Anyone press the idler bearings (ps and ac) light duty bench vise? Mine is 3 1/2 inch wide with a 5/8 in. screw, US made with decent quality. The opening looks large enough with pulleys and sockets, but I don't know if it will have the force for the job. To make removal easier I was thinking heat gun on the pulley , trying not to heat the bearing. On the install, put the bearing in the freezer and heat gun on the pulley.

 

I've got 2 extra VG30E pulleys with new bearings that I pressed out and in on a 20 ton hyd press.... Grainger has the bearing p/n 6301 for $9.98...

 

A 20 ton hyd press, must be nice! In the past I have used a 6 inch heavy duty vise to this and similar press work, even drive shaft u-joints. But I don't have have use of this vise any more. So, I am not sure my light duty vise can do it.

 

I tried the vise last time on 3 pulleys with no luck so I used a 20 ton Hydraulic press....remember Grainger carries the bearing for $9.98 p/n 6301

 

would it be easier to just buy the idler pulley wheel w/ bearing already in it?

 

not for $40-$70!!!!!!

 

I think it's a bit cheeper if you check at NAPA, might be able to find one thats about the same size that will work, then be sure to space it right with some washers, when I had to do it I want to say it was around $20...

 

$9-$10 fix with no rigging necessary........plenty of spares in the boneyard to R&R bearings in.....

 

Anyone know if a 89-94 VG30E AC idler pulley will fit the '87? I can't get a press right now due to space, so I won't be able to press the bearing . There are no aftermarket listings for the '87, but both Gates # 36339 and Dayco # 89149 have the pulley for the 89-94 VG30E. The pulley looks the same and has the same 80 mm diameter, but the belt width is shown different in the catalogs. Its seems hardly worth such a minor change for Nissan between years since they are both VG30E - maybe a catalog error? The belt widths are listed as for '87 is 21 mm (.82" ) the '89-94 is 19mm (.74"). BTW, the power steering idler for the '87 will interchange with '89-94, it's just not shown in the catalogs.

 

Great thread just what I was looking for to get my girl back on the streets, thanks!!!

 

Well, after some research I found the 89-94 VG30E AC idler pulley will *not* fit second gen. CMax, thanks for the heads up on the bearing. $70 will for the OEM pulley pay for a cheap press and bearing. I may just have to find room for a press after all. Shops around here charge $20-40 for press work.

 

I might get a hand full of 2nd gens, 3rd Gen, 4th gen, 5th gen etc and press in bearings and offer for $35 shipped....