioner pulley talkin to me occasionally so I paid it attention. It (the tensioner pulley) does not have belt retaining edges like the idler does (it is OEM metal).

Onto foxes: I replaced the fox tensioner pulley years ago and I think the plastic replacement pulley had belt retaining edges. If the accessories are in alignment, I dont think having those edges really matters (if one is using the edges, the belt aint gonna last anyhow).

My two cents.

Good luck.

 

[Henceforward]

Cool I will give my local NAPA a call. I was also thinking maybe of having the bearing replaced in my stock metal pulley.

If it is the OEM factory pully it will be a two piece design that is rivited together around the bearing, impossible to get it apart reasonably. I took one look at that idea and threw mine in the trash.

I guess you could drill the rivets out, and rig up some sort of replacement rivet system, or tack weld some bolts on there, but sourcing the bearing might prove to be difficult, and if the two parts of that pully fail you will be SOL.

$15 piece of mind is cheap.

 

[HISSIN50]

FWIW, I just picked up a tensioner pulley (metal) for 14 bucks from the 'good' local parts house (not a chain). If someone knows if the fox and SN pulley are the same, I can post the part number (it is a Dayco).