Hello, just found your site in the nick of time. I've searched alot and not found an answer to this question:

 

I am all geared up to replace the timing belt and water pump on my 159,000 mile 99 Outback with dual cams. I've read Haynes and endwrench, but still am unsure of how to keep the camshafts from moving when I remove the pulley bolts. Could someone instruct me on this? (Yes, I'm too cheap to buy the Subaru tool to do it.)

 

Thanks in advance.

Are you talking about the cam pulleys? If so, is it necessary to remove them to do just a TB? If you are also doing head gaskets then the way to hold the cams is to take the valve covers off and put a 1" or 25mm open-end wrench on the flats of the cams.

 

Tom

Duh. Of course. You probably want to replace the cam seals. The choices that I'm aware of are to take the valve covers off and use a wrench or, as somebody suggested in one of the many threads on this, try a strap wrench on the sprockets. The valve cover gaskets run about $50, and getting to some of the bolts is a pain (I'd suggest a 10mm ratcheting wrench). There is always the danger of breaking a sprocket using a wrench.

I used an inexpensive craftsman rubber strap wrench to hold the pulley tight as I loosened the camshaft sprocket bolt.

 

 

It worked just fine.

 

 

MattD

i ususlly loosen or tighten the bolts while the belt is still installed. if tis a broken belt i will install it to loosen the bolts(ea82's)