S.2 Cam and balance shaft belts.....

[wolfie308]

What do most people tend to use these days - Porsche branded belts or other? Talking to my Indie, apparently the 2 Porsche belts are now circa £200 [] but equivalents being around half that.

Perhaps should also post in 'parts prices' thread.

 

[zcacogp]

Mine are pretty much due to be done this summer.

My indie (who did them last time) was happy to use Continental belts, but refused to use anything other than Porsche-supplied tensioners. He flatly refused to do the work unless those parts were used. I viewed it as an un-necessary expense, but needed the work done and hence paid the extra £120 or so that a Porsche-branded box cost. Yes, that was the Porsche-branded cardboard box that was in the bin within 30 seconds of the work being started ...

I'd happily use belts and tensioners from any good, reputable manufacturer.


Oli.

 

[sulzeruk]

INA are OEM rollers and tensioners, about £120 for the 5 I think for an S2 or Turbo. Oli, that was a very expensive set of boxes.
Alasdair

 

[wolfie308]

I'm certainly not looking to have the rollers and tensioners done as well since these were all done at the last belt change together with the water pump 25k miles ago.

Think I'll go for the non Porsche labelled since I'm having the chain and pads done at the same time, so it still ain't going to be cheap []

What would be considered a reasonable time for an Indie to do both belts?

 

[zcacogp]

Wolfie,

I follow your logic on the tensioners, but most people seem to do them all at the same time as the belts. I don't know the reasoning behind it (and it could just be profiteering by the garages) but make sure you go into it with your eyes open. A seized tensioner would have the same effect as a broken belt within a minute or two.

ORIGINAL: sulzeruk
Oli, that was a very expensive set of boxes.

I know. [] ETA: I wouldn't do it again. I was young. And naive. And better-off than I am now ...


Oli.

 

[ChasR]

Both of my local specialists use Dayco timing belts and INA tensioners (as said, both are OE manufactueres). One of them was not keen on ContiTech belts thinking that they were more prone to stretching compared to the Dayco items. I know ContiTech belts are met with mixed responses on Rennlist although the climate is quite different over there.

If it helps, INA tensioners can come in different packaging. When I got my tensioners, 3 of them came in green INA boxes, with one of them coming in a Ruville box (it turned out to be an INA tensioner) and the 5th idler on the timing belt was in a Febi Bilstein items (again, an INA tensioner, same as what came off the old engine down to the part number (all part numbers matched on both engines and the new tensioners).

If it helps, you can get the Dayco belts via PCT and GSF.

 

[wolfie308]

Sounds like it'll be the Dayco belts then for me.

Oli....AFAIK rollers, idlers, tensioners aren't recommended every belt change, but I'd stand to be corrected.

25k miles/4 years for the belts fair enough, but all the other bits as well?..... I don't think so. Other opinions welcomed []

 

[ChasR]

One of the specialists I was referring to also said he hasn't seen a belt failure that often, but he has seen tensioner failures hence to change the tensioners every time. Although the other one said just to change them when they get noisy/don't seem right at the belt change.

Whilst it is 25k miles, it is the years that they have been on the car which will also have an effect.