Best timing/balance belt - Porsche brand worth it?
12-03-2009, 09:07 AM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Best timing/balance belt - Porsche brand worth it?
I'm about to change the timing and balance belts on my S2. I noticed that the Porsche brand ones are hideously expensive, at around $130. There also seem to be Gates branded ones at around $45 and others at even lower prices.
Is it worth going for Porsche branded? It seems that the original belts seemed to last a long time, whereas perhaps other brands have failed after 4-5 years.
Any experience with particular brands failing?
Is it worth going for Porsche branded? It seems that the original belts seemed to last a long time, whereas perhaps other brands have failed after 4-5 years.
Any experience with particular brands failing?
12-03-2009, 09:35 AM
#2
Rennlist Member
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I was under the impression that Gates is the OEM for the Porsche belts. The wider S2 belts are generally a bit dearer than the standard 944 belts -- I got my Gates timing belt from Pelicanparts.com along with all the rollers and seals (I found shipping to Oz was economical.) Price at Pelican for a Gates S2 belt is currently $24.25.
12-04-2009, 03:52 AM
#4
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I was under the impression that Gates is the OEM for the Porsche belts. The wider S2 belts are generally a bit dearer than the standard 944 belts -- I got my Gates timing belt from Pelicanparts.com along with all the rollers and seals (I found shipping to Oz was economical.) Price at Pelican for a Gates S2 belt is currently $24.25.
12-04-2009, 04:21 AM
#5
Team Owner
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gates is obsessed with the manufacturing of belts... and yet techs say, "oem belts please."
gates is developing new timing belts now that are arguably some of the best - so go figure...
gates is developing new timing belts now that are arguably some of the best - so go figure...
12-04-2009, 01:10 PM
#7
Team Owner
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where do i source Gates belts ? reason i am asking is Porshce sells everything individually and that's a great oportunity to go oem on everything else including the H20 pump, cam chain, seals etc... and do GATES on just the belts, which i am perfectly comfortable doing.
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12-05-2009, 02:26 AM
#8
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
where do i source Gates belts ? reason i am asking is Porshce sells everything individually and that's a great oportunity to go oem on everything else including the H20 pump, cam chain, seals etc... and do GATES on just the belts, which i am perfectly comfortable doing.
12-05-2009, 08:30 AM
#9
Three Wheelin'
I used non oem belts once and had the balance shaft belt snap after 6k miles...other than that, I've always just bought the oem belts and have never had a problem...ymmv...
12-05-2009, 01:08 PM
#11
Rainman
Rennlist Member
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i just pulled my previous belts off my car after 25,000 miles or so and 3.5 years and they looked nearly new still. not even a hairline crack or anything. one was gates and one was conti.
12-05-2009, 01:33 PM
#12
Rennlist Member
It ain't rocket science. TB's have been mainstream for more than 20 years, materials and manufacturing methods have improved along the way. I have Gates on both my cars (one is the Rennbay kevlar TB) and no worries. Gates may be a common brand, that doesn't mean it's crap, quite the opposite. Unless the box says Yua Lien Wau Timing Belt and Shoelace Manufacturing, you're OK.
