Hi!
Few months ago, I upgraded my crank pully to 17%.
It was running great until I had an issue with the belt tensioner.
The bushings were destroyed, and ended up ordering brand new tensioner from Rockauto.
again! few weeks later, I started to hear noise, and the felt that the belt was slipping!!!
the bushings were destroyed again!
I ordered the adjustable alta tensioner, and waiting to be shipped right now.

did anybody have issues with Alta adjustable tensioners???
or anybody tried the Powerflex bushings???
I am so.. tired of this damn rubber bushings being destroyed!!!
anybody???

 

I had kind of the same problem. My shock / Strut busted and I ordered one from Rockauto too. I also have the crank pulley and SC pulley upgrade from alta, and just today my shock / strut broke again. Not just the bushings but the shock broke right at one of the necks. I'm looking for ideas too, I was about to order an Alta adjustable tensiner and would like to hear other opinions.

 

I've been on 17% pulley for 5 years now and never had issue destroying my bushings or strut. Are you using the proper size belt for that 17? Search for the Alta adjustable tensioner here, there is a whole thread about it. I read powerflex bushing are good replacement for the oem.

 

the problem with the alta tensioner is it is fixed and does not change tension based on load like the tensioner is designed to from MINI so while driving sometimes it will be too loose, sometimes too tight and sometimes just right.
As for the bushings we've had some of the powerflex fail so we came out with our own: http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-sup...shing-set.html

 

With a 17%, you should be running a 535 or even a 532 length belt....
Not sure why you guys seem to be having an issue...most folks seem to get 5 years or so from a tensioner...pretty comperable to what gm v6's get....

 

So assuming I don't go for the Alta tensioner, do i have to buy the whole tensioner again, or does anyone else sells the shock by itself ? Also, I have my old shock from the original tensioner, if I was to re-use it with new bushings, how much resistance should this shock have when pushed in and out ? mine seems pretty soft, you can push and pull without any problems, is that how is supposed to be?

 

Hard to say if your old strut resistance is up to par especially there's no reference on manual. The Best is to buy the whole assy.

 

Thanks for the help. I ended up calling Rockauto and the part was still under warranty so they're sending me a new one. I'll upgrade to WMW bushings too while I'm at it.

 

I ended up installing alta's damperer. And purchased wmw's bushing for backup. Ive beend driving really hard, and went on tracks last weekend. And did not have no problems. No noise no slipping nothing.

 

I installed, went on track, and tested.

No problems! No slipping no noise nothing.
I have to test few more months and check it visually, but it looks like its working fine so far.