Serpentine Drive Belt - What is the best

[bry1216]

Gates K080810HD Micro-V

Gates K080810 Micro-V

Other ideas that last a long time?

[Tractorman]

The last serpentine belt I installed was in 2014, approximately 170,000 miles ago.  Still on the truck and wearing well.  Never has made any noise.  Can't tell you the brand, but it came from Geno's.

 

- John

[Mopar1973Man]

I've tried a few different NAPA belts and found the standard belt is way better than the green belt that started squeaking early in life. As most already know I don't buy into the brand name of anything. There are always cheaper alternatives that truck owners can use without paying big money for a brand name or the whole heavy-duty or green belt. The biggest thing that you experience is the V's of the belt can get glazed or worn out wider so only the pulley tips are the only thing that is gripping the belt.

[Max Tune]

As long as it chirps when I shut her down....I'm happy.

 

 

I love that....

[Mopar1973Man]

Funny my truck only tends to chirp on the green belt from NAPA but now with the economy belt there is no shutdown chirp any longer. 

[Max Tune]

Yep, mine is green.

[Sycostang67]

I’ve been running the green Gates HD belt for a few years now. I replaced the tensioner at the same time and haven’t heard that shut down squeak  ever since. 

[Doubletrouble]

 I just recently replaced my tensioner and belt with a gates "combo deal" from rockauto. So far no issues, it came with the green belt as well.

[bry1216]

FYI - I looked up my history and I have 8.5 years on my GATE K080810 and it started to chirp.  I remembered  Michael Nelson told me in 2015 "next time just rotate the belt to get rid of chirping" - so I did December 2022 and it worked!  I am just deciding what to buy for a backup!  My total mileage is ~116,000 and not sure if a new tensioner is needed, but then again it is becoming an ancient engine - in the thought of part replacement!

Edited September 4, 2023 by bry1216

[Tractorman]

22 hours ago, bry1216 said:

I am just deciding what to buy for a backup!

 

I always use my old belt as the backup because I know it works.  On rare occasions a new belt can fail or come off right away, OR it might even be the wrong belt.  So, if one waits for the old belt to fail and then replaces it with the new "backup" belt and Murphy's Law strikes - well, that's what Murphy's Law does, here you will be sitting alongside the road...,

 

- John

Edited September 5, 2023 by Tractorman
added another "OR"

[Tim Waldo]

I just want my gatorback belt back... best I can tell they have quit producing them.