Hey guys, my friend has a 2000 silverado and the tensioner pulley went out or is going out. the dealership said that both pulleys SHOULD be replaced along with the belts. Does this need to be done?

Does he need to change out both pulleys or can he just change out one and be done with it? they are charging him like $450 to do this job. Let me know thanks.

 

the tensioner is a bracket and the other pulley theyare talking abotu beats me. depending on condition and age of the belt it may need to be changed .the tensioner spring will wear out opver time . but unless his belt is coming off orr causing major belt ware i wouldnt do it. i would just replace the belt. that is very easy and require a 15 mm wrench.

 

Thats crazy. Tell him to go to Autozone and get both pullies and a new belt for less than $100 and do it himself with a 15mm wrench and about 20 minutes worth of time.

 

For what a tensioner pulley costs, you might as well change the tensioner assembly and while you're there changing the idler isn't a bad idea either. The cost of the tensioner, idler and belt should be less than $100 and the R&R is easy...
My a/c tensioner is now bad and shredding my a/c belt...picked both up the other day...another pretty simple R&R as well...