Camsti

Hey guys i just bought a 944, it runs well but before driving it a lot i wanna check the timing belt first and see if it needs replacement. Couldnt i just pop off the belt covers and inspect it?

Tedro951

I'm not convinced a visual inspection will do you much good. If its REAL bad, I guess it would be obvious to replace it immediately, but what does one do if it looks good? Replace it.

Van

By the time you take the covers off, spend $40 and spend an extra 30 minutes to change it.

Camsti

yea i might just buy a whole timing belt kit with the tools and just do it and stop worrying about it. i just have to build up the confidence to work on this car lol.

944Ross

The While You're In There stuff is a slippery slope if you don't know the car's history. Water pump (turbo-style upgrade), new rollers and tensioners, crank seal, cam and BS seals... pay me now, pay me later...

pettybird

mine looked OK, right up to the point where it sheared off 7 teeth going around the crank pulley and ate my valves...

For my new turbo I just bought the belts, and did an inspection while I was there. I have full intention of ripping into it in spring, but I knew the belt wouldn't fail until I did. Cheap insurance. Follow the Clarks-garage writeup and you'll be fine.

Camsti

yea i was just able to take a peek at the belt lastnight and from what i saw it looked kinda glazed. I was thinking about it and i thought well i wouldnt enjoy driving it until i change the belt.

Mike C.

Good decision.

Camsti

To do the job, is a torque wrench mandatory? Because right now i only have the old school "guestimate" needle kind lol. I really wanna buy a digital one at sears for $249, then whatever money i have left over from changing the timing belt..i want to look at suspension bushings and replace those.

GTSilver944

Slightly OT, but a friend of mine didn't like the digital one he got at Sears and went back to the clicking kind. He generally loves all the craftsman stuff but said the torque wrench was garbage... just FYI.

Camsti

Hmmm good to know, ill look around for a qaulity one.

AScholtes

Yeah, just stick with the clicking variety. Also remember to unwind it after each use prior to putting it away.

Camsti

yea im gonna check out like the brand Proto, i just like how its digital numbers and it beeps and warns you that your getting closer.

AScholtes

Proto makes good tools. I use them alot at work. Dont get me wrong, they arent Snap-On, Mac or something along those lines (I have alot of those as well), but they are decent for the price, as is westward.

Camsti

I'm wondering about which drive size to get, i have always thought 1/2 drive was best for a torque wrench. What do you recommend?