I bought a 99 Tacoma with a 2.7L 4 cylinder engine a couple weeks ago and I had some belt squeal when starting it. First thing I did was replace the belts which initially helped, but after just one day the squeak was back. I checked belt tension and it appears to be fine so my next course of action is to replace the pulleys.

Problem is, I cant seem to confirm how many pulleys it has and what the part numbers are. According to diagrams I have found, there is an AC pulley, PS pulley, and two idler pulleys. However, everywhere I find to buy them, the names are all convoluted. They appear cheap enough to just replace all of them, but I would rather not guess and check parts since they are being ordered (And screw getting them locally, nothing but cheap part nightmares).

Does anyone happen to have a definitive list of pulleys that the 2.7L uses?

 

There are 2 idler pulley assemblies, one for the A/C and one for the PS.
I pulled one of each from a wreck, as spares. The pulley (with its bearing) SEEMS to be the same for both, but the bracketry is different.

The alternator/fan/waterpump belt does not use an idler.

Take one belt off and start her up to see if that caused the squeal. If not it, take the next one off and repeat.

 

The bearing in the AC and PS idler pulleys can often be replaced without replacing the whole pulley:
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=138131
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...pulley-197631/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...cement-264206/

 

You want to replace the pulleys or bearings??

Just what brand belts some brands now made in China have really gone downhill in quality.

With the belts off you should be able to feel if any of the bearings are rough.

 

How I didnt think of this before is beyond me. I was guessing that the pulley / belt that was giving me problems was PS because it sometimes whines like its low if I turn the wheel too fast (like a U-turn), but after removing the belt, it still squeaked. Turns out the alternator belt was squeaking because it was loose due to ˟˟˟˟ty AutoZone belts. I tightened it up and the squeak is gone!

I was happy that the squeak was gone until I realized that if the PS is still whining intermittenly. Sounds like the pump might be going out :/

 

I didn't even know that bearings only was an option. I think that's why I couldn't find much info on the pulleys. Awesome that I can just swap out bearings, if they are that cheap I might as well swap them all out, no sense in leaving the old ones to chance.

 

Most times you can get the number off the bearing then get the bearing from who ever you deal with.

I use McMaster-Carr because then I just add them to the rest of the order.