for hi-mile svxer's:t-belt change and service life of parts

Just had timing belt and all pullies replaced at 170K. 94 LS FWD. Previous belt changes were at 115K and 60K.

Pullies were all originial, but I decided to replace them all this time. The shop manual, as well as the parts guy at the Sube dealer I bought from (one of the online 25% over dealer cost places) said 4 pullies, so I bought 4.

The diagrams show two toothed pullies (identical), one smooth pulley that attaches to the hydraulic tensioner, and one more smooth pulley.

Oops it turns out there are 5 (there are 2 identical smooth pullies, not just one)and i was lucky my mechanic could find one same day (a reboxed Sube part) locally from "Worldparts." Funny thing was, that pulley cost about $15 less than the 25% over cost Sube dealer charged me. I'm not plugging worldparts, and not even necessarily dumping on the sube dealer, just making an observation.

All 5 old pullies had noisy bearings, so it looks like a good idea to change em all at the 3rd t-belt change.

At 115K the hyrdaulic tensioner was leaking, so I had it changed then. It looks ok currently so we left it in. The water pump was fine at 115K, but I replaced it then anyway. Still ok, left it in.

Cam and crank seals are cheap and easy so they get replaced at every t-belt change, even though they have never showed a leak.

[immortal_suby]

Anyone else ever changed these or had a bearing go bad?
Im about to do t-belts on my 208k - last done around 100k (did oil pump and water pump then too so I wont do them again)

I know I've heard of the tensioner going bad and the water pump locking up but I hadnt heard of a pulley siezing up yet.

Thanks for the information.

[Beav]

Not that I would do this for a customer or even recommend it to anyone else but I did it because a) I'm cheap and b) I wanted to see if it worked. The last time I had the front cover off I checked the bearings and they were dry-noisy, not like a bearing with a problem, they just sounded like a new bearing that hasn't had grease yet. Figuring that with 100k+ miles that should be considered normal I drilled a 1/16" hole in the side of the seal of each bearing, used a mini grease gun (loaded with Snap - On air ratchet grease) to add some grease and closed the hole with hot glue. Now I haven't yet had the cover back off to see how the hot glue is doing (and undoubtedly even just mentioning this to anyone will probably jinx me) but the car has about 5k miles on it since then. (crosses fingers and sacrifices a chicken for the car Gods.)

[mohrds]

I replaced the first timing belt at 212,000. I also replaced the water pump while in there.

The pulleys, tensioner, and seals were all fine and still are.

I'm lucky, I guess.

Next time I change the belt, I'll do the oil pump, seals, pulleys, tensioner, and probably another water pump for good measure.

Doug