After a 1000 mile drive yesterday my 98 12valve CTD gave me some belt issues, it's a pretty new belt and an entire rib ripped off the belt all the way around causing a bunch of noise. I stopped, cut the remaining piece off and limped home (about 1/4 mile). During that limp home it made no noise, sounded normal. I have a spare belt in the truck so this morning I put it on and as soon as I start the truck the belt seems to slip a groove back on the AC compressor putting it the wrong spot making contact with the compressor. I checked everything with the belt off and it seems ok, I also have a brand new belt tensioner. Is there something that could be out of alignment to cause this to happen. I've put the belt back on the right spot 2 or 3 times on the compressor pulley and it still ends up in the wrong spot within 15 or 20 seconds of the truck running.

Can the AC clutch be replaced on this truck without removing the compressor?

Mine was doing the same thing but it was the tensioner with badly worn bearings causing it. At the same time the rubber that was coming off was getting caught up jamming the A/C clutch. How does the rubber in the dampner look? I've seen those starting to come apart and cause problems with belt alignment.

I know i have seen a TSB for this...............
I will look.

Is it the one for belt squeak at shut off. I think it requires changing the crank pulley to the updated version or alternator pulley. I think my CRS is kicking again, anyway it's one or the other. That may be causing the belt to jump.

I picked up a new compressor and plan to swap the new clutch from it to my current compressor which still works fine. I think the bearings in the clutch are shot, I drove it pretty hard for about 400 miles yesterday, that must have been what did the belt in but it looks like it's been rubbing against the bolts on the compressor for a while. I'll post an update once I get it swapped over.