Timing belt & water pump brands?

[Monkey]

Hi all

At my next service (~May?) I'll be doing my timing belt, water pump, etc - car only has 70,xxx kms but I should do the major service.
However, I'm trying to save some $ by looking at ordering parts in advance.

I understand the Subaru OEM timing belt kit is between $400 - 600 (various prices received), and water pump is ~$150.

Are there other brands which are just as good / better for the same or cheaper price?

I read in another thread that the Gates belts may be known to stretch, although they seem to be recommended at LegacyGT.com (?)
are other brands like Tomei or Dayco better or worse?

I can get this including the water pump for $387US + delivery ($50? - assuming they ship to Oz) at: http://www.fredbeansparts.com/gates-rac ... -belt.html

Or Gates from Ebay for ~$290 delivered: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GATES-Timing ... 232e2bc016

Or the Gates "racing" kit through Ebay for ~$370 delivered: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GATES-Racing ... 58a1bdec22

I came across this for $220 delivered which I think will fit and it says all Japanese parts, but I have no idea about the quality: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221268655012 ... 1423.l2649

There's also this one for $350 delivered which includes the water pump: http://www.ebay.com/itm/02-07-2-5L-EJ25 ... 337036b9b0

any advice re: brands and cheaper places to source parts for this service would be appreciated.

[KiDo_Tuning]

Hi all

At my next service (~May?) I'll be doing my timing belt, water pump, etc - car only has 70,xxx kms but I should do the major service.
However, I'm trying to save some $ by looking at ordering parts in advance.

I understand the Subaru OEM timing belt kit is between $400 - 600 (various prices received), and water pump is ~$150.

Are there other brands which are just as good / better for the same or cheaper price?

I read in another thread that the Gates belts may be known to stretch, although they seem to be recommended at LegacyGT.com (?)
are other brands like Tomei or Dayco better or worse?

I can get this including the water pump for $387US + delivery ($50? - assuming they ship to Oz) at: http://www.fredbeansparts.com/gates-rac ... -belt.html

Or Gates from Ebay for ~$290 delivered: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GATES-Timing ... 232e2bc016

Or the Gates "racing" kit through Ebay for ~$370 delivered: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GATES-Racing ... 58a1bdec22

I came across this for $220 delivered which I think will fit and it says all Japanese parts, but I have no idea about the quality: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221268655012 ... 1423.l2649

There's also this one for $350 delivered which includes the water pump: http://www.ebay.com/itm/02-07-2-5L-EJ25 ... 337036b9b0

any advice re: brands and cheaper places to source parts for this service would be appreciated.

Kris from Rising Sun Subaru would be your best bet, use Genuine!

[sheppo9]

use Genuine!

+1.

[jaydece]

OEM for the win...

I have tried gates products before and it was rubbish...

[<GB>]

oem is always the best the only other good one id use which probably cost more is a cosworth one and theyre used more for race/high power engines

I would buy the whole kit and replace all the pulleys and idlers can also be good to do the cam seals too if they look like they are leaking

makin and luby is who I use for Subaru stuff

[Adrian2627]

Like tyres this is one area you don't want to cheap-out on. There's too much risk. A broken belt can mean a complete engine rebuild. I know there is a chance of a genuine belt breaking but less so than a non genuine. If the genuine one does break prematurely causing major damage there's always a chance, be it a slim one with Subaru Aus, of Subaru helping out. If you use Gates etc you won't even get a looking.

[Monkey]

good advice - thanks all.

I wasn't looking for a cheap quality belt - I've had one break in my Honda and it cost me $3k
But I know sometimes aftermarket can be the same or better quality at the same or less price.

Same recommendations for water pump - go OEM too?

[jaydece]

good advice - thanks all.

I wasn't looking for a cheap quality belt - I've had one break in my Honda and it cost me $3k
But I know sometimes aftermarket can be the same or better quality at the same or less price.

Same recommendations for water pump - go OEM too?

Subaru timing belt kit + oem pump

[Boostaddict]

OEM for the win...

I have tried gates products before and it was rubbish...

Are you refering to the standard gates belt or the racing belt??

[jaydece]

OEM for the win...

I have tried gates products before and it was rubbish...

Are you refering to the standard gates belt or the racing belt??

replied to your pm...

I had gates headgaskets....

[Manaz]

I've heard from two Subaru mechanics I'd trust that they've experienced less belt stretch over the lifetime of the belt on the OEM part than on fancied aftermarket alternatives...

[Monkey]

Thanks all - much appreciated

[Boostaddict]

I have both the OEM Belt and the gates Racing belt at the moment for my engine build.

I have spoken to builder and he said he will look at both and see what one sits better on my motor and use that.

He also said that the gates racing ones are "harder or Stiffer" then the OEM ones that at sustained revs/thrashing they don't want to do anything bad.

But saying that he then did say that he as NEVER had a problem with the OEM belt......

So much of a muchness

[<GB>]

mines done over 10k hard driving on my oem belt kit! the rev limit is 7300 which is above standard

[jarrenowen]

I have both the OEM Belt and the gates Racing belt at the moment for my engine build.

I have spoken to builder and he said he will look at both and see what one sits better on my motor and use that.

He also said that the gates racing ones are "harder or Stiffer" then the OEM ones that at sustained revs/thrashing they don't want to do anything bad.

But saying that he then did say that he as NEVER had a problem with the OEM belt......

So much of a muchness

sorry to rebump an old thread but really interested on the feedback and what option you went for in your belt, being oem belt vs gates racing belt.
pm me if necessary.