Timing Belt- To reuse or not?

[02_Legacy]

I am doing headgaskets on my subaru and want to know your opinions on if I should get a new timing belt or not. I have read that you should always get a new one if you take it off, yet in the FSM there is instruction on inspecting the belt and it states "If any fault is found, replace belt" To me this implies that if there is no fault the belt can be reused. I can't see spending $60 plus shipping for a belt if I don't need one. The current belt only has 40K on it.
what are your opinions?

[Garrison]

Replace at 60k, so either nip it in the bud early; or wait.

[green97gt]

really? its 60 bucks.

isnt that worth peace of mind for 60k? especially if its your DD

and why touch it twice?

[grayguy]

It's cheap, it's dumb not to do it while you have everything that far apart. I bet you can get a Gates brand belt at Napa for less than $60 too.

[ouch1011]

I'd do it now, if for no other reason than the fact that you won't have to do it again for 60k (vs 20k) Check all the idler and tensioner pulleys while its apart.

[02_Legacy]

really 60K?? I thought it was supposed to be replaced at 100K? Are the pulleys required to be changed every 60K too? THe previous owner said he did the timing belt at 80K but I don't know if he did any of the pulleys. How do I tell if the pulleys need to be replaced?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Newer timing belts are mandated to be a 105k service interval. Older cars had 60k intervals. I think in your car it's 105k miles. Definitely make sure pulleys are good, otherwise you can mess up timing and grenade the engine. I just had all that done to my car - when the timing belt came off (100k miles on it) it had cracks every MM or so.

[blackstar]

so the timing belt kit you could find for maybe = $160 for everything - pulleys, tensioner, timing belt or you can get a Gates belt for $30 or the OE is like $60-80 * Do the timing belt at least, I know 3rd gens are 105k for replacement, but it is worth the piece of mind. the pulleys be themselves are only like $30/ea, its the tensioner assembly that is $150...... IMHO, I would get the OEM Subaru revised head gasket set - OE belt, OE belt tensioner, then wherever you can get the t/b idler pulleys, water pump, thermostat, hoses, etc. Do it all now and you will have the next 105,000 miles worry free of any timing belt related issues because you skipped on it now.

[02_Legacy]

Um I just did a full timing change on my friends 2.5 and it was almost $500 to Do all pullys timing belt and water pump all oem. I really don't have that much right now so I'm going to put the old belt on and within another 50k I'll do everything.The timing stuff is easy to do so I won't be making things too much harder for myself.

[blackstar]

Um yeah, sorry, I tend to forget about my pricing, since I work at an auto shop - everything (belts,water pump, tensioner, idlers, thermostat, valve cover gaskets ) would only cost me $325 for all of it

Yeah the timing belt and components are easy to do, you just wanna take a look at everything when you have the belt / heads off. Are you getting the Subaru head gasket set ?

[02_Legacy]

No I got Cometic's

[jey]

Pulleys should spin freely without making ANY noises. If they don't then replace.

[02_Legacy]

Thanks that is good to know for future reference. Going by that I know there is at least 1 that needs replacing.