Veronica

iTrader: (2)

I bought and installed the Kaizen Tuning Evo X Pulley Upgrade Kit (mostly for simplicity and the 'correct' shim required + no one stocked the belt near my house) on Saturday. Total install time was ~two hours.


Yes, there is a Recall for to 'inspect' the pulleys - but I have far more confidence in my ability to properly assess and perform maintenance correctly. (And I don't give myself a buncha' carp about mods and "that'll cost extra for a new belt and we only install parts"... )


Item was shipped promptly (but items were loose in the shipping box - no damage though...).


The Kaizen site lists a Gates[tm] belt but it shipped with a Continental[tm] belt. Quality looks fine - not an issue for me.


The plastic pulleys were worn (at 98K miles) but the tensioner was the 'most' worn. The belt had been squealing at start-up when weather was damp and it was getting worse...


The directions assumed you have basic mechanical abilities (I do - so I wasn't skuurrred ).


Lessons Learned:
Pull both the bottom plastic and the fender piece for more access...


manual says to access the tensioner to release the belt from on top/looking down - but with plastic panels off - it is much easier from the bottom.


Work the belt off the bottom pulleys and then feed the belt down from the top to come out the bottom. Install is different - start feeding the belt from the top at the top pulleys and work the belt down to install on the lower pulleys.


It was hard to engage the threads when installing the new tensioner pulley (least amount of room to work with). By spinning the whole pulley there was enough friction to get a thread or two engaged and then finished with a open-end wrench.


I used red loc-tite for the bolts on the pulleys. Especially the tensioner - you 'loosen' the bolt to relieve tension - and you don't want that bolt coming loose instead of relieving tension on the belt...


Once installed - no issues. The belt didn't squeal this morning even though it was lightly raining...

cmb70

Nice write up.

jdbigz

Notice any difference in how it drives? Performance wise I mean

Veronica

iTrader: (2)

No performance gain - they are not underdrive pulleys - they just replace el cheapo plastic ones.

neogeo64

iTrader: (3)

Thanks Veronica for the tips.

was the 98k on original belt?
I know states to replace it every 30k in the maintenance schedule handbook.

I'm almost at 60k on original and plan to do it as part of the 60k service.

Veronica

iTrader: (2)

Yep - on original belt.

You are correct!
From 2010 Warranty and Maintenance Manual:

At 30K
Replace drive belts (for the generator, water pump,
power steering pump).