Drive belts keep snapping
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Joined: Apr 2019
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Drive belts keep snapping
Hello wondered if anyone else has suffered from drive belt issues.
I've been through three now in 18months. I have changed all the plastic pulleys to new ones and the tensioner is new, 3 different make belts also.
I do hardly any miles, around 3k per year. The first snap was the top idler pulley, but that was changed after, second time I did all the rest and the tensioner, but yesterday snapped again, lasted 8 months this time, can't see any problems with the pulleys this either!.
Air con works and power steering doesn't seem seized either.
Is it best to just go Billet ones?
Always seems to take out a water pipe or something when the belts snap
I've been through three now in 18months. I have changed all the plastic pulleys to new ones and the tensioner is new, 3 different make belts also.
I do hardly any miles, around 3k per year. The first snap was the top idler pulley, but that was changed after, second time I did all the rest and the tensioner, but yesterday snapped again, lasted 8 months this time, can't see any problems with the pulleys this either!.
Air con works and power steering doesn't seem seized either.
Is it best to just go Billet ones?
Always seems to take out a water pipe or something when the belts snap
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Hello wondered if anyone else has suffered from drive belt issues.
I've been through three now in 18months. I have changed all the plastic pulleys to new ones and the tensioner is new, 3 different make belts also.
I do hardly any miles, around 3k per year. The first snap was the top idler pulley, but that was changed after, second time I did all the rest and the tensioner, but yesterday snapped again, lasted 8 months this time, can't see any problems with the pulleys this either!.
Air con works and power steering doesn't seem seized either.
Is it best to just go Billet ones?
Always seems to take out a water pipe or something when the belts snap
I've been through three now in 18months. I have changed all the plastic pulleys to new ones and the tensioner is new, 3 different make belts also.
I do hardly any miles, around 3k per year. The first snap was the top idler pulley, but that was changed after, second time I did all the rest and the tensioner, but yesterday snapped again, lasted 8 months this time, can't see any problems with the pulleys this either!.
Air con works and power steering doesn't seem seized either.
Is it best to just go Billet ones?
Always seems to take out a water pipe or something when the belts snap
Last edited by chassis; Aug 19, 2022 at 08:47 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 379
Likes: 133
W211 E63 AMG
the factory issued belt should last many years...and by many, i mean it. i would confirm you have all your engine accessories as being bolted tightly. the power steering pump should also have a bracket behind it to prevent it from wobbling. also you can check the alignment of your pulley's using a laser tool for pulley alignment.
something is causing the issue, we'll just need to narrow it down to identify the true cause.
your original post is a bit all over the place. the factory pulleys last anywhere between 1-5 years. they can fail closer to the 1 year mark if you drive your car hard. aluminum pulley's from what i've seen are assembled with subpar bearings and you'll run into bearing failure issues in time. they'll need to be swapped out for higher quality bearings if you go the aluminum pulley route.
something is causing the issue, we'll just need to narrow it down to identify the true cause.
your original post is a bit all over the place. the factory pulleys last anywhere between 1-5 years. they can fail closer to the 1 year mark if you drive your car hard. aluminum pulley's from what i've seen are assembled with subpar bearings and you'll run into bearing failure issues in time. they'll need to be swapped out for higher quality bearings if you go the aluminum pulley route.
Last edited by eightysixtuned; Aug 19, 2022 at 07:12 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 272
Likes: 139
C63
If there isn't an offset or defect within the pullies/tensioner causing it to walk off there's a good chance the belt is subjected to a leak/debris. Triple check belt routing and replace any shot motor mounts. By fortune the belt has not snagged the AC connector "yet"
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I have Gates, Continental and Dayco belts all snapped.
All pulleys were Febi and the new tensioner was Gates.
I will have a look at the power steering bit, as I did have that undone when the first belt snapped and took the thermostat pipe out
I might look at those stronger gates ones now though
When running all pulley look straight but only to the eye
Did I read somewhere that the crank pulley can be changed to a revised one? My is a 2008 model
All pulleys were Febi and the new tensioner was Gates.
I will have a look at the power steering bit, as I did have that undone when the first belt snapped and took the thermostat pipe out
I might look at those stronger gates ones now though
When running all pulley look straight but only to the eye
Did I read somewhere that the crank pulley can be changed to a revised one? My is a 2008 model
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,690
Likes: 4,584
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
I have Gates, Continental and Dayco belts all snapped.
All pulleys were Febi and the new tensioner was Gates.
I will have a look at the power steering bit, as I did have that undone when the first belt snapped and took the thermostat pipe out
I might look at those stronger gates ones now though
When running all pulley look straight but only to the eye
Did I read somewhere that the crank pulley can be changed to a revised one? My is a 2008 model
All pulleys were Febi and the new tensioner was Gates.
I will have a look at the power steering bit, as I did have that undone when the first belt snapped and took the thermostat pipe out
I might look at those stronger gates ones now though
When running all pulley look straight but only to the eye
Did I read somewhere that the crank pulley can be changed to a revised one? My is a 2008 model
Do not buy aftermarket belts, hoses or pulleys for these cars.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
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I have also had Febi parts supplied to me from the main dealer
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From: Sweden
2011 C63 AMG, 589hp
I always run continental belts, never had any issues.
Also Febi Bilstein is an OEM supplier to mercedes, maybe not the pulleys but other parts.
And as Febi has qualified as an oem supplier i figure their pulleys are just fine.(i have a complete kit on mine, no issues)
Check your powersteering pump, if it making a loud whine it might be on it´s way, and by that making life hard for the belt.
Also Febi Bilstein is an OEM supplier to mercedes, maybe not the pulleys but other parts.
And as Febi has qualified as an oem supplier i figure their pulleys are just fine.(i have a complete kit on mine, no issues)
Check your powersteering pump, if it making a loud whine it might be on it´s way, and by that making life hard for the belt.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 63
Likes: 9
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I always run continental belts, never had any issues.
Also Febi Bilstein is an OEM supplier to mercedes, maybe not the pulleys but other parts.
And as Febi has qualified as an oem supplier i figure their pulleys are just fine.(i have a complete kit on mine, no issues)
Check your powersteering pump, if it making a loud whine it might be on it´s way, and by that making life hard for the belt.
Also Febi Bilstein is an OEM supplier to mercedes, maybe not the pulleys but other parts.
And as Febi has qualified as an oem supplier i figure their pulleys are just fine.(i have a complete kit on mine, no issues)
Check your powersteering pump, if it making a loud whine it might be on it´s way, and by that making life hard for the belt.
Agreed Febi are good quality, lots of dealers now supply Febi as OEM, you get Febi parts alot cheaper from your local motor factors rather than been ripped off from the dealer
