Gates tensioner on the 96. Not so good

[jrsavoie]

WHat aftermarket tensioners are good?

Gates tensioner on the 96. Not so good

Are any better than stock GM?

GM part number 12563092 - 96 and newer tensioners

I put on a new GAtes and it's been squealing ever since. The pully stud on the tensioner seems to be way undersized. The bearing in the pully has as much wiggle as pullys that I have replaced.
You can wiggle the pully a very noticable amount when mounted.

I ordered an AC Delco 38118 & will return the Gates when I get it.

Heck, this one is worse than the one I took off.

I've always used GM tensioners previously

The pully was extremely lose on the OEM tensioner. Same as the Gates,

But not the same as the replacement GM tensioner I put on the 1998 Suburban

 

[Big T]

I just kept the old and bought a new pulley wheel with bearing from RockAuto.

 

[chefmike]

I put on a napa. I think it is okay no problems at least.

 

[JiFaire]

I just kept the old and bought a new pulley wheel with bearing from RockAuto.

ITA - most times, the aftermarket stuff is just not up to the same quality test as the original GM parts, IMHO. I'm more comfortable repairing things like that than replacing them with parts I'm not so sure about...

 

[jrsavoie]

I dug the OEM tensioner out of the scrap, put some liquid metal around the stub and inside the bearing of a new pully I had on the shelf and instantly no noise.
I still have a new AC Delco bearing assembly enroute.
I have concerns about the 14 year old spring.
I'll install the new part at a later date.
I was very surprised that the bearing on the Gates had movement.

 

[JiFaire]

Years ago, my 16-yr-old cousin had a job at a parts rebuilder in Calgary, rebuilding carbs. I wouldn't let the little slacker change the OIL in my vehicle, then or now, and he was rebuilding carbs. He had no damn idea what he was doing, just disassembly, cleaning/tanking, putting in new parts according to the explosion diagram.

Maybe he's rebuilding Gates tensioners these days...

 

[Big T]

Years ago, my 16-yr-old cousin had a job at a parts rebuilder in Calgary, rebuilding carbs. I wouldn't let the little slacker change the OIL in my vehicle, then or now, and he was rebuilding carbs. He had no damn idea what he was doing, just disassembly, cleaning/tanking, putting in new parts according to the explosion diagram.

Maybe he's rebuilding Gates tensioners these days...

LOL. He probably barely knew they were carburetors and certainly did not know how they worked. Undoubtedly those carbs were rebuilt with passion.:blindfolded: