hose and belt replacement

Hi all,

The belt is beginning to show "cords", so I'll have it replaced.

They inspected the hoses and said they are fine.

I'm in for a brake job. Fronts are ok but rear needs new disks, and the driver's side caliper needs to be replaced.

As a refugee from the engineering desks of Detroit, I will tell you that what you propose is not a waste of time. That V-10 is a serpentine FEAD. It will be good right up until it breaks.....
Change the belts and hoses and keep those removed as spares. This is really true for the belt. The books for those are often wrong. But if you have a known good part, it can get you home.

Matt

1998 E150. Only the second belt (I kept the first one as a spare) and no cooling system hoses have been replaced.

Gdetrailer wrote:

Ductape wrote:
Preventive maintenance > emergency repairs.

I stick to the manufacturers schedule and use the intervals for severe service.

Meh.

Most manufacturers "recommend" belt replacement schedules of 60K miles..

Belt is just getting "broke in" at 60K miles.

Belts are extremely predictable, they just don't break without any reason or warning, you can easily visually check them each time you open the hood for checking oil/fluid levels (you DO do that, right?).

If the belt is not cracked and or glazed, why change out "just because" the manufacturer tells you to?

If a hose is not spongy soft or brittle, why replace it?

People tend to ignore or overlook the obvious observable conditions of things like belts and hoses then wonder why they got stranded.

I like to give things a good visual look and feel under the hood when checking fluid levels. Observation and taking action on something that does not look right before it becomes an emergency.

Somethings on the manufacturers schedule it is more about feeding the dealerships parts and repair shop departments..

You do it your way and I'll do it mine. I like to change parts when I'm in a comfortable place to do so. You can replace yours wherever and whenever your intuition tells you to. I even do maintenance prematurely if I'm going to be on an extended leg of a trip when it comes due. Oh the waste! :C

72cougarxr7,

My belt has done at least 100K.

Most serpentine belts from reputable name brand manufacturers will be EPDM rubber, which will typically last 100k or more.
Gates, Bando, Dayco, and Continental(formerly Goodyear) are all EPDM rubber to my knowledge.
My personal preference is Gates and Bando.

Hoses, I typically inspect when I do my oil changes and if they don't show signs of mushiness, bulging, brittleness/hardness or cracks or tears, I let them ride.

Hi Mex,

Thanks for the advice.

I'm going on a trip where a blown hose or a lost serpentine belt would be possibly life threatening. Some areas I'll be on less than frequently traveled roads. I do have a spare belt--but it is the OEM from 2005.

I think to be on the safe side, I'll have them changed.

I'm having the brakes done, too.

Try and find GATES GREEN STRIPE products. EDPM rubber. It'll be the last hoses and belts you'll ever need.

Ductape wrote:
Preventive maintenance > emergency repairs.

I stick to the manufacturers schedule and use the intervals for severe service.

Meh.

Most manufacturers "recommend" belt replacement schedules of 60K miles..

Belt is just getting "broke in" at 60K miles.

Belts are extremely predictable, they just don't break without any reason or warning, you can easily visually check them each time you open the hood for checking oil/fluid levels (you DO do that, right?).

If the belt is not cracked and or glazed, why change out "just because" the manufacturer tells you to?

If a hose is not spongy soft or brittle, why replace it?

People tend to ignore or overlook the obvious observable conditions of things like belts and hoses then wonder why they got stranded.

I like to give things a good visual look and feel under the hood when checking fluid levels. Observation and taking action on something that does not look right before it becomes an emergency.

Somethings on the manufacturers schedule it is more about feeding the dealerships parts and repair shop departments..

Did mine at 12 years and in hindsight it was probably sooner than necessary.
Last replaced in 2009? Let it ride another six years. Although maybe replace the coolant, check hoses for soft spots and belts for cracking or losing chunks. These rubber parts are made of better materials than the old days.