Pulley squeak; fixable or buy a new pulley?
 

Since I bought my car I have had an issue with the pulleys squeaking. Usually only when it is cold, wet, and at start-up until the engine is warm. I have limited it to the tensioner pulley or the smooth or ribbed idler pulleys. (What are the correct name for those by the way, my Haynes manual doesn't say much about them?) I just took the belt off the inspected it, it looks good. Spun the pulleys, none squeaked. But the smooth idler pulley had a little bit of play in it, wobble. Should I try to tighten it down? What is the correct tq. spec? Or should I just go buy a new one since they are about $15? I don't want to over-tighten it to get rid of the wobble and mess it up. Thanks for any help.

If you can replace the bearings in them that should fix the issue. That's probably more effort than it's worth. I'd just replace the wobbly one. I have a spare but you'll have to measure the width of it and send me a pic so I can make sure it's compatible if you want it... otherwise to the ford parts counter with ya.

As for tightening it... it should be good and snug. Not ironman tight but tighter than a spark plug. I usually just toss a regular size 3/8" ratchet on it and give a good solid tug till it feels good.

Thanks. I tried to tighten it just to see if it was loose, the bolt was very tight and solid. It wobles about a millimeter but you can see an irregular patern of wear on it where the belt rubs on it. It is the only one that has something visibly wrong so I'm pretty sure that it's the culprit. I still haven't found what it is supposed to be torqued down to but I set my torque wrench to 15lbs. and it was more than that. I will probably buy a new one after I do a little sitting on my butt.

Replace the pulley and put on a Goodyear Gatorback belt if the one you have is wore, if not just replace the pulley. Just snug the bolt like R3d said with a 3/8 ratchet. I think that is a 8mm bolt.

Bought a new one this morning. Although it probably won't squeak for the rest of the spring and summer becuase it won't be cold and wet. Can I use my torque wrench to find out what the bolt id tq'd down to by using it to loosen the bolt. Or is it that important? I'll figure something out.

I honestly don't think it's worth the hassle. I'd say just give it a tug. You know when something it tight and when it's not. Just don't he-man it and you're fine. Shit I tugged on em pretty good.

Does is matter if the replacement pulley is .5" greating in diameter than the stock pulley. I wouldn't think that it would make a different and that that tensioner would just compensate for it. 9.4" vs. 11" circumference probably doesnt matter for an idler pulley.

Well, I think it does matter. I just took the belt and old pulley off. The new pulley came less than a millimeter from rubbing against a metal protrusion from the timing chain cover. It doesnt actually rub on it, but a piece of paper has trouble sliding between the two. I don't think I should put it on. I guess I will get my 29.87 back for it, a little more expensive than I thought it was going to cost. I took some pictures of where it comes close to rubbing and compared it to the stock pulley if needed.

post em up.. lemme see what you're seeing.

If it's just a nub you can grind it to clearance it. I had to grind down two bosses on my front cover to clear the larger pulleys from the 5.4 swap.

pulleys are cheap, replace it

Did you replace the smooth or 6 rib pulley? You should not have to grind to make the part fit. Take your old one to the parts store with you and dont leave until you have the right size. Dont mess up your torque wrench messing with that bolt. Just pull it down with a 3/8 ratchet. Good Luck!

It was the smooth pulley. I tired to upload the picture but for some reason I can't get the thing to work so nevermind about that. I am going to take it back. I'm not spending time grinding on something that should be simple. It hasn't even squeaked in over a week so maybe it will go away now.