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I am replacing my three belts (AC/PS/Alt) and while the actual process is easy enough, I am thoroughly confused by the belts I got from AutoZone. This is on a 3.0 in an 88 T4R.
All three belts look pretty different from what I pulled off.
1. The AC belt that came off had the smooth edge toward the pully and the notched edge on the outside. Also, it looks like if I were to like, rotate the AC belt so the notches were on the inside then its substantially wider than the one I pulled off.
2. The alternator belts both have grooved edges on the inside, but the grooves on the old belt are much deeper and look way different.
3. The PS belt, which is still installed, has a notched outside to it, but the one I bought has the notches on the inside.
Sorry for sounding like such a moron on this but I haven't changed belts on a car in a LONG time and when I did the ones I bought looked like the ones I took off.
Your replacement belts should work just fine. They are just different styles of belts. The cuts in the v belts are there to give releief as the belt bends around a pulley. It helps it last longer. With the cuts on the inside of the belt it gives kind of a biting edge to grab the pulley a little better. Same goes for the serpentine belt. The cuts are there just to grab better. Not really required but generally is a more expensive belt.
Your replacement belts should work just fine. They are just different styles of belts. The cuts in the v belts are there to give releief as the belt bends around a pulley. It helps it last longer. With the cuts on the inside of the belt it gives kind of a biting edge to grab the pulley a little better. Same goes for the serpentine belt. The cuts are there just to grab better. Not really required but generally is a more expensive belt.
Thanks for the reply! The belts do indeed work and fit perfectly. Great explanation as well.
Above are good. However, ideally, the way Toyota designed it and recommends per FSM (attached) ...
New AC and New PS belts are the typical belts used "cogged V-belts". Belt circumference, width and shape of V have to be just right.
They should fit the pulley without bottoming out aka "clearance". They should not be to wide that they hit other parts on the side.
If you do not have exact part number, best to buy locally so you can easily return if they do not fit. Ask me how I know.
Last edited by RAD4Runner; 06-23-2018 at 10:30 PM.
06-17-2018, 07:43 PM
