How to remove and install the serpentine belt on a 5.4L Ford F150

      This post covers removing and installing the serpentine belt on a 5.4L Ford F150. The method I use involves finding a means to hold the tension off the belt in order to make removal and installation easier. This enables one person to much more easily perform this sometimes frustrating job.

                                         

                                                   The Job at a glance

• Tools: 8mm socket and 3/8" ratchet. breaker bar, 14mm wide tool to lock tensioner bar.
• Parts and materials: Serpentine belt
• Cost of Materials: approx. $25 
• Time: 20 minutes 
• Shop cost: ? (usually part of other maintenance services)

                                                                   Removal

1) Disconnect the battery.
2) Remove the throttle body cover. This is needed to get the air intake assembly out of the way.
3) Remove the air intake assembly. Loosen a hose clamp at the throttle body with an 8mm socket.
Unsnap the clamp at the other end of the assembly and set the air intake aside.
4) With a tool or metal piece 15mm wide at the ready, insert a 1/2" square drive breaker bar, the longer the better, into the square opening on the arm of tensioner.

Turn the bar clockwise and when at end of travel stick the metal piece in the gap created above the tensioner. Now the tension is held off the belt.

With a tool or fabricated piece like this hold the tension off the belt 

5) Remove the belt. Leave the holding piece in there and take it off the air conditioning compressor first and then squeeze it together and pull it out between the tensioner and upper idler. Remove from the crankshaft sprocket and pull that loop up and through. Finally pull off the power steering sprocket and pull it out above the water pump

Installation

Ford 5.4L belt path

1) Start with the whole belt looped above the water pump and then thread it between the tensioner and the upper idler. Enlarge the loop and place it over the AC compressor.  

2) Now make another loop and thread it between the idler and crank pulley. Enlarge and seat it on the crank pulley. 

3) Take the remainder of the belt and thread it over the power steering pump and finally over the alternator. Done

4) Install the air intake

5) Install the throttle body cover.

6) Connect the battery.

7) Test