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.

Gear Ratios and Vehicle Performance

Just remember, there is no perfect gear ratio.

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

Have you ever wondered in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle how the engine spinning in the center of the car can spin the wheels that are perpendicular to the engine?

Well it is a mystery how that happens. Additionally in that same space we change the ratios of revolutions and the torque available to spin everything.