what bolt/s should you undo to loosen the belt/s?
i've tried turning them but the whole wheel turns too.
or am i undoing the wrong bolts?

 

If the wheels (pulleys) are turning when you're loosening nuts you are loosening the wrong nuts.

 

Do you have anyone to help you with this, do a little pointing out?
As I remember it:
Look for adjusters on the Alt and P/S. You'll have a nut to loosen, then the adjuster can be backed off.
The pulley under the A/C has a nut you can loosen on it, and the adjuster just below it.
Don't remove any of the pulleys.

Your second picture of the alt shows an adjuster, a nut on the bracket you loosen, the adjuster bolt you back off until you can get the belt off.
Look underneath the power steering pump, if I remember right
Your last picture shows the pulley under the A/C I am talking about.

Are you trying to change belts?

 

HEre you GO!

Power steering:
http://ncttora.com/fsm/2003/Repair_M...p5vzf/remo.pdf (Step 4)

Alternator:
http://ncttora.com/fsm/2003/Repair_M.../gene/remo.pdf

A/C:
http://ncttora.com/fsm/2003/Repair_M...ribel/remo.pdf

 

Thanks for the quick replies.
i'll change them out soon, they are 115k miles old.

 

...Surf looks like crap...south wind. Today is a truck day

 

it was blowing offshore early then it turned onshore. Had some fun rides today. Might go back for a sunset session after i replace the drive belts.

 

Ugh. I can't get TO the damn PS adjuster bolt. Its facing the passenger side, towards the bottom of the pump, correct?! Its behind the high pressure AC line, and can't get any tools in there.

Anyone got a hint on getting to the adjuster bolt?

 

i remove the air box for a little extra room and use a 14mm ratchet wrench there a life saver

 

Using a ratcheting wrench...Hmmm I guess that would work. I still can't figure out how to move around under there. I got a box end wrench on it, but I can't turn!?

 

go from the side and some how get your big ole mits in there its a pita

 

Hhaha. OK
Now once I am in there, I keep thinking I want to tighten the bolt, to get it closer, and to loosen the tension on the belt...
But, the FSM is saying to LOOSEN it... I am assuming that is correct, right?... er, left?

 

Yep. You loosen that sucker to let the tension off. After the new belts are on you pry the component back into place and get the correct tension and then tighten that sucker down while holding there. Make sure you recheck the tension after you get it tightened and then again after you've driven it for a few days. I just did mine like three days ago.

 

Also, the FSM mentions loosening 2 pivot bolts and the tensioner... Is this correct?

 

You should remove the airbox to get more room. The ps belt is the trickiest of them all. IMMSMR, I loosened 3 bolts for the power steering. I used a regular wrench, some are in a tight space that there's not enough room for a ratchet wrench. Can't remember the sizes but you'll need a 14 & 12 mm for sure.

 

Hey you just wanna come up and do it for me. I'll go surf while your at it. hehehe!

Ok. We'll I'll try it again. I have done belts on countless other vehicles but never on the 4runner. I was amazed how I was unable to go anywhere in an hour of scratching my head.

 

I went in through the wheel well for the PS on the passenger side and attacked my alternater from underneath on the drivers side, take the skid plates off and it's pretty easy with a good long extension on your socket wrench. (I guess easy is the wrong word, patience and time is more like it but it's still a PITA)

Does anyone use a belt tension gauge?? When I put my SC on my tacoma it called for 94lbs of tension so I went to my local shop to have all my belts measured and they said that everyone just does it by feel. I haven't had any problems over the last 10k so it must be close enough but just wondered if anyone used a gauge or not. I know if they're too tight they will wear out faster and too loose will cause slippage and squeeks on startup; the best advice I got besides that was to pull on the middle of the belt between two pulleys and it should pull about 1/2" away from the belt line. Anyone have any input or issues on belt tension?

 

i'll do it if you promise to fix my rear main seal leak.

i did not use a tension gauge, i did not even re-tension it after running. i will before i put back the skid plate tom.
the dust in the threads help mark the initial position of the adjuster.