I need some help on replacement of the drive belt tension pulley on a '95, 5.8L with factory A/C. I had a "sieze up/melt down" tonight??? The plastic pulley got completely cored out leaving me with remnants of it on the metal (perhaps brass?) inner part of the pulley or shaft. I'm planning to attempt to locate a tension pulley at a parts store tomorrow but I need a couple of tips:
1) Is the pulley removed by simply removing the nut/bolt in the center? Is there anything else I should know?
2) Any ideas on what might have caused the pulley to sieze up? Are there specific things I can check?

Any help ASAP will be greatly appreciated!

 

I assume you're talking about the pulley that is actually on the tensioner? If so, I have been told that a loose belt will cause premature wear and sometimes damage. When I replaced belt and tensioner on my 5.0 I noticed the old belt caused the tensioner to bounce quite a lot.

On my truck the parts store said this is a Ford only part, the patent hadn't been released so aftermarket people could make them. I think it was $50 - $60 at the dealer. This was about a year ago. If you're lucky they may have aftermarket parts now.

They just unbolt with a single center bolt. My Haynes manual said it was a 3/8" square drive, but mine actually had a large Torx bolt. I can understand this question 100%. They look like they have some kind of pre loaded spring tension that will fly off and kill you! I couldn't get a straight answer and they noticed a big safety warning on the new one. Took a while to get the nerve up to loosen that bolt all the way back.

Welcome to F150 Online. You will find this place is the best source for info on your truck.

 

Thanks for the info. Just called & found a pulley complete with bearing at a Napa across town... On the way to get it now. Hopefully I can repair my stranded truck and get it home today.

Still curious what could have contributed to the bearing siezing up???

 

If you do replace the belt and not the tensioner, make sure that the tensioner gets set up straight. I've had 5 different belts on my 99 4.6, and they kept getting loose. It made a squeeling sound and really annoyed me. They finally replaced the whole tensioner and it quit. So make sure it is the right size, and it goes on there right, or I can guarantee that it will make a noise.

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1999 super cab
white with tan bottom
automatic
4.6L v8
WAAG grillguard
2 KC daylighters
vampire remote start combo alarm
steelhorse nerf bars
Husky chrome toolbox
2 10" Cerwin Vega subs
pyramid 800w amp
4 pioneer 3 way 6x8's
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wants: 2 chamber flowmaster dual exhaust
tan fender flares
american racing atlas
2" fabtech suspension leveling kit