non ac idler pulley problem

[zetabird]

i have an 88 4.0 that both idlers were bad on. i got both from napa the lower smooth one was fine it came with a new bushing and fit right.

  the upper groved one on the ac bypass mount won't work with the old bushing and it didnt come with a new one. the old pulley was metal the new one is plastic the bushing hits the plastic of the pulley, i could grind the bushing down to fit in the pulley its just the washer portion thats to big around.

  i was woundering if anyone else has ran into this before

[HOrnbrod]

Assume you mean bearing, not bushing was bad? You could just replace the bearing on your old A/C delete metal pulley, or replace it with a new metal one. I'd stay away from plastic pulleys......

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cwa-53002903/overview/make/jeep/model/cherokee

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Idler-Pulley-Jeep-Wrangler-TJ-Cherokee-XJ-53002903-Crown-/291355228185

 

Genuine Mopar

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drive-Belt-Idler-Pulley-MOPAR-53002903-fits-00-01-Jeep-Cherokee-4-0L-L6-/282017147557?hash=item41a9882aa5:g:tD4AAOSwyQtVrx8P&vxp=mtr

[zetabird]

ya its the bearing thats bad, but the pulley its self is really really rusty and slightly bent. ill try to get one of those thanks. everything i found online was about people trying to find the bracket not a replacement pulley lol

[schardein]

I've messed with these idler pulleys quite a bit over the years.  I finally bought a 10 pack of the replacement bearings (fairly inexpensive).  Press out the old ones and press in new ones.  Can even be done in a shop vise if it is large enough and one has a selection of large sockets, similar procedure to replacing driveshaft universal joints.

 

For me, working on several cars, buying bulk replacement bearings was the most economical and practical solution.

 

As Hornbrod stated, I would stay away from the plastic pulleys if at all possible.  I recently had one with a bad bearing and discovered that the bearings are molded into them and are not removable.  Very frustrating when I have new bearings ready to press in.  

 

If your original wasn't plastic, I would definitely look for a OEM type replacement, or just replace the bearing in your original.