What Brand Is The Longest Lived Serpentine Drive Belt?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Even if the correct size existed down here, I would have to settle for "Jolly Dragon" or some such from Happy Commune People's Factory No 39

Car has a nasty habit of immediately throwing the drive belt when it goes through a puddle of water. Replaced all three idler & tensioner pulleys with OEM and there is no wobble in the fixed pulleys. The belt to be replaced is a Dayco. Part number ribs and length verified to be correct. It was noiseless. Thank goodness the water pump is driven by the inner timing belt. And yes the tensioner pulley strength was verified correct by a shop.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

There is no getting around I have to have a blacksmith form a shield under the power steering pulley. I do not just want the belt to stay on while the underhood gets hosed.

And to think friends and family wanted me to go corporate 50 years ago. Car manufacturers are some of the slimiest businesses on the face of the earth. Zero common sense.

[Lwiddis]

Good point, Mex.

[72cougarxr7]

Bando is also a good brand of belt, OEM on some Japanese cars.
I typically install Gates on my domestic pickups, and Bando on my wife's Nissan minivan.
I did install a Bando on my commuter car Chevy Cavalier and it worked well also.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Not really helpful for a roll-yer-own shield

[Skid_Row_Joe]

What I've learned so far on this thread, are that some brands of belts are available in differing grades/quality. That's something I didn't know. Secondly, that Gates' brand 'Green Stripe' serpentine belts are a preferred higher gradation when choosing aftermarket belts.

I wonder if this gradation similarly exists among individual brands of radiator hoses?

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[MEXICOWANDERER]

AMAZON does not list belts for my car except the v-belt for air conditioning. Tired to find Green Stripe and failed. The Gates belt I ordered for $25 (50% off?) says it's deeper sipes allow for better contact and tracking.

https://www.autozone.com/external-engine/serpentine-belt-anti-slip-shield/dorman-serpentine-belt-anti-slip-shield/604650_0_0

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[Skid_Row_Joe]

Just a piece of FWIW advise to the OP; consider buying an old 240D or 300D Mercedes Benz sedan. 30 years ago I started driving them as my DD. I bought an 8 year old 300SD I5 with 93K on it. Drove it to 305K, the next 8-years. Easiest car to work on DIY, ever. Best/cheapest thing I ever did. BTW, they had timing chains not rubber ones.

[pnichols]

David - maybe it's the type of water in the puddles. It may be too slippery.

Now ... if Amazon could only deliver good belts to your door in Mexico. :h

[Skid_Row_Joe]

While I don't know the true answer to your question, I can tell you that I have had less service from a non-factory brand on my Mercedes Benz turbo diesel sedan.

I always request that that vehicle's OEM serpentine belt be used. Whether Ford, GM, or Mercedes Benz. The three brands of vehicles I presently own.


.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

It's a 3.0 and yes it is a familiar PITA. Would not this have been easy to design against? Like add a 1/16th inch height to the outboard ridges of the pulleys? This is exactly the kind of stupidity I growled and snapped about a few posts ago. MoPar made an ice and snow shield to help with this problem but no one else made them and this model is a red-headed orphan with MoPar.

Mitsubishi! Original manufacturer of the self-lighting Zero fighter.

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[All_I_could_aff]

Is your car running the 3.0L or 3.3L V6?
I used to see them regularly with thrown belts after going thru minimal road puddles.

[1320Fastback]

Gates Green Stripe Fleet Runner is all I use.

[ItsyRV]

Gates, Dayco and Continental probably make the top belts for non specialized applications. Just be careful as they all make a range so there are low and high quality belts in their lineups. I switched to Continental's Elite due to the staggered cog configuration and alignment stable backing. I do change the belt more frequently than required, but even with it's premium $30 price, it is still pretty cheap maintenance.

[azrving]

I usually buy Gates. They seemed to be a top brand years ago but who knows what the content is now. How much water are we talking about, I mean I did hydroplane a 1959 VW and ended up on a lawn next to a huge oak tree so I just thought I'd ask. I go through water pretty slow.

Are all the plastic shields in places?