Hello all,

It has been awhile since I have posted, things have been a little busy and the Cherokee always seems to end up on the back burner. I am currently working under the hood, now changing the belt. I put a new Dayco smooth idler pulley on without issue. I also wanted to change the idler pulley on the bracket for a/c delete (truck came without a/c). I purchased the Dayco 89012 pulley that was listed for the application, and it does not fit, at all. The bearing is a totally different design. So I managed to find a replacement Crown pulley, but it will take another week or more to get here. Here is the interesting thing.

I repair snowblowers as a hobby / activity, and I have replaced several impeller shaft bearings for the auger. I noticed the impeller shaft bearing is nearly identical to the bearing on the idler pulley, which got me thinking about pressing the old bearing out of the steel idler pulley and pressing a new one in. It seems like it would not be difficult to do. The bearing on the old pulley is a 6203 RS, and I found one that is made by Timken. I also found a bearing that is labeled 203FF, also made by Timken, which is identical dimensionally.

Would these two bearings (6203 RS) and (203FF) be interchangeable? Has anybody ever changed the bearing on an idler pulley before?

 

Advance auto sells dayco idler pulleys...smooth and grooved all for the 4.0 They are usually both in stock and about 20-25 each...they all come with new bearings...the lisle pulleys are a smaller dia

 

Yes, same 17x40x12 (ID x OD x thick) dimensions and interchangeable. You'll want the 6203-2RS, meaning rubber seals on both sides. ZZ would be metal seals. Beware there is a version of the 6203 that has a 5/8" ID, so double check the dimensions before ordering. Get a quality bearing, not an elcheapo off amazon or ebay that'll self destruct in 6 months. If it says it's appropriate for electric motors, it's usually decent.

I've changed many an idler pulley bearing myself.

 

It's a standard old alternator bearing.

 

bluejeep2001- The dayco pulley is the one I have to return.

So I got the national and timken bearings in yesterday and used the National. It pressed in just fine, and it spun true on the engine. I will use the Timken on the other smooth idler.

I will probably get a couple more of those bearings just to keep on hand.




Had to get a little creative to press it in, but it worked.

Thank you guys for your replies.