2015 z28 serpentine belt and tensioner issue - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Z28000 · 03-26-2026, 11:29 PM

My belt kept falling off had shop install new belt and tensioner and just now belt flew off and tensioner snapped in half
I also have upgraded crank pulley ( I forgot brand but good kind )

Car has stock heads that been done and stage 2 cam
552whp

Any help
Would be Greatly appreciated

ariZona28 · 03-27-2026, 02:03 AM

Katech Belt tensioner. I've got one on my LS3 powered C5Z, several track days with plenty of high RPM (6000+) usage. I got mine from the good folks at Tick Performance.

https://katechengines.com/i-30498141...tensioner.html

Z28000 · 03-27-2026, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariZona28

Katech Belt tensioner. I've got one on my LS3 powered C5Z, several track days with plenty of high RPM (6000+) usage. I got mine from the good folks at Tick Performance.

https://katechengines.com/i-30498141...tensioner.html

Thank you very much

70T/A400 · 03-27-2026, 07:33 PM

I will second that Katech belt tensioner. It uses torque to set it. I had serpentine belt issues on a 402 LS2 and it fixed it for good .

Z28000 · 03-30-2026, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70T/A400

I will second that Katech belt tensioner. It uses torque to set it. I had serpentine belt issues on a 402 LS2 and it fixed it for good .

On order…. Thank you

Z28000 · 04-13-2026, 02:02 PM

Katech belt T is on there and no issues
Thank you ArizonaZ28

ariZona28 · 04-14-2026, 12:32 AM

Happy to help a fellow Z owner!

carparts · 05-26-2026, 04:27 PM

Anyone have the gm part# for the ac belt

gtstorey · 05-26-2026, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carparts

Anyone have the gm part# for the ac belt

You can look it up on any GM online parts site.

carparts · 05-26-2026, 04:53 PM

No the one list on gm parts is wrong and discontinued
I was hoping someone might take a picture of the one on there car

Z28000 · 05-27-2026, 11:30 PM

Just an update 2000 miles later and no issues with katech belt tensioner

traviz28 · 05-31-2026, 01:09 PM

It looks like I need to order the same tensioner as my belt came off randomly and I was able to push the belt back on by hand on the side of the road.
What gates part number are we using?
Katech has a part number listed but I know our z's use a different length belt compared to an SS, and I find it hard to believe the same belt is used when the katech tensioner is used.
Thx!

Coz3z3 · 06-01-2026, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traviz28

It looks like I need to order the same tensioner as my belt came off randomly and I was able to push the belt back on by hand on the side of the road.
What gates part number are we using?
Katech has a part number listed but I know our z's use a different length belt compared to an SS, and I find it hard to believe the same belt is used when the katech tensioner is used.
Thx!

I did a little research on the belts

According to Gates' website:
The SS uses part number K060810. Which is about 81.608 inches
The Z/28 uses part number K060771. Which is about 77.625 inches
Katech recommends to use Gates K060790. Gates' website says this is about 79.461

I would say that Katech is correct since it's their tensioner. And they do a lot of performance stuff for vehicles

Edit: I also have this tensioner and their recommended belt sitting on a shelf. Hoping to get it installed this coming weekend. Will report back when done

Coz3z3 · 06-06-2026, 05:30 PM

Did the install today. Found that the recommended belt from Katech was too long. According to the instructions, you need to put 25 ftlb on the belt before tightening it up. With the recommended belt, it maxed out the tensioner without being able to put the 25 ftlb on it. You could tell the belt had a lot of play in it. So next, I put the stock belt on, and could not get it over the tensioner pulley. I could have forced it, but it would have needed no belt tension. It was very tight. So, it ran to the parts store and picked up part number K060780. Which is about an inch shorter than their recommended belt. This one was the one. I was able to get the 25 ftlb on it, and get it tightened. I am comfortable with this one. What I would like to find is one maybe just an 1/8" or so shorter, since the tensioner is tightened almost maxed out. I am able to still adjust if needed, but it is not centered in the middle.

Edit: Added photos. First 3 are of the recommended belt by Katech. And the tensioner being maxed out and still having slack. 4th photo is the original belt being too short. And last photo is of the belt I decided to go with

03-26-2026, 11:29 PM	#1
Z28000 Drives: 2015 Chevy Z28 Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Washington Posts: 64 View My Garage	2015 z28 serpentine belt and tensioner issue My belt kept falling off had shop install new belt and tensioner and just now belt flew off and tensioner snapped in half I also have upgraded crank pulley ( I forgot brand but good kind ) Car has stock heads that been done and stage 2 cam 552whp Any help Would be Greatly appreciated __________________ 2015 Z28 #572 BLACK NO AC

03-27-2026, 02:03 AM	#2
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,890	Katech Belt tensioner. I've got one on my LS3 powered C5Z, several track days with plenty of high RPM (6000+) usage. I got mine from the good folks at Tick Performance. https://katechengines.com/i-30498141...tensioner.html Attached Images __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.

04-13-2026, 02:02 PM	#6
Z28000 Drives: 2015 Chevy Z28 Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Washington Posts: 64 View My Garage	Katech belt T is on there and no issues Thank you ArizonaZ28 __________________ 2015 Z28 #572 BLACK NO AC

04-14-2026, 12:32 AM	#7
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,890	Happy to help a fellow Z owner! __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.

05-26-2026, 04:27 PM	#8
carparts Drives: 2014 Z28 Black 2010 WF1 Stohr Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Metrowest Boston Posts: 53	AC belt Anyone have the gm part# for the ac belt

03-27-2026, 07:33 PM	#4
70T/A400 Drives: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 97	I will second that Katech belt tensioner. It uses torque to set it. I had serpentine belt issues on a 402 LS2 and it fixed it for good .

05-26-2026, 04:53 PM	#10
carparts Drives: 2014 Z28 Black 2010 WF1 Stohr Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Metrowest Boston Posts: 53	No the one list on gm parts is wrong and discontinued I was hoping someone might take a picture of the one on there car

05-27-2026, 11:30 PM	#11
Z28000 Drives: 2015 Chevy Z28 Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Washington Posts: 64 View My Garage	Just an update 2000 miles later and no issues with katech belt tensioner __________________ 2015 Z28 #572 BLACK NO AC

05-31-2026, 01:09 PM	#12
traviz28 Drives: '15 Z/28 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 13	It looks like I need to order the same tensioner as my belt came off randomly and I was able to push the belt back on by hand on the side of the road. What gates part number are we using? Katech has a part number listed but I know our z's use a different length belt compared to an SS, and I find it hard to believe the same belt is used when the katech tensioner is used. Thx! __________________ 2015 Z/28 #504

06-06-2026, 05:30 PM	#14
Coz3z3 Drives: 2015 Z/28, 2015 1LE Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Nevada Posts: 653	Did the install today. Found that the recommended belt from Katech was too long. According to the instructions, you need to put 25 ftlb on the belt before tightening it up. With the recommended belt, it maxed out the tensioner without being able to put the 25 ftlb on it. You could tell the belt had a lot of play in it. So next, I put the stock belt on, and could not get it over the tensioner pulley. I could have forced it, but it would have needed no belt tension. It was very tight. So, it ran to the parts store and picked up part number K060780. Which is about an inch shorter than their recommended belt. This one was the one. I was able to get the 25 ftlb on it, and get it tightened. I am comfortable with this one. What I would like to find is one maybe just an 1/8" or so shorter, since the tensioner is tightened almost maxed out. I am able to still adjust if needed, but it is not centered in the middle. Edit: Added photos. First 3 are of the recommended belt by Katech. And the tensioner being maxed out and still having slack. 4th photo is the original belt being too short. And last photo is of the belt I decided to go with Attached Images Last edited by Coz3z3; 06-08-2026 at 05:45 PM.