New Timing Belt

[avryco]

Coming up to that dreaded 100,000 mile mark pretty soon and was wondering if you guys would suggest a DYI timing belt swap or if i should have a shop do it. Consider that I have very little mechanical experience and not a ton of garage space. Thank ya!

[ouch1011]

If you have basic hand tools and the ability to carefully read and follow directions then you can give it a try. The SOHC model you have is easier than the DOHC engines. If you don't have that stuff or if the car is rusty under hood, save yourself the trouble and have a shop do it.

[avryco]

where would you suggest i buy the belt from?

[1996Battlewagon]

Buy the belt from anywhere, it's the brand you want to look out for. Don't skimp on a cheap one. I'd go for Gates, they seem to be the best out their for Subarus. Some people (myself included) find it easier to pull the engine so you don't have to deal with hassle of the engine bay (but that's just me). Good luck man.

[Huffer]

where would you suggest i buy the belt from?

www.subarupartsforyou.com (http://www.subarupartsforyou.com)
or
any other reputable online vendor

Build a shopping cart, ship it in one haul. The amount you'll save per item by buying from various sources is negligible when you work out the time saved of having it all arrive in one box.

[ouch1011]

Mitsuboshi (no, that's not a typo) is also a good brand, they are an OE belt manufactuer for many Japanese brands. Napa sells them. I used a Subaru belt personally because I got a ton of other parts from them at the same time and I get them at wholesale so they were pretty reasonable. Make sure whatever belt you get as the alignment marks on it, that makes it alot easier to install.

[Sarra]

I've done several timing belts, including a DOHC and SOHC dodge minivan (2.4l), and an Impreza 2.2 SOHC. I won't touch the DOHC Subies. :p One of the cams is on lift when you set the timing to put the belt on, and if you as much as breathe on it, it whizzes away. Subaru makes a special tool to hold the cams in place while you set the timing. I'd be happy to do DOHC timing with said tool, but I don't have it, so no, I personally would have a trustworthy mechanic do it.

Otherwise, it is most certainly a 2 person job, even with the tool.

If you are looking for the best timing belt, the Napa super performance DOHC STi belt is what you would want. It's the same exact belt that Cosworth, Cobb, etc. sell, rebranded. And no, those companies don't make the belt, some other performance company does.

[lewisd]

So I have a 99 2.2 SOHC brighton wagon (CA emission) and am long overdue for it's second TB change. I'm getting my parts list together and reading everything I can get my hands on. Have all the endwrench, haynes, etc... I'm reading about the TDC position which is when all the three pulleys (crank and two cams) marks are pointing up to the ref point. I probably should replace all the front seals (cam and crankshaft) to. My concern is removing the cam and crankshaft pulleys and how easily the cams/crankshaft will move away from TDC while I try to remove nut and replace/tighten same. I don't have the pulley tool. The references don't mention what to do if they move/rotate slightly.

[1996Battlewagon]

Okay, I've only done timing belt jobs on DOHC EJ25s, but the SOHC EJ22 should be the same. There are two timing marks, Top Dead Center (the mark on the crank sprocket), and the marks where everything is where it should be to take the timing belt off. Do not take the timing belt off when at TDC. If the cams move, the valves on the driver side open and bam, you have yourself a paper weight. The timing marks are there so the cams do not move as easy, and if anything does happen (like rotating the cams to get the sprockets off without the locking tool) the pistons are recessed so you can wipe the sweat off your forehead and keep working.

Look for Warriors DOHC timing belt write up located here. It will help you out ALOT!

Here's one for SOHC EJ22s
http://www.subaruvanagon.com/tom/Timing%20Belt.htm