What is the difference in tensioners

[TampaTurbo]

My serp. belt tensioner is really screaming so it needs to be repalced. I would like to know what the difference is in the two I have found on the board.

Hyway star is $179.

Rock Auto is $77.

$100 is a huge price difference. Can the quality be that far apart?

Thanks

Grant

 

[Fast4Ward]

do they both show a guard pulley or flat? ....i have 2 tensioners on the shelf one with a flat pulley and the other with the tracking guides maybe thats the diff.

 

[TampaTurbo]

They both appear to have rasied edges on the pulley just like the one on my car.

 

[turbo nasty]

ones prob ac delco. It will most of the time be more

 

[davidf]

Highwaystar is very likely OEM=NOS.

 

[els_G87N]

Oreilly auto OE works

I just replaced mine one week ago, Price was 98.00 you have to pay tax. 108.99 look like it came with car works Great nice and quiet. I had bought the other tensioner on ebay it was defected. Some time you can't buy to cheap because in the long run you'll end up spending more

 

[salvageV6]

Here's an original stock part next to the Gates replacement approximately $80 replacement part.

It may be the current A/C Delco part as well not sure where they source the replacement parts now.

It's a quality piece much like the original, slightly less beefy in some areas upon close inspection.

 

[David65]

If you look it up on Auto Parts, Car Parts - Batteries, Brakes & Filters | ACDelco and The world's most trusted name in belts, hoses & hydraulics | Gates Corporation you'll see they are the same p/n. I talked to someone at AC Delco a while back, and they said lately when they do a p/n revision, they may just go with the OEM's p/n. If fact, when I asked, he confirmed Gates was an OEM on that part before. The difference in price is just typical GM/AC Delco markup. Remember when Hank Terry was selling the new Powermaster motors?

 

[davidf]

That Gates look beefy.:wink:

 

[38turbo]

If the spring tension is still good and just the bearing is going bad.
Go to local bearing supplier. And get a new bearing prob. Around 2 bucks

90 percent or more of all idler pulleys tensioner pulleys ect...
Take the same bearing think it like a 6203 or a 203.
take the old bearing with you they will get u the right one

 

[m233roller]

There is no difference in the GM and the repop I have except the little logo and part number. Nos's is NOT an original nos GM piece they have been gone for some time now. But as I stated NO difference (except price !! )

 

[Busyman]

38Turbo + Bearing replacement

3.8 Turbo hit the nail on the head. If you just have a bearing problem, it is easy to swap out just the bearing. I just had the same problem you are having. Swapping the bearing was a lot less expensive and I was able to keep the OEM pulley on the car.

 

[TampaTurbo]

The tension seems strong still. I like the bearing route.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Grant

 

[THE BLACK MAMBA]

What are some signs of a bad tensioner? I notice mine jump sometime when it idles or reving the engine...is that one sign?