Timing Belt Parts - Purchase Ideas

[subaruhunter]

I need to do a timing belt on 98' Subaru Legacy Outback GT.

Found a web site for parts that looks pretty cheap:
http://www.rockauto.com
Also found $5 coupon with rock auto: http://www.retailmenot.com/view/rockauto.com

I plan to do timing belt, water pump, tensioner, and 3 idlers....rock=$232.

Anybody have any better places to shop?
Any recommendations on what I should replace as the dealer only does timing belt at 105,000 miles and inspects other things which doesn't make sense since it's 4 hours labor to remove/replace belt.

[89bk]

You'd want to make sure that the idlers are dual bearings, not the single bearing ones. If the $232 pricing is for the double bearing idlers, I think that's a pretty good deal.

You may want to also check what brand parts are included in that package. Others and myself have gotten sub-par performance with parts from China. If you ask rock auto or any other suppier, they should be able to tell you where the part was made.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I moved this to the correct forum. The Parts Classifieds is for selling things, please direct all technical questions to the appropriate tech forum.

[mike-tracy]

Good call mark, I was about to do the same. :)

[subaruhunter]

This post was for BUYINg not selling but you moved it to a sell thread.

Now I won't get feedback on where to buy.

Such a confusing web site mixing and matching.



I moved this to the correct forum. The Parts Classifieds is for selling things, please direct all technical questions to the appropriate tech forum.

[subaruhunter]

Thanks, I didn't understand the difference between single vs dual bearing idlers.

Appreciate the tip.



You'd want to make sure that the idlers are dual bearings, not the single bearing ones. If the $232 pricing is for the double bearing idlers, I think that's a pretty good deal.

You may want to also check what brand parts are included in that package. Others and myself have gotten sub-par performance with parts from China. If you ask rock auto or any other suppier, they should be able to tell you where the part was made.

[subaruhunter]

Good call mark, I was about to do the same. :)

explain why it's a good call? Doesn';t make sense to a newbie.

I won't get feedback in the re-directed location...watch.

[Wiscon_Mark]

This post was for BUYINg not selling but you moved it to a sell thread.

No, I moved it from:

Legacy Parts Classifieds
Legacy-related parts, For Sale only.

To:

Naturally Aspirated Engine
Discussions on mechanical engine-related topics

Unless you're putting up a WTB: timing belt parts thread. Which doesn't make sense as you don't buy used timing belt parts. the WTB forum isn't occupied by vendors, only members. If you read the sub descriptions under the forums, it makes sense.


I won't get feedback in the re-directed location...watch.

We get lots of replys in the tech forums, they're some of our most active. I've been here for 7 years, and I know how things work here, so please don't lecture me.

As for some advice: My mechanic's opinion on parts for the engine is either go with OEM or Napa's OEM equivalent parts for a timing belt job. He's had problems with some of the cheaper knockoff parts from places like autozone, O'reilly, etc. I couldn't tell you much about rockauto other than their prices are pretty low.

[02_Legacy]

Name brand is important with such important parts as timing belt/ idler pulleys. If you have the money go OEM, if you are looking for something a little cheaper get a gates kit, personally I will never put anything else besides OEM or gates on my car.

[89bk]

This past month I had to order timing parts for my Legacy. From ebay, I had good success with Partstrain, AutoPartsNerd, and fivestar007. Modesto Subaru (in California) was great, too. Another German auto parts company online had cheaper priced parts than Subaru and the part that came was Subaru OEM (but I don't recall the name of the company and I'm in a different state so can't get to my records).

A long-time mechanic told me that the parts from Beck Arnley and World Auto Parts are really re-boxed OEM parts. I haven't confirmed this with other mechanics but it may be worth considering.

Regarding the idlers such as the smooth idlers, if the idler has a green-colored insert, it's a single bearing design. The double bearing design has a black-colored insert. The original bearing design for the idlers was a single bearing design but SOA found that the double bearing design was better. So, sometimes a good brand company may be selling the single bearing design and the price will be cheaper, so just be alert to that.

NSK is a good bearing company, one of the top three in the world. And, as others have said, OEM is always good.

As regards what should be replaced, most mechanics will say replace all that you had listed. Then, you should be good for another 100K miles. There are others who do the mechanic work themselves who would keep parts that are still good. But, they may check on the parts in another 30,40, or 50K miles. If you have an interference engine, it would be better to replace all of the parts; if you have a non-intereference engine, the decision to replace or not to replace all of the parts would be up to you.

[Thomistopheles]

explain why it's a good call? Doesn';t make sense to a newbie.

I won't get feedback in the re-directed location...watch.

You posted it in the wrong forum, the parts classifieds, where members list items they have for sale. You'll get more feedback here than where it was.

I've bought tons of parts through Rock Auto. You have to keep an eye on shipping there since they have several warehouses. If your parts are coming from 3 different places, you pay shipping for each and it can add up pretty quick. I'll be going with the Gates timing belt + idlers + water pump kit from Rock Auto for my build, as well as the Gates tensioner. Probably the exact same parts you're looking at. I've seen them used in other people's builds and have not heard anything bad.

[Okin DaVanh]

I found a deal.... and you don't have to go anywhere.....


viewtopic.php?f=22&t=24870 (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=24870)





BNIB Timing Belt Kit with tensioners, water pump, rear main seal and cam seals ordered from rockauto.com and dealership($125 obo)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/06/213gn4o-1.jpg



So, I guess my answer would be... yep, you guessed it! Search, search, and search some more. Plenty of deals are to be found. Usually on brand specific boards where some people loose interest/have an accident or just plain out, bought the wrong part and want to recoup some cash. Anyway you cut it, a little homework and posts like these can net you some deals.

[89bk]

^^^That is an awesome deal! Just make sure that those 3rd generation parts are the correct ones for your second gen Legacy, and if the idlers are single or double bearings. Oh don't forget that you'll need the front crank seal, too.

[jjay03]

Does the gates kit come with quality idler bearings? I got everything but the timing belt kit. I went with the OE water pump.

[subaruhunter]

1. Rockauto cannot advise where any of the Gates Kit parts are made. Reason is the email/phone contacts are not in the warehouse and rockauto refuses to contact the warehouse.
2. Gates after 4 working days has yet to respond to email on where parts are made.
3. Single vs Dual idler - Subaru dealer says does not undertsand this issue as idlers, tensioner and idler(cam) are all single bearing.
4. Is Gates specifications exceed the OEM?
I found the dealer is using Fuji parts(water pump, timing belt, idlers, tensioners) but other Subaru specialst uses MDL(Mitsubishi) that it calls OEM.
Gates parts seem to after market and unsure of quality.

[89bk]

3. Single vs Dual idler - Subaru dealer says does not undertsand this issue as idlers, tensioner and idler(cam) are all single bearing.

subaruhunter, that's interesting you mention the Subaru dealer does not understand the single vs double bearing issue. FWIW, the Subaru parts department I use told me that originally Subaru had the single bearing idlers but now uses the double bearing idlers as a superceded part. They found it lasts longer and/or work better.

Another parts guy pointed out the difference to me in the single vs double bearing design. The single bearing idlers usually uses a green seal whereas the double bearing ones are black. Also, the single bearing seal is inset more than the double bearing seal.