Squealing serpentine belt

The serpentine belt on my 300tdi is making a mad squealing noise that is starting to drive me nuts. Someone told me to put some silicone grease on the ribs but I'm not sure if this will eat the rubber eventually

The belt looks pretty shiny on top so perhaps its time for a belt change? Not sure when it was last done.

Before I go down the road of looking to change bearings does anyone have any other advice I can try first?

FevLad

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Some days it's not worth chewing through the leather straps.

Try a Search ?

squeeling belt or for penny trick

Thanks Bud. Since I'm a Yorkshireman, I'll give the penny trick a go. LOL.

FevLad

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Some days it's not worth chewing through the leather straps.

Sorry I've had this problem for ages, I've changed the tensioner bearing greased tensioner spring and was about to order water pump, by chance I got grease on pulley belt from many on off's with the belt to find the fault that it stopped. Since then I've grease the tensioner belt and never had the squeeky back yet. The belt is under a lot of tension so does not slip.

Talc or chalk, It is possibly your water pump squealing, I did have this on mine, took the belt off and you could here the squeal turning the pump by hand

I had lots of irritating little squealing sounds but the penny trick completely cured it. Recommend giving it a go.