NAPA or OEM pully?
- Thread starter hisilver
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I don't know about a GM but back in 2006 I needed to replace my own tensioner. Napa had an OE grade tensioner with pulley assembly that was exactly the same as my original OE Mopar tensioner. It cost about $80.00 but was still less than the Dodge dealer's price. Napa may sell your OE grade tensioner as well. If you only need just the pulley, Napa's OE grade pulley should be just as good as GM. My Napa tensioner lasted well over 100,000 miles and last year I replaced it again with a tensioner/pulley assembly from Rock Auto. It looks and performs exactly like the Napa part and it seems to be every bit as good as the Napa part, but it only cost about $35.00 shipped.
ask yourself how long you want or NEED it to last, ive put on alot of quality Napa stuff, and only rarely have i ever felt the need to buy OEM.. although this is also a model/make question too
Oem (norm best)
Napa very good (my experience)
O'rileys, Advanced Auto (middle of the road)
Autozone.. just about straight junk on ALOT of stuff..
the above is my opinion and my Opinion only..
for a tensioner pulley.. id buy from NAPA with confidence.
Oem (norm best)
Napa very good (my experience)
O'rileys, Advanced Auto (middle of the road)
Autozone.. just about straight junk on ALOT of stuff..
the above is my opinion and my Opinion only..
for a tensioner pulley.. id buy from NAPA with confidence.
Same situation with the tensioner on my old 91 4.3 S-10. Bought it at Napa and it was identical to the one that came out. I think it was actually a Dayco.
Originally Posted By: hisilver
My tensioner pulley is squealing real bad these days. Would this be something to go OE on or does Napa
have a good choice? GM 5.3 truck. Thanks
Check online to see if it's in stock. If it is, you could go take a look at it in person. That would let you see the country of origin and similarities to your original tensioner.
My tensioner pulley is squealing real bad these days. Would this be something to go OE on or does Napa
have a good choice? GM 5.3 truck. Thanks
Check online to see if it's in stock. If it is, you could go take a look at it in person. That would let you see the country of origin and similarities to your original tensioner.
I plan to keep the truck indefinitely so I'm looking for the best part but also don't want to overspend. I've read some horror stories on car specific forums of bearings coming out, thrown belts, inferior plastics, etc. Although all were not GM. I'll look at Napa and get one if its identical to OE, otherwise I'll go to the dealer.
May also replace the idler pully for good measure.
May also replace the idler pully for good measure.
I bought my idler pulley at Napa at around 60,000 miles. I am at 154,700 miles now and it is still doing fine, running very quiet and smooth as glass with no runout or wobble at all.
Napa and Carquest OEM grade parts are usually just as good as OEM, but it has been my experience at some Napa stores that I had to ask for the better quality part, they would not always offer it to me right off the bat. I guess that is because the better grade parts cost more than the entry level stuff they sell to most retail customers. I find that the entry level retail parts at Napa and CQ are pretty much identical to most of the parts sold at other retail chain parts stores.
Napa and Carquest OEM grade parts are usually just as good as OEM, but it has been my experience at some Napa stores that I had to ask for the better quality part, they would not always offer it to me right off the bat. I guess that is because the better grade parts cost more than the entry level stuff they sell to most retail customers. I find that the entry level retail parts at Napa and CQ are pretty much identical to most of the parts sold at other retail chain parts stores.
More likely than not you will not even be able to get an OEM pulley, just the whole tensioner assembly. If you only need the pulley, aftermarket is pretty much all you have.
So far I have had good luck with Gates pulleys. Dayco, not so much.
So far I have had good luck with Gates pulleys. Dayco, not so much.
In my experience, NAPA and CarQuest (whom I held in high regard) are beginning the downward spiral also. So, it's really buyer beware.
On my last transmission filter change, I looked at an "OEM quality" Filtran filter at CarQuest. It was made in China. I opted to get the dealer Filtran Filter for $5 more.....USA Filtran filter.
I bought my Car Quest tensioner about 1.5 years ago and I believe its a Gates. After one year the belt barely started chirping when I turned on the air conditioner. I will probably have to replace it this spring (maybe lifetime warranty?). Often, CarQuest and NAPA have identical parts in different boxes, in my experience.
Aftermarket is simply not cut and dry anymore, as the manufacturers move their production out of the country.
On my last transmission filter change, I looked at an "OEM quality" Filtran filter at CarQuest. It was made in China. I opted to get the dealer Filtran Filter for $5 more.....USA Filtran filter.
I bought my Car Quest tensioner about 1.5 years ago and I believe its a Gates. After one year the belt barely started chirping when I turned on the air conditioner. I will probably have to replace it this spring (maybe lifetime warranty?). Often, CarQuest and NAPA have identical parts in different boxes, in my experience.
Aftermarket is simply not cut and dry anymore, as the manufacturers move their production out of the country.
If this is a spring loaded tensioner, I would replace the whole thing. sometimes they get tired and your belt starts squealing.
Every NAPA tensioner or idler assembly I've seen has been supplied by Gates. Yes, the tensioner body is the same (many times cast by the Littens foundry), but it's the bearing that is really different. Where an OEM bearing would typically last 80K miles, the cheap and nearly always Chinese bearings that are supplied on the aftermarket ones will barely last half that and many times less.
After closer inspection, the AC belt was cracked and junky looking. I replaced it with a new Napa gates micro v belt. The noise is from the belt or AC tensioner. Its quiet now but its dry out (always squeals when damp outside) so time will tell if that was the culprit.
If the AC tensioner is 'jumpy' at idle, does that mean it should be replaced?
If the AC tensioner is 'jumpy' at idle, does that mean it should be replaced?
Originally Posted By: hisilver
If the AC tensioner is 'jumpy' at idle, does that mean it should be replaced?
Jump to minute 2:55:
If the AC tensioner is 'jumpy' at idle, does that mean it should be replaced?
Jump to minute 2:55:
I'd go RockAuto and get the best one they had. That's what I'd do.
I changed the A/C belt and tensioner on my 5.3 at 80,000 miles. The tensioner was making a rattling noise, and the belt looked pretty bad. I got a Gates tensioner and green "fleet" belt from Rockauto. The belt stunk for a week or so, but then all was well.
The new tensioner looked just like stock, but I don't assume that means the innards are the same.
The new tensioner looked just like stock, but I don't assume that means the innards are the same.
If the pulley needs replacement, replace the whole tensioner. I have dealt with numerous comebacks where just replacing the pulley didn't work, even though it looked like it would work. Other times the bolt that holds the pulley down gets seized in, and by the time you get it out, the threads in the tensioner are no good.
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