Tensioner Rod Grease

What’s the best grease to use for the serpentine tensioner rod in our B4’s? Also, what’s the best way to extend the life of the spring tensioner that it goes into?

mustangmarty said:

What’s the best grease to use for the serpentine tensioner rod in our B4’s? Also, what’s the best way to extend the life of the spring tensioner that it goes into?

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I used plain old wheel bearing grease. You need something that won’t run out at high temperatures. In terms of extending the tensioner’s life, I can’t imagine that they fail all that often. They don’t appear to be directly serviceable, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it so long as your rod bushings don’t have play.

Cool, that’s what I did. Belt still squealing though. Upon further investigation, turns out I need a new harmonic balancer.

What destroys tensioners is if a clutched alternator pulley seizes up. With your engine idling, observe the serpentine belt. If the alternator pulley is seized up, the belt will appear to jump around instead of tracking true.