Just bought an 08 OBW with 99K miles. Which timing belt kit should I buy, that would include water pump, seals, tensoners, etc. Don't want any Chinese produced junk in the kit.

I recommend six star bernie on ebay.  All koyo ntn nsk rollers, subaru boxed tensioner and you can buy it with a subi belt or a Mitsubishi belt    Pr  apx $220-260 delivered.    EDIT) seals and wate rpump extra

Edited February 2, 20188 yr by montana tom

If you plan to replace the water pump as well. Get an Asian kit. All oem (or Japanese) pulleys, belt and pump.

Last time I got one it was around 260 off Amazon.

Aisin kit for these

If you plan to replace the water pump as well. Get an Asian kit. All oem (or Japanese) pulleys, belt and pump.

Last time I got one it was around 260 off Amazon.

Checked Amazon, saw 2 Asian kits available, but both said not for an 08 model. Saw a bunch of Gates kits listed, but read some time ago, that they went cheap with a bunch of Chinese made parts in their kits. Thanks, but no thanks on any Chinese parts for something as critical as timing belt components.

"Aisin TKF-007 Engine Timing Belt Kit with New Water Pump"

 

https://www.amazon.com/Aisin-TKF-007-Engine-Timing-Water/dp/B00HFKEL2Q/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Subaru%7C13&Model=Outback%7C66&Year=2008%7C2008&ie=UTF8&n=15684181&newVehicle=1&s=automotive&vehicleId=4&vehicleType=automotive

 

Added a 08 Outback to my garage (Base model 2.5) and it says its compatible. 

Gates kits changed somewhere around two years ago. I spoke with a gates rep at the trade show in Vegas (same time as sema) in 2016 and he said they had started to offer the Japanese made kit again, just add an 'n' at the end of the kit number. Their water pumps always have been and still are Chinese garbage.

I recommend six star bernie on ebay.  All koyo ntn nsk rollers, subaru boxed tensioner and you can buy it with a subi belt or a Mitsubishi belt    Pr  apx $220-260 delivered.    EDIT) seals and wate rpump extra

 

you mean MitsuBOSHI belt.  different company.  They are great belts and supply many of the OE belts to Subaru.

 

mitsubishi does not make belts.

You don't need seals - they are factory Viton. DO NOT TOUCH them. They will never leak. 

 

If you want a kit - Aisin is ok. Otherwise just buy the individual pieces. Koyo, NTN, NSK, Aisin, Mitsuboshi. 

 

GD

Edited February 3, 20188 yr by GeneralDisorder

You don't need seals - they are factory Viton. DO NOT TOUCH them. They will never leak. 

 

If you want a kit - Aisin is ok. Otherwise just buy the individual pieces. Koyo, NTN, NSK, Aisin, Mitsuboshi. 

 

GD

Thanks for all the great advise, especially to know that don't need new seals like my 99 OBW needed. Factory Viton.......great!