valex

Ever found out what was causing the noise? Tensioner pulley?

Another question for everyone -
Once the fan bracket sarts making noise and shaking, how long can one wait to change it or is the IMMEDIATE repair necessary?

oldskewel

iTrader: (1)

And the benefit of doing it this way is that you replace the bearing with a quality part - SKF, NTN, Nachi, NSK, Koyo, whatever you want. Typically the pulleys last forever, it's the bearings that wear out.

Vs. if you buy a new pulley with a cheap bearing already in place, well that's what you get.

And another benefit of doing the bearing-only replacement is that you quickly find that the same bearings (e.g., 6203, 6303) are used everywhere - different cars, different applications (pulleys, alternators). When I need a new one I don't already have, I find a quality brand, and buy a few, so I'll have them on hand next time one is needed. Makes it more fun to repair things when you literally have the spares on the shelf.

lextout

alternator maybe toast, pump took it with it

Sin1UZFE

Combination of mounts and idler pulley. Also replaced fan bracket since the fan clutch was being replaced

valex

1999 LS400 271K miles.
Ok, the fan bracket was making noise this morning and and shaking a bit, I let my wife drive the car, thinking the noise might get better after warming up.
She was on the way back home in the afternoon and the drive belt came off, from vibration, I guess. Luckily, she was about a miles from home and just drove without power steering...
Now, my thoughts... next timing belt is due at around 300K, shall I just do the timimg belt and water pump job since it looks like removing the fan bracket is almost 1/2 of the timing belt job?

Have all the parts ready, including the timing belt kit, water pump, the radiator, thermostat, tensioner , drive belt, etc.

Thank you

bradland

Your thinking is spot on. The fan shroud has 2 parts, upper and lower. Removing the lower first makes removing the upper possible with the fan still in place. Doing this provides more room to remove the fan itself. If you're doing all this just for the fan and bracket you might as well go all the way, especially as you already have the parts.

valex

Turns out the 20 year old fan bracket w/ 271K miles on it was seized. That's what caused the drive belt to tear.

valex

Found PS pulley has 2 small chips like this... Replace or ok to use?

bradland

They are rather pricey new, about $175...
Is there any clearance between the side of the belt and the rough edge of the chip?

Edit- are the chips the only damage? Does the pulley still run true and straight with no wobble?

valex

I dont know if it wabbled, just noticed when I took the fan bracket off. I am buying a used pump with a pulley just for the pulley from Ebay, much less than $175.

Any tips on loosening the crank bolt without an impact?

bradland

In no particular order-
Starter Bump method (Google it...@ClubLexus.com) using a large breaker bar- arduous but effective and I'm sure if YODA sees this he will chime in INSISTING it will kill your starter. It won't, period. I've done it multiple times on my first 2 400's and never experienced a starter failure.

Special Service Tool (Toyota or otherwise)-

Impact- IIRC the torque spec is 180 ft-lbs so I doubt a cordless unit could measure up...? Even a quality 1/2" drive air impact will struggle if the compressor providing power isn't stout enough.

isfvss

With the P/S pulley just smooth it off with a dreamel or wet and dry emery paper , keep an eye on your belt if it starts chewing it replace depends how pedantic you are.

deanshark

I usually take off the inspection plate on the tranny and jam a large screwdriver in to hold the flywheel from spinning. Then I loosen the bolt with a two foot breaker bar. Never had a problem that way. bradland is just about correct on the torque, it's 181 ft lbs. Sometimes ya need a pulley puller to remove it.
I would get the the PS pump from a junkyard, that would be cheaper then ebay. Or, just get the pulley from the JY.

YODAONE

The age of rubber is a factor...

20 year old + harmonic balancer rubber is not most efficient at damping engine harmonics...never mind what happens when it let's loose.

So junkyard harmonic balancers are dicey.

Buy new from dealer..but insist they provide date code information before you leave with part. (date code is coded on part package)

A ten year old part is half shelf life


Like aftermarket engine mounts, aftermarket balancers are not as effective as OEM.

The best tool to loosen AND tighten engine crank bolt:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ct-wrench.html

deanshark

Hey Yoda, I know it gets confusing reading everything quick but he's talking about needing the PS pump pulley, not the harmonic balancer. That's why I said junkyard. He asked about the harmonic balancer bolt for when he does the timing belt.