Just a question for those that installed the Goodyear Gatorback drive belt. After installing is the belt looser than the original? Mine is and makes noise at idle and is visibly loose. I used the belt recommended on the goodyear web site, 8 ribs and 126.5 inches long.

Is there a way to get the automatic tensioner to put more tension on the belt? I figured that's why it's automatic (spring loaded) probably no adjustments. If no way to fix I'll put the original belt on. Hey, no wonder the gatorback doesn't make noise when the engine stops-the belt is loose!

did you compare belts before putting on, mfr change and aftermarket dosen't keep up

Put on the gatorback 4081265 as recommended on the goodyear web site. It was loose. Took off and compared to the stock (Mopar written on it) belt and the gatorback was @1.5 inches longer. Gatorback sizing is 126.5 inches. Emailed goodyear and they responded saying they would check into the sizing and also said they were making the mold for the same belt in 125.2 length, which I think would be very close to stock belt. Goodyear says they will send me a free one when they start production. Put the stock belt on and it has NO slop but still squeals when cutting the engine off sometimes. Guess I'll live with it until something better comes along. I believe the tensioner will not take up the extra length of the goodyear belt as it is very evident it is loose from the top pulley to the power steering pully during running at idle.

Why did you put the replacement on in the first place? Many of us TDR members have had our stocker belts shred (mine went at 5400 miles) with no apparent reason. There's a an active thread over on Diesel Truck Resource right now which links to mine and some past threads.


My dealer replaced the belt on 2004.5 "600" with a Mopar belt, but one that was different than the stocker - the replacement is crosshatched plus ribs, and rarely chirps. The stocker was only ribbed, and chirped very badly.

Just wondering.

Deezlwex,


I was trying to do preventative maintainence. Read about others with belt shredding and noise. I didn't like the noise and figured why not install the gatorback? A couple of others used it and said no noise, but didn't work for me. I think when goodyear sends me the replacement 125.2 inch belt, I'll put it under the back seat in case the stocker self destructs.

I'll put it under the back seat in case the stocker self destructs.


Like mine did. I now carry a spare, also.