Belt Squeak

[Whistler]

I have a vintage air install and ever since it went in... the V belts squeak like crazy. I have had them replaced, adjusted, etc.

Last guy tried to install a "shim kit" but said it wouldn't set up right. Said the angle of alignment cause the noise.

Question: is there a particular brand of belt that would eliminate the belt squeak/squeal?

Or do one of you know of a fix I'm not aware of?

Thanks in advance

 

[evil69]

Do you have any pics? If you have alignment issues, then the belt is going to squeal or tear apart no matter the belt. Prefferably a pic from the top of the front of the motor looking down and one from each side to see what exactly is off.

Does the belt squeal with the AC off?

 

[Whistler]

No pics but I doubt you could tell with the variation of alignment being minimal.

Yes, it does squeal a little with AC off... alternator belt.

Thanks for the reply, the noise is simply an annoyance that I don't want to turn into a bigger issue.

 

[evil69]

Are you running an aftermarket alt? Ie. higher amp alt?

 

[blubuckaroo]

belt squeak on Vintage Air

The belts on my Vintage air unit squeek too. You aren't suppose to slam vendors on this site but Vintage Air Bronco Kits suck!:-X How many other installation troubles did you run into? The crank pulley they send you has different width grooves drivinf the alternator and the power steering pump. this wouldn't cause a broblem but both belts also drive the water pump. The different width grooves creates a slightly difference in belt speed. That is causing your squeek. I've contacted Vintage many times on this without any solution. The origonal pulley has grooves with the same width. Another problem I had was with the A/C compressor brackets they provided. They couldn't have possibly worked on anybodys Bronco because they put the compressor right in the way of the fan. The brackets they sell now are my design. 3.25" longer. The unit works really good now but I'm still trying to solve the squeak. I'm trying to find a single groove water pump pulley so I can run the alternator and water pump on one and the power steering on the other. I'll let you know how it comes out!

 

[Whistler]

I could type for days regarding the problems I experienced with the installation.

E69, no... running stock alt

 

[blubuckaroo]

belt squeak

John at Vintage Air claims that they have hundreds of happy owners out there using their A/C in Broncos. %) He couldn't give me one name for a testimonial!
I think that most of the units they sell are installed by shops and not individuals. The shops probably just make all the mods to the kit and Vintage doesn't know of the problems. You can't install your dash mounted CD player though because it's too deep. I mounted mine in the top behind the wiper box. CD works really good but would be a lot of work to remove the top. I don't plan to take the top off mine. The only time mine has been off in thirty years was to have the car painted.
The good part of the kit is the air box. Mounts really nice. The unit cools really good too. Much better than the one I had before. That one is sold at Tom's Bronco. That one just didn't move enough air.

 

[DirtDonk]

Goodyear Gatorback belts are supposed to reduce squealing effects due to their offset notches in the back reducing harmonic vibrations and helping to keep the pulley grooves clean.

Even with that though, I doubt ther're going to help with a setup that's not quite perfect to begin with. Might still be worth a try though, if you haven't already, becaust they're decent belts to begin with and I've been pretty happy with them over the years.

Paul

 

[blubuckaroo]

vintage belt squeak

I'm gonna solve this! Then I'm gonna give Vintage Air John another call with my fix. They should have never marketed this mess!

 

[blubuckaroo]

I'm the new hero!
I got a fix for the notorious Bronco Vintage Air belt squeak!
I just installed a single groove water pmp pulley for a standard Bronco. It lets you drive the power steering pump alone off the crankshaft pulley. I don't know why Ford even put on a double groove water pump pulley! No more cricket noise!

 

[Whistler]

DirtDonk,

I'm getting the gatorback belts installed as I type. We'll see how they work out. Thanks for all the feedback. I'll have to consider Blubuckaroo's single groove water pump pulley option if this fails.

 

[blubuckaroo]

DirtDonk,

I'm getting the gatorback belts installed as I type. We'll see how they work out. Thanks for all the feedback. I'll have to consider Blubuckaroo's single groove water pump pulley option if this fails.

I've used the A/C most of the summer now and the noise is gone. I believe that if you have a standard bronco without the factory PS you wouldn't have this problem because it would have come out with a single groove pulley already. By the way, Toms helped me out with the single groove water pump pulley.

 

[Whistler]

Well, I hate to keep reviving this thread so this will be my last post on belt squeaks (applause).

The Goodyear gatorback belts have solved the problem. I've given it a week or so and still no squeaking. Thought some of you might want to know in case you had simlar issues.

Sincerly,
Squeak Free Whistler in that Orange all original 75
Atlanta, GA

 

[DirtDonk]

Excellent! Nice to hear that both of you have been doing some silent-running for a bit now.

Paul

 

[blubuckaroo]

Excellent! Nice to hear that both of you have been doing some silent-running for a bit now.

Paul

I don't know about that. I've got so many home projects that the cars have stayed covered up for weeks! I guess that makes for some silence though.?:?

 

[DirtDonk]

I hear that (he says, using an un-intended pun). But that just means that you gotta get out there and play outside some more there buckaroo!
Maybe a short (relatively anyway) jaunt up to Loon Lake this weekend for the Con-Fest or whatever they're calling that Taco-Mania thing they're doing as a fund-raiser for the Rubicon trail.

Naturally, if you needed some wheeling, you're closer to some pretty nice spots right where you are. Just thought I'd mention it though. In case you just had to get away from the home projects.
Take the wife. Tell her she won't have to cook OR clean up after you up there!

Paul