VIDEO: Mileage, Age And Conditions Matter For Belt Replacement

Always first diagnose why the belt needs to be replaced.

Andrew Markel is the director of content for Brake & Front End magazine. He has been with Babcox Media for more than 20 years. He is a technician and former service writer and holds several automotive certifications from ASE and aftermarket manufacturers. He can be reached at [email protected].

Published: October 19, 2020

The original-equipment belts on late-model vehicles are made of synthetic rubber that is far more durable, heat-resistant and wear-resistant than older materials.

This means serpentine belts may last up to 100,000 miles or more before they have to be replaced, but that doesn’t mean they will last forever or won’t age prematurely on some vehicles under certain conditions.

If you have a vehicle in your shop for belt replacement, diagnose why the belt needs to be replaced. Wear on a single component is rare and more than likely a worn tensioner, idler or pulley will cause or contribute to excessive belt wear — not just age. Also, decoupler pulleys wear out, causing excessive noise and a no-charge condition.

This video is sponsored by Continental.

Sway Bars and Linkages

The basic operation of a sway bar is quite simple.

By Josh Cable

Josh Cable is the editor of Counterman and ShopOwner. He joined Babcox Media in January 2017, and has been working in the field of journalism since 1999.

Published: March 27, 2024

Sway bars, anti-sway bars, roll bars, anti-roll bars and stabilizer bars are all the same thing, and it’s generally understood they improve handling, but how?

Any time a vehicle is turning, forces related to the laws of physics cause the body to roll, sway or tip away from the turn. When this happens, the weight shift to the outside, in turn compresses the suspension on the outside, resulting in lift and a loss of traction on the inside, which leads to poor handling and potentially the loss of control.