OEM alternator dual belt replacement

[cybrstar]

I just went by my local TOYOTA parts department, CITY TOYOTA, and ordered a new set of fan belts for both the alternator and the a/c and picked them up today. Had a chat with the parts manager Mario as I always do, while his associate gets my web order will call to save on shipping.

But as we were talking I mentioned that I couldn’t believe that TOYOTA sells the alternator belts in pairs for these land cruisers.

He told me that they have to because of the way TOYOTA constructed it. The manufacture takes a belt twice the width and cuts it in half so that both belts are the exact same length and technically made out of the same rubber composition.

Makes a lot of sense being a dual belt system.

So for those who are thinking of buying them from a big box store, I only paid $8 for 2 belts from the factory.

 

[OGBeno]

Has Mario been to the Mitsuboshi plant where they cut these belts?

How Mitsuboshi belts are manufactured (doesn't look enjoyable at all):



There are a number of applications in the Toyota line up where the belts are paired. They are paired for redundancy in the end.

 

[Jcreme]

Interesting! My business uses some critical rubber parts and I have visited the manufacturing centers. It is truly a different world.

I've been to three rubber molders in the US and this looks fairly typical. It's dirty work.

 

[cybrstar]

Has Mario been to the Mitsuboshi plant where they cut these belts?

How Mitsuboshi belts are manufactured (doesn't look enjoyable at all):



There are a number of applications in the Toyota line up where the belts are paired. They are paired for redundancy in the end.

But I never knew that they took 2 belts off the same construction build, did you?

 

[BILT4ME]

But I never knew that they took 2 belts off the same construction build, did you?

This is referred to in the industry as a "matched set". Generally, it's easy to tell a matched set, because if you hold the two belts together, the wording and part numbers on one belt are cut off to exactly match the numbers and words on the other belt where they were separated.

 

[cybrstar]

Has to come from the same batch/drum? Numbers are pretty close.

 

[sunrk]

On the topic of belts, how do the Gates v-belts compare to OEM ones for quality nowadays? I use Gates stuff myself on my 80 and on some cars.

 

[george_tlc]

Matched belts are nothing new. My 1980 patrol runs dual matched belts. Just wander into a (1/2 decent) auto shop and you can buy matched pairs of belts that are packaged together and stated as a matched set.

With dual belts you pretty well need to run matched belts or you have some interesting belt tensioning issues.

cheers,
george.

 

[Tools R Us]

On the topic of belts, how do the Gates v-belts compare to OEM ones for quality nowadays? I use Gates stuff myself on my 80 and on some cars.

OEM belts are cheap, so there is that? We have seen significantly better life from aftermarket belts. OEM, from the way they crack/wear, appear to be rubber, some, better aftermarket are synthetic, making them more durable. Gates makes good belts.