Idler pulley FYI...

[GXO]

I ordered new from cdan, but for those interested, the idler pulley for the AC (and possibly the alternator belt series, need to look) have snap rings and press fit bearings...meaning they could be serviced and reused vs. replaced.

Not sure on how much said bearing would be, but I plan on finding out. I know the OEM pulley is only about $30 these days, but if the bearing turns out to be $5 it is worth the 10 minutes extra work to press in a new bearing.

Stay tuned!

 

[cruiserdan]

The alternator idler is assembled in a manner that would require you to destroy it to get the bearing out.

 

[GXO]

Follow-up...the AC idler was making my noise for sure...all is well.

I was able to press out the bearing, but it was unfun and questionable on damaging the pulley itself...

Buy new.

 

[MikeB]

The idler pulleys come with rubber sealed 6301 bearings. You can pick up a replacement in a good brand like Koyo at a bearing house in any large city for about $10. A steel sealed bearing is about half that but is somewhat less leakproof.

The A/C idler bearing is simple to change.

It's more trouble than it's worth to replace the bearing in the alternator idler as long as the whole assembly is available for a reasonable price.

 

[concretejungle]

Follow-up...the AC idler was making my noise for sure...all is well.

I was able to press out the bearing, but it was unfun and questionable on damaging the pulley itself...

Buy new.

The idler pulleys come with rubber sealed 6301 bearings. You can pick up a replacement in a good brand like Koyo at a bearing house in any large city for about $10. A steel sealed bearing is about half that but is somewhat less leakproof.

The A/C idler bearing is simple to change.

It's more trouble than it's worth to replace the bearing in the alternator idler as long as the whole assembly is available for a reasonable price.

i'm confused

so which is it? Is it easy and worth it or not?

I feel that i need to replace some idler bearings.

 

[jaysdead40]

i'm confused

so which is it? Is it easy and worth it or not?

I feel that i need to replace some idler bearings.

X2 on the confusion. My cold weather front squeak has returned, more info. would help.

Jay

 

[Trollhole]

6301-2RS Bearing 12x37x12 Sealed:Ball Bearings:VXB

$3.95
Assuming the specs above are correct.

I've ordered it. Will post back when I get it installed. For now I just drilled a small hole in the old one injected the grease and put a dab of silicone over the hole and threw it back on.

 

[concretejungle]

Troll, please post back up and do a follow-up if you would. I need to do something here. thanks.

 

[Tools R Us]

I just did my A/C idler, 6301-2RS Bearing, ~$5. Remove snap-ring, tap the bearing out & new in, replace snap-ring, simple. Maybe more difficult in rust prone areas.

 

[MikeB]

My older post probably should have been clearer:

The bearing in the AC idler is made to be replaced. It is easy to replace.

The bearing in the alternator idler is riveted into the pulley. It is obviously not made to be replaced and would take quite a bit of work and ingenuity to replace. Easier to buy a new pulley/bearing unit.

 

[WoodyFJ80]

92' idler pulley

Today, I replaced the idler pulley bearing with the after-market 6301 bearing from a local bearing shop. This is what I found on the 92 or earlier, the pulley that has the removable bearing is the one located under the power steering unit. there is one located under the AC unit but it is not removable, found out after taking it off,. All went really well, just release the tensioner bolt way back, far enough to remove belt from the deep grove of the pulley. Removed the center bolt and the pulley fell off. Just thought I share my experience with this, for the thread seems to be for 93-4 or later. Good luck to all that are trying to save some $.

WoodyFJ80(John)

 

[concretejungle]

sorry to dig up this old thread.

Tools, i have the bearing in hand that you and trollhole ordered. I assumed i would just remove the belts, remove the "rotor" as it shows in the FSM, i'm ASSuming snap ring is behind that? Do i need to remove the AC compressor to do this?

 

[concretejungle]

bumpy

 

[Tools R Us]

sorry to dig up this old thread.

Tools, i have the bearing in hand that you and trollhole ordered. I assumed i would just remove the belts, remove the "rotor" as it shows in the FSM, i'm ASSuming snap ring is behind that? Do i need to remove the AC compressor to do this?

Slightly loosen the pulley nut, back off the adjuster bolt enough to allow the pulley to go all of the way to the loose stop. Remove the pulley nut, slide the pulley off. IIRC there are two sheet metal washers, dust shields, this maybe what they are calling "rotors"? They are simply washers that slip over the stud, fall off when the pulley is removed. That's all you need to remove, the belt can even stay in place.

 

[concretejungle]

sweet. I will be tackling this over the weekend.

 

[concretejungle]

OK, just did this. Now i know why there was some disassembly confusion on my part. I thought we were talking about replacing the bearing in the AC compressor itself, not the adjustment pulley.

Anyways, yep, easy as pie to get off. You do need a set of sharp, needle nosed snap ring pliers. I used our small press to press the bearing out as just tapping it was not working. Pressed the new bearing in and whallahhh. Done.


EDITED WITH PICS

 

[Tools R Us]

... I thought we were talking about replacing the bearing in the AC compressor itself, not the adjustment pulley.
...

On the older units the A/C clutch bearing was replaceable, on the 80 it's swaged on, have to get a new clutch.

 

[nicholas]

Slightly loosen the pulley nut, back off the adjuster bolt enough to allow the pulley to go all of the way to the loose stop. Remove the pulley nut, slide the pulley off. IIRC there are two sheet metal washers, dust shields, this maybe what they are calling "rotors"? They are simply washers that slip over the stud, fall off when the pulley is removed. That's all you need to remove, the belt can even stay in place.

I bought a new pulley from CDan and replaced the old one. However, I don't recall there being a washer on the outside of the pulley, just a dust shield. There is a stepped washer that goes between the bracket and the pulley, but nothing that goes between the dust cover and the pulley.

Did I lose something? It seems that there has to be something between the dust cover and the pulley for it to function correctly. It just burns up belts and doesn't spin without something between the dust cover and pulley.

 

[gotmud]

I bought a new pulley from CDan and replaced the old one. However, I don't recall there being a washer on the outside of the pulley, just a dust shield. There is a stepped washer that goes between the bracket and the pulley, but nothing that goes between the dust cover and the pulley.

Did I lose something? It seems that there has to be something between the dust cover and the pulley for it to function correctly. It just burns up belts and doesn't spin without something between the dust cover and pulley.

Just did mine tonight and I see mine doesn't have a washer either between the nut and the bearing. The PO did a lot of crack-induced PM so nothing surprises me anymore.

 

[fishwater]

OK, just did this. Now i know why there was some disassembly confusion on my part. I thought we were talking about replacing the bearing in the AC compressor itself, not the adjustment pulley.

Anyways, yep, easy as pie to get off. You do need a set of sharp, needle nosed snap ring pliers. I used our small press to press the bearing out as just tapping it was not working. Pressed the new bearing in and whallahhh. Done.


EDITED WITH PICS

so is that a picture of the "rotor" off the AC compressor? if so, did you have to remove the compressor to get it off?
thanks,
blumer