Im going to order a spare belt

 

Gates Regular or Heavyduty?    Pretty sure my original is just Regular. I wonder if the Heavy duty is a gimick?

 

GATES K080810 SERPENTINE BELT ('94-'02) A/C

 

or

 

GATES K080810HD SERPENTINE BELT ('94-'02) HEAVY-DUTY & A/C

Is there a price difference? If not go with the heavy duty, if there is I'd just go with the regular. They rarely fail anyway.

We use gates belts at work and the HD belts are thicker than the regular ones and may be made out of a little different material. Both will get the job done though.

I bought a standard napa that is made by gates just last week. No more shutdown chirp.

I get the everyday NAPA belts no issues in 242k miles.

 

The only secret I can give is install the belt so the brand name is readable from the front (not up-side-down). So if you ever pull the belt you can re-install it the same way to prevent squeaking. Other than that standard belts work just fine.

$23 vs $27

I was told once upon a time to get OE ones only, as the HD ones are known to squeal. I used a mopar one with no squeals. Can't say from personal experience about the HD ones though.

don't forget to clean your pulleys with wire brush, mine had all sorts of crap in them little gaps.

I get the everyday NAPA belts no issues in 242k miles.

 

The only secret I can give is install the belt so the brand name is readable from the front (not up-side-down). So if you ever pull the belt you can re-install it the same way to prevent squeaking. Other than that standard belts work just fine.

I've always put belts on with letters to where you can read it but never knew why, I do now,Thanks.

I've never had issues with the OEM grade belts.  I've had the high dollar belts come apart though.  Your mileage may vary. 

I replaced my OE with a HD belt last year with no problems so far. I have about 20k miles on it and its still nice and quiet. I got it for a good price at the auto parts store I worked at, otherwise I would have just used an OE style belt. That being said, I dont think you would have any problems with one or the other.