belt tension

The only real way these days is to get the tension gauge tester. They sell this unit that grabs the belt and measures the deflection over a certain distance to set it. These are not too expensive.

Mike

Jeff, The good 'ol 4.0 uses a long bolt to set the tension via the power steering pump. The 4.0 was one of the last serpentine belt systems using a manually set tension system. It is set this way on my 2000XJ.

Carl

Not always. Not in this case.

Ditto that.

It also depends on if that 96 had the tension arm. The V8 Grands had one. If it has one of those then there is no adjustment to be made. The I6 didn't, so you need a tension gauge and an assortment of wrenches to fiddle with the PS pump (two bolts on the back are the pain), the lock nut on front, and the adjuster. (it's a bit easier to adjust if you remove the airfilter box)

Expensive one, but it works on many types of belts.

asking in regards to my 96 Cherokee.

Hi Mel, You could have over tightened the belt easily if only turning up the tension adjustment bolt. Usually there's about a foot space between pulleys that I use to depress as hard as I can with the uses of one finger, about a half an inch, is good, without the tension tool. But I don't believe you could have hurt the water pump bearings. God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O mailto: snipped-for-privacy@billhughes.com

bearings/pulley.

2004 Grand Cherokee with a 4.0 has the belt tensioner.

My Jeep Fleet as my son calls it.

PaulinVA

Strange. My 2000XJ, 99 TJ, 91XJ, 89XJ, all 4.0's have the power steering bracket adjust with serpentines. My 89 YJ with the 2.5L had v-belts, IIRC.

Carl

And my '97 TJ SE 2.5 has that awful pulley behind the power steering pump that needs a long extension to reach. It's not that hard to do.