FYI.... Gates tensioner poor quality

[Happy Hummer]

Purchased 09/2015
Replaced under warranty 07/2016

Worse yet the new replacement (part #38178) is using thermo plastic pulley.
Be for warned the pulley is made with poor fit and finish.
Sad I purchased this because of Gates name from O'Reilly with life time warranty...previous model used all metal and super quiet bearings. The spring keeps wearing out leading to chatter and slop.
lol guess I'm going to need warranty a lot.
Previously purchased a Dorman tensioner made in China and sadly the Gates is about the same garbage now.
Gfs 06 h3 still has same Dayco tensioner from a few years back lol. I'm now on my 4th tensioner. Ugh:emb:

 

[GreatDaneHummer]

wow ever thought of buying the oem ac delco and not having to play with it again?

 

[Happy Hummer]

Sadly it is the same.

 

[Happy Hummer]

By the way the a.c. del part # is also a gates #. 38178 cross ref. No go.

 

[alrock]

Gates tensioner from O'Reilly put on 9/28/13, 34,000 miles ago. Still running strong. (Also Gates belt and idler pulley.)

 

[Happy Hummer]

Sadly Alrock Gates is changing there product line quickly. I too have a Gates belt, pulley....lol the new idler pulley thermo plastic also. Bearing slop and poor fit and finish. Some where around this past fall they changed the part over. Still made in Canada but very lower quality.

 

[SedonaBound]

Except for things like brake pads, I avoid non-OEM vital parts for all my vehicles completely. The savings in substitutes are minor compared to the risk as indie part quality keeps sinking.

 

[Happy Hummer]

Yea... agreed lol. Sadly the oem part is cheapening too.