Best Serpentine Belts (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023

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The serpentine belt is located in the engine and is responsible for carrying power to critical components of your vehicle, including the air pump, power steering pump, alternator, and other important parts. The serpentine belt ensures that there’s harmony between all components under the hood, and if it breaks down, it could lead to total engine failure. Lucky enough, there are aftermarket serpentine belt replacements that can get your engine back to operating at its optimal level. Here’s a look at some of the best serpentine belt replacements.

Why Buy A Serpentine Belt?

Upgrade the engine components as a unit. If you are thinking of replacing your head gasket, gasket adhesives, or spark plug, then that might give you a hint that the other components surrounding the engine may also be due for replacement. You might as well replace the entire set at the same time so that you have all the components in the front part of your car functioning effectively.
Prevent engine failure. A serpentine belt will give off signs that it’s wearing out like fraying, cracking, or tearing before failing. If that happens, all accessories supported by the belt will become useless, your engine may start to overheat, and your car could stop mid-journey. Replace the belt before you start to experience serious problems with your engine.
Better design. Compared to standard smaller belts and fan belts, serpentine belts are made to be stronger, more compact, easier to install, and more efficient. Serpentine belts are also cheaper and longer-lasting than the alternatives.
Transmit power to essential automotive components. Critical components like the air conditioning unit, power steering pump, alternator, and the water pump rely on the serpentine belt for power in order to run smoothly.

Top Brands

ACDelco

From its inception in 1916, ACDelco has been known to make some of the best aftermarket replacement parts for the automotive industry. Also, all ACDelco products meet and exceed user-safety standards. ACDelco is a subsidiary company of General Motors, and it’s headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan. One of ACDelco’s best quality serpentine belts is the ACDelco 6K930.

Dayco

Dayco specializes in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of engine components and drives systems for the automotive, construction, and agriculture industries. Dayco engine belts are often available in kits full of other accessories, and it also manufactures pulley systems to accompany the belts. One of Dayco’s quietest serpentine belts is the Dayco 5060840 Serpentine Belt.

Continental

Continental is one of the best serpentine belts manufacturers in the industry. It’s a German automotive manufacturing company that also makes interior electronics, brake systems, and tires among other products. The company has more than 140 years in the industry, and throughout the years, its products have managed to attain high-efficiency standards. A good example of such a high-efficiency Continental product is the Continental OE Technology Series 4060740.

Bando

With over 100 years of experience, Bando maintains its excellence in manufacturing and distributing OEM products in the United States. Bando products are used as OEM replacements in 80 percent of the top cars in the industry and are also capable of providing improvements to professional racing cars. One of its affordable car belts is the Bando 6PK1305.

Best Serpentine Belt Pricing

Under $20: Serpentine belts within this price range can last for at most 70,000 miles before they need a replacement. You may find some great OEM replacements here, but most don’t hold the desirable level of resistance to heat, chipping, and cracking. However, you will find some great products from renowned brands that run smoothly with no irritating sounds.
$20 to $30: Expect to find engine belts with a lifespan ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 miles within this price range. Most products here are made from high-strength resistant materials and carry high horsepower loads. You also won’t have to worry about malfunctioning devices, loud noises, or loss of tenacity with most of the products here.
Above $30: The belts get more reliable the higher you go in this price range. Most products here are made from a high-quality rubber material that makes the belts resistant to heat, and they maintain their tenacity and quality even after a life of 100,000 miles. They are also more resistant to deterioration caused by grease, oil, and other factors.

A ribbed serpentine belt on a white background — *Replace your original engine belt with a ribbed serpentine belt that’s resistant to heat and deterioration.*, *gettyimages*

Key Features

Size

The model number on your factory serpentine belt will help you get the best aftermarket size. If the previous belt is too worn out to show any model number, take it out and measure the length. Then select an aftermarket piece that’s one size smaller to get the best fit. Alternatively, your car owner’s manual (if you still have it) will give you the correct size for the serpentine belt.

Material

Neoprene used to be the standard material for constructing serpentine belts, but the belts often ended up being shiny and developed cracks with time. Most manufacturers have currently changed to Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer(EPDM), which is more resistant to wear and heat and is longer-lasting than Neoprene.

Durability/Range

The construction of the serpentine belt should be strong enough to withstand heat and rough conditions that often lead to wear. The average lifespan for the belt is 60,000 miles, but you can find some units from high-end brands that push to 100,000 miles.

Other Considerations

Rib Pattern: The rib pattern contributes to the lifespan of the belt. The best belts have cross cuts and numerous valleys to allow more air to get underneath the belt, preventing overheating and stretching.
Shear Resistance: This is the ability of the belt to protect itself or to resist structural failures such as shears or cracks. Most high-end belts are advertised to be crack-resistant and that’s largely due to the design and material of the belt.

Best Serpentine Belt Reviews & Recommendations 2021

Best Overall

ACDelco 6K930

Best Value

Bando 6PK1305

Premium Pick

Gates K081264HD

Strongest

Bando 4PK1890 OEM Serpentine Belt

Honorable Mention

ACDelco K040378HD Serpentine Belt

Honorable Mention

Continental 4060855 OE Technology Series Multi-V Belt

Honorable Mention

ACDelco 6K960 Professional Serpentine Belt

Honorable Mention

Dayco 5060878 Serpentine Belt

Honorable Mention

Motorcraft JK6982D Serpentine Belt

Tips

Sometimes, the serpentine belt might fail without giving off any visible warnings. It may also fail when misaligned or installed incorrectly. Have a professional install the belt for you and check on its condition occasionally to make sure that it’s working as intended.
Replace the belt after five percent of the rib material is worn out. The ribs or valleys on the belt can be measured with a small tool called a Vernier caliper (Ask a professional to help you use it). If that seems difficult, you can replace the belt every four to six years, depending on its condition.
You will start to notice a defective belt from its edges, as that’s where it starts to wear out and crack. You may also notice some squealing noises coming from the front part of your vehicle. In case that happens and you aren’t ready to buy a new belt, you can lubricate the belt with high-quality engine oil to buy some time before replacement.
Have a professional check the condition of the automatic belt-tensioner every time you replace the serpentine belt. It’s a self-tensioning device that maintains the balance of tension and flexibility in the fast-spinning rubber, and without it, the belt may slip or run hot and snap.

FAQs

Q: How long do serpentine belts last?

A: Most serpentine belts last between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on the quality of the brand and your driving habits. The more you are on the road, the more the belt gets exposed to wear from friction, and that shortens its lifespan. However, with the advancements in rubber technology, some belts can be manually serviced by increasing the tension on the pulley. That increases the belt’s lifespan as long as it doesn’t snap.

Q: How will I know that my car belt needs to be replaced?

A: The belt will give off some tell-tale signs that it’s starting to wear out. You may notice some quelling or chirping noises every time you run the engine. That could be an indication that the belt is slipping from its pulley due to stretching out. Other signs may include cracks, missing chunks, power steering or air conditioning failure, and finally, your car may break down while you’re driving.

Q: Can I use two belts in my vehicle?

A: That won’t be necessary. It might seem like the best solution to have two belts running select accessories, but that was only a trend with older vehicles. With the new and improved serpentine belt, a single belt can handle running all the engine components and delivering power to individual parts.

Q: Can I drive with a bad serpentine belt?

A: It depends on the extent of the damage. If the belt breaks, then your car will break down. Your power steering and air conditioning will also fail. That could be risky if it happens when you are on the road. However, you can lubricate the belt if it hasn’t snapped and replace it within three days.