https://clublexus.com/how-tos is the leading Lexus resource for technical, DIY guides. The serpentine belt is crucial to keeping the engine running smoothly and needs to be replaced over time. For more information, please visit our article at https://www.clublexus.com/how-tos/a/lexus-rx-how-to-replace-serpentine-belt-366262
Traditionally, a serpentine belt goes around all of the pulleys at the front of the motor, thus giving it its name from the serpentine route it takes. However, the Lexus RX is a bit different and has two different belts: one for the power steering and one for the alternator. In the Lexus RX, the power steering belt can break and still leave your car in driving condition, whereas if you break a serpentine belt, you lose the key component your car needs to run: the alternator. The downside is that having two belts makes changing them out more of a headache due to the extra work required. This video covers the process for the Lexus RX 350.
Requiring one to two hours of your time and working in cramped spaces, this moderately difficult job will cost you $30 to $50 dollars in materials, compared to having a professional service the belt for $200 to $300 dollars.
For this job, you’ll need a jack and jack stands, a torque wrench, a twelve millimeter open-ended wrench and socket, a cheater bar, a five millimeter bi-hexagon wrench, a fourteen millimeter open-ended wrench and socket, a Phillips head screwdriver, a wire coat hanger, and a replacement serpentine belt.
Step One – Remove passenger side front wheel
Loosen the lugs on the front passenger side wheel and jack up the vehicle. The lift points are shown here.
Secure the weight of the vehicle on jack stands.
Once secured, finish removing the lug nuts and remove the wheel.
Step Two – Remove serpentine belt panels
Remove the panels from the fender well to gain access to the pulleys. The panel is held in by bolts, but also by the panel directly to the right. Remove the trim pieces until the serpentine belt panel is out of the way.
Step Three – Loosen serpentine belt tensioner
Relax the tensioner by turning the center nut counter-clockwise. Use a long, flat handled socket wrench to get leverage.
Once the tensioner has been relieved, place a 5mm bi-hexagon wrench through the bottom hole to keep it from moving.
Step Four – Replace serpentine belt
Pull the belt from the pulleys and route the new one according to this diagram. Have a stretched-out coat hanger handy to pull the belt up and over some of the upper pulleys if necessary. When finished, twist the tensioner counter-clockwise and remove the 5mm hex wrench.
Don’t forget to re-install the various fender well panels and wheel, and lower the vehicle.
build series #2. the rear end.
all part # and prices below.
TRANSMISSION
flm -1 transmission case flm20000 $60+tax
flm sealed differential flm20010 $50+tax
robinson racing hardened steel idler rrp7857 $15+tax
traxxas planetary gears tra2382 $6+tax
traxxas slipper roll pin tra3793 $3+tax
traxxas steel drive gear tra3195 $3+tax
traxxas clutch rebuild kit tra5552x $10+tax
traxxas 500k diff oil tra5039 $8+tax
traxxas gear box halves tra3691a $8+tax
traxxas Teflon washers tra1985 $2+tax
traxxas silicone grease tra1647 $2+tax
hot racing HD slipper system trx15ep $14
hot racing hard anodized slipper pads trx15hsl $10
rc one 34t revo spur gear imx3644 $30
tekno 28t pinion gear tkr4188 $15+tax
acer ceramic bearing kit ctr16 $97
acer sin bearing oil arzsin01 $10+tax
rc screwz stainless screw kit rcztra023 $25+tax
IN THE REAR END
flm chassis flm22600 $60+tax
flm rear a arms flm26000 $22
flm rear bearing carriers flm26900 $22
flm rear shock tower flm22500 $24
tbr rear monster bumper/t bar 62083 $21
dubro micro sport wheels 186ms $3+tax
Lunsford titanium turnbuckle/hinge pins 4722 $51
gpm rear alloy shocks sla102r $25
losi 100w shock oil losa5232 $4
silver shock socks $5
traxxas high velocity drivelines tra1951r $67
aka 17mm wheel adapters 3177 $40+tax
chrome vinyl $3
PARTS NOT BEING USED
IN THE TRANSMISSION
traxxas xo-1 34t pinion gear/a lot of cogging $6+tax
traxxas planetary gears/shattered $6+tax
traxxas idler gear/switched to rrp $3+tax
traxxas slipper roll pin/sheared spring pin $3+tax
traxxas Teflon washer/used new $2+tax
hot racing graphite slipper pads/worn out $10
ofna 120k diff oil/switched to 500k $10+tax
rc screws precision bearing kit/switched to acer $15
IN THE REAR
strc 12mm aluminum wheel hexes/switched to 17mm $15
steel drivelines/broke both $40
traxxas HD rear driveshafts/broke 2 pairs $10+tax x2
traxxas HD half shafts/broke 2 pairs $8+tax x2
traxxas HD rear stub axles/broke $6+tax
traxxas rear stub axles/broke $5+tax
traxxas rear yolks/broke $4+tax
dubro micro sport wheels/broke 2 pairs $3+tax