Replacing the Idler Pulley on a Jeep Cherokee

Replacing the Idler Pulley on a Jeep Cherokee

If you get a strange chirping sound from the front of the engine in your Jeep Cherokee it is likely the idler pulley. These have a replaceable bearing but it generally easier to just buy the whole pulley with a new bearing installed.

To change the pulley, you will first have to loosen the serpentine belt. The belt is adjusted at the power steering pump. On most vintages, the power steering pump moves to adjust the belt. On the later vintages, there is an adjuster beside the power steering pump. Removing the air box makes access easier.

With the belt loose, remove the bolt in the center of the pulley. Most have a 15mm hex. Slip the pulley off and remove the sleeve from the center. In most cases you will reuse the sleeve.

If the pulley comes with a new sleeve, use it instead of the old one. Otherwise put the old sleeve in the new pulley. Bolt it back to the engine.

Reinstall the belt and tighten it up. I found the tension is about right when the belt will only twist 90 degrees between the power steering pulley and the water pump. It has to be pretty tight or it will slip when the AC is on.