The car's due for it's second cambelt in around 5,000 miles but I'm probably going to bite the bullet early and have it done this month - better safe than sorry.

The car's a 2001 plate WRX, nearly knocking on 85,000 miles now.
Having spoken with a specialist, I was recommended to get the belt, tensioner and all pulleys replaced at the same time given the age of the car (and was recommended the Roger Clark kit, RRP £300), and having read up on this a little more I'm also wondering if it's worth replacing any other items such as the water pump.

Whilst I don't want to go nuts with cost (the car's only worth a finite amount given its age and mileage), I've just uprated the suspension so it's not going in the next year at least, and want to maintain the reliability that its shown me in the last 6 years of ownership.

All advice appreciated guys.

 

While it's off you could argue for doing the oil pump as well while you're at it....

 

get the parts your self and get them to fit it.

http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/part...en=&searchKey=

 

import car parts are great to deal with
for cambelt try the graham goode ebay store, their belt is really good & very easy to fit as it has all the line up markings on it & its a bargain at about £36 delivered.

Water pump you can change if you want but i have heard they rarely go. I would put the water pump money towards a modified oil pump - again on graham goode ebay they do a new one & modify it for £150 (on a classic one) so dont know about a price on yours but it gives you an idea.

 

Just get a cambelt / tensioner replacement kit and fit that. OEM oil and water pump are pretty good items. For peace of mind you could fit a modified oil pump but for an unmodified car probably not worth it.

Alyn at AS performance can supply a kit to fit and often price-matches importcarparts

www.asperformance.com.

Shaun

 

As Shaun says give Alyn a ring, not only will you get a good deal but you will get all the proper advice you need and wont sell you anything you dont need. You defnately need to change the tensioner tho regardless of anything else.

 

Thanks everyone, I'll give Alyn a ring; bought brake pads from him in the past I believe, seemed like a nice chap .

Prices so far:

RCM weigh in at £299.99 for an aftermarket belt and pulleys (http://www.rogerclarkmotorsport.co.u...productID=2292) or £400 for genuine Subaru / Cosworth belt alternatives (can't justify that extra £100 on mine in its current state of tune!)

Grahame Goode come back at £185 for two smooth pulleys, one toothed pulley, their own aftermarket timing belt, and a tensioner. They don't appear to stock the smaller smooth pulley that's included in the RCM pack on their online site but at that price I'm tempted to call em.

Import car parts start at £177 with a "Dayco" belt but rise another £26 for a "Gates" belt - I have no idea whether this is better or worse but for peace of mind I'd go with a better quality item where I can afford it.
http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/part...en=&searchKey=

I'm also going to give my local dealer a ring and see how they match up - should be interesting.

 

How did Alyn's prices fair. Bear in mind he has infinate experience with these cars and will advise the best option required for your car so you dont buy anything you dont need.

 

Alyn came back with a quote for £205 delivered.
That was for:
- Gates belt (I'm told these are as as good quality as OEM)
- 1 x Tensioner
- 2 x Smooth Pulleys
- 1 x Toothed Idler

Damn good prices; the only thing I did notice was this kit doesn't include the small smooth pulley.
I suspect I'll go with him unless my dealer come back with a better package.

Incidentally, he also mentioned that as for the water pump, as a general rule there shouldn't be an issue and they'd only replace it if it was showing signs of a problem.

 

Giles mate,

I'm in the process of about to do mine too.

I'm going the Cosworth Kevlar belt and changing my water pump and oil pump too (Cosworth or RCM).

When you doing it?

Steve

 

Hi mate,

I really need to get it done this month.
The dealer came back and said it would cost £326 to fit the parts, and if this includes a courtesy car I may go with them, as it's a little easier than going to James as I normally have to take a day off when I visit him, and the price isn't a huge amount more I >think<.

However, on advice from Alyn and the dealer, I won't be changing either of my pumps as the car simply isn't highly modded enough to warrant bothering in its present form.

Don't blame you for going the Cossie belt route - it's practically the same price as the OE Subaru one, and I know which I'd go for in that scenario.
Do be aware though that the RCM kit looks to be about £100 more than the alternatives I'm seeing elsewhere and yet the parts all look the same - the only difference in kit appears to be the small pulley that RCM include, and I can't believe that's £100 on its own. You could always get the pulley set from Alyn, source the belt from elsewhere and save yourself £100 mate.

You thinking BOGOF price from somewhere on fitment?

Where are you thinking of taking the beastie?

 

test, please ignore.

 

Gates belt is v good quality and the one i will be fitting to the road car soon.

 

these posts allways make me laugh . i work for a bearing distributer and can tell you all the bearings on a subaru are only make by 3 companies nsk/rhp koyo and ntn , as for the cambelt gates/ dayco / ime guessing tranmission developments make the cosworth one as they are the only uk company capable of doing so . and if you go on gates website they will tell you 60/000miles change intervals, go on camskills website gates belt and all pulleys for less than 150quid

 

Thanks for the insightful comments into the bearings sources mate - doesn't surprise me tbh - bit like Unilever and cleaning products!
In regards to the Camskill prices, not sure where you got £150 from though:
- Small idler pulley £20.85
- Smooth Pulley x 2 £21.44 ea. = £42.88
- Toothed Idler £22.46
- Toothed Dayco Belt £48.00
- Tensioner £72.50

That's £206.69.
Good price, but no better really than Alyn's or Import Parts.

 

Giles,

Leave it with me..........talk ta me.

Steve

 

Get the parts from import car parts mate..... OE parts at cheap prices....

both me and my mate done our own cambelt changes with the kit supplied by importcarparts and it was exactly the same as what came off the car!! exactly the same factory markings.

of the top of my head complete cambelt kit (including all rollers and tensioner) with a gates belt was around £200...

Sp00ks

 

Good info mate thanks!

 

Also have a go at doing it yourself mate... really isn't that tough a job...
biggest pig was undoing the crankshaft pulley, 3 foot breaker bar and car in gear with foot on the brakes done the job though ;-)

Took me and a mate 2 hours to do each car, and that was just with the helpful worksop manual off this site ;-)

Sp00ks

 

Not quite confident enough to give this one a go I'm afraid mate, I'll stick to brakes, shocks and body parts!
I've gone with the import car parts pack and the gates belt given the comments above.
With a new front drop link and an aircon belt, the total inc. delivery was £248 - I'm happy with that.
Thanks to everyone for their advice and input.