Just a heads up to anyone that might be having any dramas with idler pulleys on their v6.
Going through a lot of mud and/or sand, or after steam cleaning the engine, the bearings seem pretty easy to self-destruct.
I have been through 5 in 20,000km.
The pulley you can only buy genuine from Toyota at between $56-$82, depending on:
*Which town
*which dealership
*Which side the salesman got out of bed this morning
*The correct alignment of a particular far off planet...
The bearing or bearing pulley assembly is not sold by any bearing shop in existence.
So, what you can do is:
1. Press out the bearing from the pulley (not meant to because it will usually destroy the bearing, by not pressing on the surface that is actually forming the interference fit, but not always) you may need a bit of heat.
2. There are two different bearing numbers 6302 and 6304(I think). Take these in and the bearing shop will tell you they can only get those bearings with a 15mm ID. Grab them (about $12 each).
3. Befriend a fitter machinist with access to a lathe. Get him/her to turn down a bush to 15mm OD, 10mm ID, with an interference fit on the outside race. Press this into your bearing, press bearing into pulley. You can use Loctite bearing retainer for peace of mind, however it just makes it harder when you have to press it out again 2,000km later.
4. Also, check the condition of your tensioner and belt, as when these go, they can cause premature failure of the idlers.
5. Does anyone else experience this problem? Or am I just treating her too rough, ha