Guide Pulley explodes - Black Swan moment - advice on fix
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 825
Likes: 3
2002 c32
Guide Pulley explodes - Black Swan moment - advice on fix
For reference:
A month or so ago, I started to get a bit of a funky grinding noise - just figured it was the s/c pulley again, which I've replaced a couple times. "I'll get to it." I didn't think it was extraordinarily loud or concerning and it seemed to go away after a bit. Came back every start-up though.
Well last week, warning lights came on and power steering went out, car has 90k so I figured it was the belt. It was. Got a new belt, but when I got in to replace it (and got a new ngk bearing to press in) the #6 guide pulley pretty much fell away.
I felt like I got off lucky, it didn't seem to take anything with it except I guess it did - the timing case where the #6 guide pulley is mounted.
So just looking for some ideas and options, short of replacing the timing case. It's just guide pulley, so I feel like I should be OK to do something creative there.
Going to replace #4 as well.
I'm hoping this will be an excuse to get eurocharged upgrades, but not if I really have to replace that whole assembly?
Peace and thanks!
A month or so ago, I started to get a bit of a funky grinding noise - just figured it was the s/c pulley again, which I've replaced a couple times. "I'll get to it." I didn't think it was extraordinarily loud or concerning and it seemed to go away after a bit. Came back every start-up though.
Well last week, warning lights came on and power steering went out, car has 90k so I figured it was the belt. It was. Got a new belt, but when I got in to replace it (and got a new ngk bearing to press in) the #6 guide pulley pretty much fell away.
I felt like I got off lucky, it didn't seem to take anything with it except I guess it did - the timing case where the #6 guide pulley is mounted.
So just looking for some ideas and options, short of replacing the timing case. It's just guide pulley, so I feel like I should be OK to do something creative there.
Going to replace #4 as well.
I'm hoping this will be an excuse to get eurocharged upgrades, but not if I really have to replace that whole assembly?
Peace and thanks!
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
Likes: 4
From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
Wow. Bif, I haven't heard from you in a long time. I'm glad to hear you still own the old C32.
You were one of the first "experts"/tracksters I started following when I joined up here.
Keep us posted on the repairs.
You were one of the first "experts"/tracksters I started following when I joined up here.
Keep us posted on the repairs.
Last edited by ScottW911; Apr 10, 2012 at 02:33 PM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 825
Likes: 3
2002 c32
)Will do - hopefully you'll see my progress on this repair here.
Peace!
Last edited by Bif powell; Apr 10, 2012 at 12:35 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 344
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From: Houston, TX
'13 Dodge Dart, '16 Audi Q5
I believe it will help. The PSK removes the #6 pulley...or rather relocates it to a different location (mounting hole already present). It also wraps the belt a little bit further than the OEM idler pulley.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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The same thing just happened to mine, except it was the #4 pulley. It seized, threw the belt, and tore up the timing case. Your pic looks just like my situation. I bought a new pulley, but I'm afraid to attach it with the connection point all torn up. What did you end up doing?
My car is a 2003 C32 with 95K miles.
My car is a 2003 C32 with 95K miles.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 12
From: Orange County, CA
GMC - Miata - Trek - P-Car
^ Sucks to have suffered those incongruous pulley bearing failures. They should rightly be considered yet another maintenance item.
A Heli-Coil insert might give your replacement pulley enough purchase to secure correctly without having to replace its mount.
Credit boohoorablers for convincing several here to replace ‘em before they unglued themselves and made a nasty mess.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...er-pulley.html
http://www.emhart.com/brands/heli-coil
A Heli-Coil insert might give your replacement pulley enough purchase to secure correctly without having to replace its mount.
Credit boohoorablers for convincing several here to replace ‘em before they unglued themselves and made a nasty mess.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...er-pulley.html
http://www.emhart.com/brands/heli-coil
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32
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From: South Georgia
C32 AMG, E55 AMG (w211)
My #4 pulley shaft did the same thing. I have enough left to get the new pulley on but there must have been a spacer in there before because the belt now rides 4/5 on the pulley and 1/5 off to the front. How did you resolve this issue?
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: South Georgia
C32 AMG, E55 AMG (w211)
Figured out the problem. The water pump part number 6341-07126063 from partsgeek.com (not trying to promote anything, just the cheapest I could find on short notice.) has the piece that the pulley #4 mounts to on the end of it and had to be replaced or machined to accomodate the pulley correctly again. Machining the part would not be cost effective. The failing pulley wore down the nub to the point that it was no longer flush and would not align using spacers or heli coil or anything else. The part is only $101 as of today and I just ordered it and a new gates belt to correct the problem. If anyone else has pulley #4 fail, check your connecting piece before placing the new pulley on and this should be the best fix.
