SolaraGuy.com

I'm about to change my SC belt (Using new TORX titanium pivot bolt, if I can get the stripped POS one out). I found a new brand made by PIX who makes industrial and automotive belts. I already had a new Dayco on hand, but it was a tad bigger than I wanted (still ok though), so I found the PIX, which has a much more extensive size selection. Check out the comparisons..the PIX is definitely thicker. They already make aftermarket serpentine belts for ALL makes of cars. I'm going to try PIX.
Here are comparison pics:



Here is cataloge with cross references to other brands. The PIX# is on the left side of the page.

http://www.aiproducts.com/pdfretail/belts/automotiveint.pdf

For example, the 88.5" (that most of you use with tensioner..I don't have one) is this in the cataloge:

PIX Metric Gates GY DAYCO
885K6 6PK2247 K060885 4060885 5060885

You can order through these guys

http://www.pixusa.com/contact.html

Very nice find man.

Nice! let us know how u like it.

i think im going to try one, i like the beef of the belt...................

Well, I might still go with the Dayco. It's been upgraded and this is what I have now:

http://www.daycow.com/daycow.nsf/PolyRibW!OpenPage


Bigger isn't always better. Not knocking the PIX belt though. It's an unknown....certainly worth trying.

Well, I found some very interesting info in a scientific study on serpentine belt STIFFNESS and it's effect on belt slipage. Turns out the the PIX belt, being thicker, is a hell of a lot STIFFER. (Just compared the take off Dayco with the PIX). From the study:

1. Bending stiffness significantly decreases the wrap angles,
making the pulleys more prone to slip fully due to reduction of the
adhesion angles.
2. The maximum span tensions increase with bending stiffness,
accelerating belt fatigue compared to commonly used engineering
approximations based on string models

I can show anyone the link...it's a *handfull*, so I just highlighted the conclusions here.

So a thicker/stiffer belt (at least the PIX) is probably not a good thing, especially with smaller pulleys.

Please note that PIX Belts are made in India and haven't tested all that well. In fact, they are often represented as a cheap alturnative. Dayco belts are all made in the USA. Also, Dayco supplies over 40% of the OE belts to Toyota. The new Dayco belts are made with Aramid (Kevlar) that gives it a fuzzy look.
The PIX may work ok but I'd be concerned. It might be ok for cheap spare.
Good luck and this is a great forum.

Installed the Dayco "W" belt. It was a tad longer (2225mm or 87.50") than the original Dayco (2222mm no " indication on belt). I actually strung them tight between two poles and could see the small difference. I don't have the auto tensioner, which has actually turned out quite well for. Never had a belt problem and changing is easier without it. Aso, I've heard there are *maintanence* problems with it. Anyway...I'm glad I got the Gates Krikit 1 tension gauge. The belt was NOT tight enough (after break in). I got around 40 LBS . The "push" and "twist" tests aren't accurate for sure.
Anyway, I manually tensioned to the MAX on the alternator and got 65-70Lb (the SC manual says 70-90) which seems pretty tight now. I have the 5lb (2.9") pulley and I guess that does make a difference....an 87.0" would have been a better choice allowing for further tension adjustments. I never measured or tensioned the other belt and all was fine, so unless the belt drops a lot lower (which it shouldn't now), I'll stick with this one.

Ron is your boost higher with the new belt setup?

trd4life wrote:Ron is your boost higher with the new belt setup?

No...older belt wasn't slipping. I think it's takes quite a bit of slack/faulty tensioner to make these slip. In fact, my new belt was only at 40lbs (before I tensioned to 65) and the boost was still able to reach max!