Hi,
I have just booked my 96 850 in for a service and to have the timing belt replaced. The agent has said, "You will need the tensioner bearing replaced as well, they always need doing".
Is he right, or is he just trying to inflate the work and price?

Andy, I think the real question is, will the bearing last until the next T-belt change at the 70,000 mi. interval ? If your going to sell it before then, no problem. What happens if the bearing seizes, 30,000 from now? I think we 850 / V70 owners know. Tom

I'd tell him to have the tech check the part and replace it if necessary. Ask them to save the old parts.

If you trust the tech to change the belt, you should trust his judgement as well.
--
3 8s & 2 7s 725,000 miles total

It's not quite so simple. I live in Borneo and the local Volvo dealer has just about gone into liquidation and doesn't have any spare parts. Any parts I want, I have to bring in personally or get by mail order. Hence my reluctance to order in a bearing that I am not sure I need. (The other problem is getting the right size bearing...anybody know what size or part number to get?).
It is the guy at the local workshop doing the work on the car and not a flash dealership. He has done good work for me in the past though.
He has not examined the belt or bearing, he just said "Get one, it will need it"
Cheers,

Andy

If you have have a "mechnically" inclined mind - save the $$ and do it yourself. Bay 13 has some excellent instructions on the procedure. The belt is about $35-40 and it takes about 2-3hrs to accomplish.

If the tensioner bearing is worn you'd prob heard some noise or feel a grinding when the belt is off and the tensioner is spun. If the car is around the 70K mark, I'd doubt that it would need replacing.

Cheers - Andrew

I have never done an 850, but if you've got 90 kmiles on it, the tensioner bearing could be getting noisy, probably makes sense to put a new one in.