I will do my first TB/WP maintenance starting this week-end. It was last changed 6 years and 22,000 miles ago.

I have Mr. Pirtle and Plummer write-ups and the WSM.

I think I am ready to go.

Since a lot of you guys have done this at least once, I am wondering if you bought original Porsche parts (timing belt, roller, arm bushings and idler) or OEM parts? Are the Porsche's parts a lot better?

The price difference is around $80 USD or $100 CDN.

Luc

 

Your S4 is a Porsche, so OEM parts is Porsche parts?

 

Gio most parts on a 928 were NOT made by Porsche they only assembled them (on an assembly line)so original equipment manufacturer means Behr,Ate,Brembo,Mahle,Bosche Etc. And those same companies often sell parts to people like me as well as to Porsche !

 

Whatever 928 International, 928 Specialists, 928 Motorsports or the dealer sells is the correct part. Pay no attention to the name on the box.

 

Hacker,

I think he's referring to the options listed on one of the Big 3s website. They have a tb/wp 'package' where you can select EOM or Porsche, with the corresponding cost difference.

Luc,
I haven't done one yet (due in about 2 weeks) but I ordered the OEM parts. Can't speak to whether or not they're better than Porsche though.

 

Luc,

When ordering parts of the TB/WP on my 84;
For the WP, I used the rebuilt one - supposedly they have newer bearings in them.
For the TB, I went with Porsche, just because I wanted too!
For the rest, I went with the OEM parts where possible.

The one thing I have learned in doing this maintenance on the 928 is to do the tear down first and determine everything you need, then order the parts. After I ordered the "TB/WP package" and started the disassembly, I discovered several other items that needed to be replaced. Your crank, oil and cam gears need to be inspected for wear and replaced if needed. Also check the lower roller assembly bearing, both crank washers, front crank seal and oil level sensor cap - among other things.

Your S4 may include other things as mine is 16v where yours is 32v.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for information.

If OEM are the same, I prefer the $80 in my pocket.

 

Luc--

I asked Jim Bailey at 928 Int'l to put together a package of all the parts I would need for the project, and he did just right by me. I did use the Porsche belt and the rebuilt pump, if that helps. Did all the other WYAIT stuff, including new caps and rotors, and all the coolant hoses. Anyway, Jim sent stuff I wouldn't have thought of, stuff that came in real handy as it was going together. Give him a call and ask for that kind of "kit", and you stand a lesser chance of being hung up waiting for that one little part you didn't know about.

 

Luc's got a point about tear down then order. However, I just order everything that might be needed figuring I will use any leftover parts the next time or soon therafter. And the way part prices have been going up, I'm probably saving some money over all. Also, I take my box of spare parts to our timing belt parties to fill in for anything that the owner may not have ordered. That has proven useful many times.

I don't have a strong feeling that any of the Porsche brand parts are better than the alternatives our favorite vendors offer . Some of the aftermarket timing belts bother me, but I think our favorite vendors use the best ones. Water pumps is a toughy. We all know there are early failures with some rebuilt one and early failures with some new (or is it new-old-stock) ones, but it is not clear that one is better than the other, so I use rebuilt. The same might be said of plastic versus metal impeller. The plastic impeller cannot hone the block should it come loose, but there is some suspicion that they just are not as secure. I wish they would "pin" them to the shaft. I've used both and don't really have a strong bias, as I said.

 

one suggestion most folks don't think about... new wp bolts.. if they aren't bad now they will be by the next time it's due and the $5 aint worth the aggravation down the road
remember, take your time, spray everything down with PB Blaster a couple days ahead of time
if you get stuck just hop on here, and take LOTS of pics to help getting it back together

 

Speaking of TB/WP servicing, I've spotted an '88 I'm going to look at tomorrow that had the last TB/WP service done 5k miles/~4 years ago. I've read differing opinions on this. Mileage-wise, the belt would be next to new, time-wise however, best to change? And what about that amount of time on the WP? Still good to go, or would time be a factor on that as well?

Any suggestions about how to factor in the possible needed service if the subject of selling price is brought up? The seller sounded as if he considered the recent TB change (mileage-wise) as a positive factor for the cars' current state of maintenance, but, he's selling, not buying.

 

Oups59,

I went with as many “factory” supplied parts as were available. And Jim makes a good point; they are not necessarily “Porsche stamped” parts.

Y33trekker…I recently sold a pristine 88 S4 w/50K miles. The TB/WP had 4 years and 13K miles on them. I completed the first re-tension at the suggested interval and again, re-tensioned the belt just before selling.

Your future 88 shark, barring its already received a re-tension at 2500 miles, is still good to go for another year and as a “seller’, I would not discount the price for maintenance that’s suggested a year from now and as a buyer would not expect the same. But who knows, if he/she/they are having trouble selling the car, all bets are off I would guess.

Tim

 

5k/4 yrs, what would concern me most is how long has the car been sitting recently. TB/WP are just known obvious service items, cost is really moderate compared to other things and its PM that once done blesses the car for 60k miles. I would smile when the seller suggests that PM 4 years ago is a big plus, and say its something you always replace in the first year on a 928 you buy, and move on to the PPI and receipts.

I am starting to think the most critical thing on a 928 is time and miles since it was seriously driven as a KEEPER. Its pretty easy from the receipts on my car to see when the owners attitude shifted from full PM to keeping it on the road. A pattern of driving the car less and less followed by parking it until putting it up for sale is also a big warning sign, or bargaining chip depending on how you look at it.

 

As far as I know, Porsche placed no expiration date on the timing belt job, just a mileage standard. That's what I follow unless the time interval is extremely long. Four years isn't by a long shot.

 

Most of the companies who are listed as "OEM" are also the Porsche supplier for "Porsche" branded parts. I don't think it matters much in many circumstances.