4runnerfun

I'm new to the board, but I have been lurking for several months reading all I can from this excellent source of information. I finally decided I had something to contribute. I've had a sqealing coming from the engine compartment at Idle and had tightened all the belts, and replaced the A/C idler pulley. I decided it might be a bad timing belt tensioner so I tore into it Saturday morning. I discovered the Fan Idler bracket bearings were bad. I made the discovery of the dealer price ($747.00!!!!). After I picked myself up off the floor.....I started searching the web. I found a place called Monster Auto Parts had it for $119 +S&H. Here's the link..... http://www.monsterautoparts.com/Toyo...ley_bracke.htm
I'll let you know when I get the part how their service is, but mainly wanted to let everyone know the part is available for the 96 - 02 model. I couldn't find it on ebay for the 3.4 liter

Thanks for the great resource!!!

Elton

cant help heres a bump

arjan

I just needed one too, and luckily found one on a local junkyard for $150Cad. The dealer price is just nuts for that part. My waterpump was shot and the mechanic figured that the coolant flushed the grease out of the bearing of the fan idler. I was leaking for a while and he also ended up replacing the timingbelt.
That's when he also noticed that the pass. side cam shaft was one notch retarded. The engine runs like a dream now, it's never ran like this before.

mt_goat

Here's where I picked up one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-04...QQcmdZViewItem

I haven't installed it yet, it is made in China, but seems ok. I'm converting to an electric fan now so surely it will hold up without a fan hanging off it.

4runnerfun

Thanks for the comments I had looked for a bracket for a 98 model on Ebay, but I couldn't find one when I was looking. Here's an update on Monster Auto Parts. The part got here very quickly. I rcvd it on Thursday. That's the good news. The bad news is, the part I got was defective. I installed the bracket and put everything back together....started the truck and got this bad chirping sound......used the old screwdriver stethoscope method and determined that the new part was where the sound was coming from

So here is what I'm doing now:

Cutting off the old idler bracket and running shorter belts for the power steering and the alternator (Thanks TacomaTRD)

Ordering a Flex-A-Lite 210 and hoping it gets here in time for me to install prior to leaving on vacation next Saturday.

BTW, I still thing Monster will be an OK place to order from, they were very friendly and very fast. I think I just got the 1 in a 1000 bad part. I'll let you know how they handle the return side of the transaction.

Thanks again for the comments.