How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

[Bill Z]

My fan belt just keeps squealing. More of a chirp at idle (most embarrassing).

I replaced the belt, the idler and the tensioneer but it still chirps.

I also checked out the AC, alternator, power steering and water pump bearings for extra noise and found none. I looked down the alignment of the pulleys to see if any were off causing the belt to rub but nothing noticeable.

I have a stethoscope but it doesn't do much for belt noise. Maybe a microphone but I don't have that kind of equipment at present.

Any suggestions as to what to do now?

 

[autoaddictions]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

Get a new belt, check your tensioner make sure belt is tight enough. Slipping belts get cooked from the heat and tend to make noise.

 

[hatrik8]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

Redneck fix: Squirt a little WD40 or similar and see if that fixes it.

 

[SY2455]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

Another Redneck fix: Use a bar of Lava Soap on it, the grit help. But if the belt is older than 2 years, just replace it.

 

[NecroWolf]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

fan clutch? have you tried removing the belt and seeing if it goes away? is it routed right? it can look right and still not be on there right

 

[pinellas50]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

We used to use candle wax on the inside of the belt for this at a shop I worked at back in college.

 

[Don W.]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

I'd suspect a bad (old) belt as well. If it has a bad spot on the flat side it'll make a noise each time it goes across the water pump.

 

[H-TOWN-TYPHOON]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

You can buy cans of belt dressing at the parts house. In the past I have used bars of soap and also crayons.

 

[sy2639]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

I had a squeak with a few belts on my truck. I installed a Goodyear Gatorback belt and the squeaking went away.

 

[Bill Z]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

Guys,

Thanks for some of the suggestions here. As I mentioned in my original post, I have just replaced the belt, idler and tensioner. I replaced them all trying to get rid of the chirp. Also, I wanted to do something that was more permanent than sprays or dressings. This is MY truck.

BTW, I did try the WD40. I even tried sand paper on the back side of the belt with no success.

Here is what I tried last night and it seemed to work. I don’t know for how long.

I took the belt off and used break cleaner on the all of the grooved pulleys and then wire brushed them to make sure they were clean. After putting the belt back on, the chirping went away. If my theory is correct, the chirping was due to crap in the groves that wouldn’t free up or come out. Maybe some oil or road tar. Maybe that is what the spray dressings and the soap does, cleans the crap out of the groves.

If the chirping comes back, I will definitely try the gatorback belt idea.

 

[Bill Z]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

Guys,

The chirping is back and keeps coming back. I told them to turn up the radio and not think about it. Not working.

I’m still looking for a long term solution. I tried the belt dressing. It works for about a week.

I tried the soap. It works for a few days.

The belt is only 3 months old and I changed both of the idlers (the one with the tensinor and the one without.

What do I do to isolate what pulley is causing the chirp Maybe then I can figure a way to stop it?

 

[phoonTy]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

Guys,

The chirping is back and keeps coming back. I told them to turn up the radio and not think about it. Not working.

I’m still looking for a long term solution. I tried the belt dressing. It works for about a week.

I tried the soap. It works for a few days.

The belt is only 3 months old and I changed both of the idlers (the one with the tensinor and the one without.

What do I do to isolate what pulley is causing the chirp Maybe then I can figure a way to stop it?

Is it the belt?

When my PS pump went out, it was "chirping." The shaft the pulley sits on was moving in and out about 1/4". I could take the belt off and the chirping would go away. Finally got everything in good light and noticed the pulley moving. Something to look into :dunno:

 

[clone 94]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

i had a really bad squeek, switched to a gatorback and did nothing else and i havent had a squeek in two years

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

The front bearing on my A/C compressor is making the same noise... pretty easy to locate though cuz it's up high on the motor.

 

[turboj91]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

Might be on the right track with trying to isolate the accessories as the belt might not be the problem. Hate to see you swap every driven piece until you find the one. Try to use the scope to listen to each pulley shaft and see what happens. HTH

 

[syclone0209]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

go to electric fans

 

[James Thomas]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

go to electric fans

:tup: :tup: :tup:

_______
James

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

I had a squeaky GATES belt, and replaced it with a GATORBACK. Seriously , my chirp stopped ... even after the u/d pulley ate 1/4" of the belt away, lol (on my z28 ) ---

 

[Loeryder]

Re: How Do I Stop a Fan Belt Squeal?

gatorbacks are where its at.

I thought everyone knew to use those!

Put one on the SS and it stopped chirping at the shifts too.