Annoying "belt" squeal

It's the BIG pulley (sheave) at the bottom, front of the engine, can't miss it. The front pulley at lowest part of the engine.

"Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, we shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves!"
 
balancer is the crank pulley--it consists of two separate metal parts:

-the center of the balancer is a fairly light weight wheel that provides a hole for the mounting bolt and three smaller holes for a puller to thread into

-the outer portion of the balancer is your pulley grooves machined into an inertia ring

both of these pieces are attached and held together by an injection molded rubber layer that allows them to move "slightly" on that rubber and help absorb inherent harmonic vibrations from the engine.

As time passes, engine heat cycles, oil leaks, and constant movement deteriorate the rubber ring and allow the outer inertia ring/pulley to shift (usually toward the timing cover) and cause belt mis-alignment and squealing.

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=928917&highlight=harmonic

Thanks alot for the info, sounds like the issue on mine.
 
I ran into a mess with my belt after replacing the water pump. It took me getting an A/C bypass pully, and a Napa belt and idler to take care of it. I went thru 3 dayco belts and 2 dayco idlers till I figured that I'd try the stuff from napa. for it to only squeak a little bit in this very cold northern IL weather, LOL. so no more dayco brand for my jeeps.
 
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:thumbup::thumbup: best of luck too you-- lemme know if you've got any questions


Just one!

Why does a Harmonic Balancer for a 2.5L cost $59, and for a 4.0 cost $26. Both are Dorman parts. Oh and from Rockauto.com

I checked multiple years, all the same price. The 2.5L Cherokee's and Wranglers are the same part number. Its not like its a rare engine or anything.


Here is the info from the dorman site. Both balancers are surprisingly very different.

2.5L: http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-28480-594-254.aspx

4.0L: http://dormanautoparts.com/p-5219-594-018.aspx

The 6cyl one ways almost double! The squealing issue has been a problem for a while, I seriously suspect the balancer after this thread. Anyway to test it? Will the old one fall apart when I take it off?

Well I just checked the NAPA site. They carry a balancer listed under their name for $80! They list the 4.0 balancer for $50. And guess what...... made by dorman. Guess the 4 banger ones are just pricey.
 
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Just one!

Why does a Harmonic Balancer for a 2.5L cost $59, and for a 4.0 cost $26. Both are Dorman parts. in times where global sourcing and internet access determine pricing, it's hard to speculate on the reason

Will the old one fall apart when I take it off? possible, but unlikely

Guess the 4 banger ones are just pricey.failure rates and frequency of sale often cause seemingly equal parts to have less than equal prices
 
Well....to my suprise I hadn't tightened the belt enough. I loosened the bolt on the idler pulley and started tightening down. Didnt have anything to measure the tightness with so I went til it went really tight. No squealing last night afterwards or this morning on a completely cold start. I'm excited yet feel a little dumb for night tightening it down enough the first time. Thanks guys for all your help. I always appreciate. Gonna clean the throttle body today. Wish me luck.
 
Glad it worked out!

PS - get the tension measuring device (Krikit II) and set it perfectly as soon as possible. Overtensioning the belt can wear the bearings in the accessories out much faster.
 
Glad it worked out!

PS - get the tension measuring device (Krikit II) and set it perfectly as soon as possible. Overtensioning the belt can wear the bearings in the accessories out much faster.

Cost of Kriket II, less than $20.

Belt, Idler pulley bearings, a/c clutch, alternator, water pump, PS pump, mechanical fan pulley bearing--ALL of those can be damaged by running a belt too tight. They all cost more than the gauge.
 
Cost of Kriket II, less than $20.

Belt, Idler pulley bearings, a/c clutch, alternator, water pump, PS pump, mechanical fan pulley bearing--ALL of those can be damaged by running a belt too tight. They all cost more than the gauge.

link of where to buy?
 
Thanks for the part number. FYI Rock Auto stocks it for 14 bucks.
 
For those of you using the krikit tool.. which span of belt are you using to measure the tension? Is it okay to use the span between the PS pump and Harmonic Balancer? It is kind of tight to try and get the span between the AC compressor and Alternator, especially since the gauge doesn't hold the reading when i take it off the belt.

My gatorback was squealing reeeally bad this morning. It squealed at idle then quieted down. Then whenever i hit the gas to move it squealed horribly.. until i got my rpms above 2500 or so. Then after driving a mile or so.. everything was quiet and normal. The belt was replaced this past October by the dealer.. maybe it stretched a little? Or maybe it could be the fact that it was 20 degrees out this morning.
 
It squealed at idle then quieted down. Then whenever i hit the gas to move it squealed horribly.. until i got my rpms above 2500 or so. Then after driving a mile or so.. everything was quiet and normal.

this is exactly what mine does, also does it when the defrost is on high when its cold
 
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