I've browsed around the forums as much as I could before posting this, but couldn't seem to find a definitive answer. I have a 97 Bonneville SSEi, and the serpentine belt is getting frayed to the point that it needs to be replaced and the sooner the better. However, I can't seem to see how to get the old belt off. According to a few postings there is a mount I need to remove, and according to others there isn't. I was just wondering if someone could clarify, and maybe even suggest what I'd need to use to remove the mount and support the engine so I can get the belt off. I'm also wondering if I would have to do the same thing to replace the belt on my supercharger?

Thanks.

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Awesome, very helpful, thanks!

The motor will be fine, you don't need to support it in any special way when you take the nut, stud and spacer off.

It is in fact an E10 reverse torx bit for that stud.

I don't know diddly about the s/c belt, though.

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2004 Buick Lesabre Limited, Gran Touring
Bone Stock

1998 Buick Lesabre Limited, Gran Touring
Retired

I did mine on a 98 leSabre last winter. The writeup here is very good. I'll add a couple of things. The tightendown nut on the stud was rusted to my stud also.

I had watched the dealer do the belt for me years ago. They jacked up the left front side of the car and just turned the wheels hard right giving them room to work between the fender and the right front wheel. Lifting the left side of the car lifts the motor slightly and pulls it away from the three point mount where we are working with the spacer on the right side. The spacer nearly dropped out of mine because I supported the right side with a jackstand and then lifted the left side with the car jack like the dealer did.

Note that both ends of the spacer are cut at a slant to let you pivot it back in place since it's next to impossible to just lift it into place parallel to how it will end up. But it all went easily.
Good luck.

If I had a supercharger belt, I'd just replace it at the same time and be done with both of them.

Use the Gatorback belt. It's a few bucks more but worth it. I swapped my OEM belt out at about 70K and it was badly checked and cracked. At 194K, the Gatorback looks fine.

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462 cubic inches of REAL Pontiac power.

The problem with the new EDPM belts (introduced around 2000) is that you can't tell by looking at them if they're bad, as they don't crack. You need one of those little gauges to see if the grooves are worn, because if they are, they can't grip your accessories like they should, and you lose output from your accessories. Just my $.02.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock