My Accessory Belt is squealing off and on so I guess it is about time to replace it instead of hitting it with belt dressing every now and then. What kind of belt do people recommend for a 01GS430. I was going to go with a Goodyear Gatorback Poly V belt as they seem to get good recommendations and don't cost too much. Most seemed to be priced from $23-30 Replacing them looks pretty simple, loosen the tensioner pulley, correctly put belt on the different pullys and re tighten the tensioner. Are there any difficulties people ran into when changing their own belts.

 

Dayco or Goodyear... just don't get a cheap one and you'll be good... that car should have an auto tensioner, in which case, most likely a 14mm wrench or socket on the tensioner bolt, rotate to loosen, replace belt, allow to self tension...

NEVER use belt dressing - makes it quiet for a little bit, makes it worse down the road...

 

If the original belt was good for 10 years, why not replace it with the same?

 

Well the theory would be someone would have come up with new ideas and improvements since then.
I've had both, both worked fine, although the very original belt began squeaking at about 5years.
I think the gatorback is quieter, but didn't have a change to test it past about 5years either so I can't say for sure if it is just equal or if it outperforms.
When I had timing belt job job I bought a set of parts from toyota oem, and had the belt switched out too, so that means back to the toyota branded belt.

I would not hesitate to go with the gatorback.

 

I kinda assume during 10 years they have made improvements along the way.

 

yea that's the thing, they don't, especially for something like a belt that is good enough.
The OEM would say 5year is a sufficient lifespan for a belt, there is no incentive to innovate to make it into a 15year belt or make it quieter over that lifespan, let's find ways to cut costs instead.

A third party only has price or innovation to pull customers away from the OEM. In this case the gatorback actually is designed differently.

 

I have not looked much into it but saw where some were saying the OEM belt costs $70 or $80 which is way too much for a belt. They could be less expensive though, I will have to check into it, most likely they are less expensive at a Toyota parts dealer then Lexus..