Alternator Tensioner Bearing Failed! Help!!!

Don't panic.

You can replace the bearing, and yes you can remove it from the bottom. Since the belt is already off the tentioner you won't have to fool with the tension bolt. So.....remove the 3 nuts holding the tensioner bracket to the block and remove the tensioner/bracket. Then remove the bearing retaining bolt and remove the bearing from the bracket.

 

removing the three bolts won't help. You gotta remove the bolt on front of the bearing, move the adjustter bolt back toward the block, and then the bearing can be removed from it's bolt. Just enough room.

 

Good looking out Bruce. Thanks for the clarification.

 

Remove the entire tensioner assembly then remove the retaining nut on the front. The bearing is retained on the pully by a snap ring.
Judging by the pictures with oil and collant leaks you have some much more pressing needs then just the tensioner bearing.

 

Bruce, is this the bearing we changed few days ago? Sounds like I dodged a bullet

 

That's it....you did!

 

One has to be a little mech. enclined to do this job. Just a question....when was your last engine out service?

 

Alt belt can be replaced at the same time, no problem

 

Bruce changed out my bearing this past monday. No longer squeaking or noises from this area. Pm him as his shop is in hermosa beach. Part number for my 95 spider 123350 from ricambi

 

You are it.

You get to post up a how-to, with pics, for the boys. Really, it isn't that hard of a job. Get the car in the air and get to it. "YOU CAN DO IT!"

 

You can do it the way Bruce said or the way I did it. You have to get the car up in the air enough so you can work comfortably. First unlock the big center bolt and then turn the bottom bolt to slacken off the tension on the belt. I doubled up on the nuts(there are 3 of them holding the whole bracket on) locked a new one to the existing one and then extracted the whole studs. (later to be replaced with bolts so as to make this whole thing easier next time). Once its off, you use the right size socket to punch out the old bearing. Then you press in the new one. The trick now is to get your new belt up over the water pump pulley between the firewall and the water pump or down from the top. I taped the belt to a thin flat stick similar to the old yard sticks and pushed it up. Once the belt is on all the pullies, repalace the tensioner and take up the slack with the bottom bolt and then lock with the side bolt.
To give myself more room, I moved the alternator over before I started. The other thing I wanted to say is that this bearing makes a deep howling noise for years before it gets to the stage yours was at. You have to train your ears to listen to the sound these great machines make and when something sounds different then check it out befrore its too late.


http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355/344710-f355-alternator-belt-tensioner.html

 

Take the 3 studs out and you will have it all in hand. BTW, cut the old belt off to get it out of the way.

 

Yes they will unscrew from the block. You double nut them snuggly and then put your wrench on the inner one and you will get them out. I believe the top one is hard to get at and you may need to move the alternator to get at it. Get yourself 3 new metric bolts and grind them down to the same usable length as what was inserted with the stud you remove and then you can put them in instead. You have to grind or cut them down because the length is inbetween 2 sizes. They are 13mm by about 1.5 inches long. You will have to shorten them by comparing how much is used on the studs. You will be shortening them about a 1/4". Make sure the bolts you buy are the harder ones. You will also need 3 washers.
When you get the tensioner off, make sure the bolt that runs up inside has not been bent. Many have bent them by over torqueing them.

 

ATA BOY DEEJAY!

Way to get after it.

 

I got may hands dirty helping Michael with this project yesterday. With all of the guidance from everyone here, we'll make it happen. We're (now) just two SoCal Stooges, right Ernie?

 

I wish I could be down there in that warm weather. I could sit in a chair and keep an eye on the beer for you.

 

That's right. Two Stooges gettinerdun.