Timing belt
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 87
From: NJ
Gates makes high quality belts. If you are planning your timing belt service and looking at ebay, consider the Mitsuboshi timing belt kits with Aisin water pump. They are both OEM suppliers for Toyota/Lexus.
Don't forget to replace your idler pulleys too.
Don't forget to replace your idler pulleys too.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 129
From: pa
Tried a Gates TB and removed it because it was noisy. It was noticeably thicker and stiffer than OEM and had poor quality timing marks. If you can get a TB from the Gates Unitta JV plant in Japan you are good to go. Otherwise, I recommend OEM over Gates or any other aftermarket.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 87
From: NJ
Tried a Gates TB and removed it because it was noisy. It was noticeably thicker and stiffer than OEM and had poor quality timing marks. If you can get a TB from the Gates Unitta JV plant in Japan you are good to go. Otherwise, I recommend OEM over Gates or any other aftermarket.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: California
Cannot speak directly to longevity but I just installed the AC Delco kit. Fit and finish is the comparable to originals. New rollers are smooth operating with no slop as is water pump. Timing belt had timing marks on it for lining things up and matched exactly to the marks I put on the old belt before taking it off. About 1000 miles so far, everything is running smooth and quiet.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,576
Likes: 1,393
From: Austin, TX
Look here guys .. this thread is getting to be a discussion on who likes what.
In genreral .. stay with OEM products .. Lexus has done its research (including cost effectiveness of the product and warranty service). If the original lasted this long, you can expect the replacement to last as long.
If you venture to use after market product, do your home work.
Every one is welcome to share their good and bad experience. Please avoid challenging others and being forced into defending your's. Let the readers make the call.
Salim
In genreral .. stay with OEM products .. Lexus has done its research (including cost effectiveness of the product and warranty service). If the original lasted this long, you can expect the replacement to last as long.
If you venture to use after market product, do your home work.
Every one is welcome to share their good and bad experience. Please avoid challenging others and being forced into defending your's. Let the readers make the call.
Salim
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 129
From: pa
Look here guys .. this thread is getting to be a discussion on who likes what.
In genreral .. stay with OEM products .. Lexus has done its research (including cost effectiveness of the product and warranty service). If the original lasted this long, you can expect the replacement to last as long.
If you venture to use after market product, do your home work.
Every one is welcome to share their good and bad experience. Please avoid challenging others and being forced into defending your's. Let the readers make the call.
Salim
In genreral .. stay with OEM products .. Lexus has done its research (including cost effectiveness of the product and warranty service). If the original lasted this long, you can expect the replacement to last as long.
If you venture to use after market product, do your home work.
Every one is welcome to share their good and bad experience. Please avoid challenging others and being forced into defending your's. Let the readers make the call.
Salim
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 327
Likes: 10
From: Australia
Interesting comments... I will get a price on OEM Toyota see how much they are...
Also seems to be a few different brands (and unbranded) TB kits with water pump, pulleys and what not... Any of these ok ? or do the pulleys have to match the TB ?
Also seems to be a few different brands (and unbranded) TB kits with water pump, pulleys and what not... Any of these ok ? or do the pulleys have to match the TB ?
Last edited by fastegg; Feb 15, 2016 at 02:14 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 129
From: pa
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CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,576
Likes: 1,393
From: Austin, TX
Peace
Salim
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 327
Likes: 10
From: Australia
All the TB kits on ebay in Australia, most have a Gates or Dayco belt but everything else is unbranded. Where as ebay USA, the OEM kits look very comprehensive ($100AUD freight) and also include a fan belt which I thought was nice. An OEM kit including freight is $580AUD ... kits in Australia are $350-$470 but none are OEM and considering US ones include a fan belt I'll seriously consider going with OEM and pay the $100 freight
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 237
Likes: 3
From: WV
I just did my TB last fall and I can say with certainty that the Gates do not fit correctly, at least the ones sent to me (there were multiple attempts). I confirmed with Gates that it was the correct belt. I also confirmed with Gates that they feel it's OK to have the timing off one tooth as a "standard practice" in the automotive world. The Gates are one tooth short of the Mitsuboshi; same length. I did have a shop install the previous one and they used a Gates. It came out of the shop broken, thankfully they didn't ruin the engine. When it came out the second time, there was a noticeable click sound that they told me was a valve that they assured me just magically broke and had nothing to do with the TB change. Based on what I ran into changing that crap out, I think they fudged the camshaft positions just enough to get it on, but not have it completely off timed.
I have pictures. I may have done a write-up on it. I might do a write-up on the differences between the two with pictures, if anyone is interested.
I have pictures. I may have done a write-up on it. I might do a write-up on the differences between the two with pictures, if anyone is interested.