Autozone offers timing belt kits (Belt plus idler pulleys and tensioner pulley) from either "Duralast" or "Gatorback". The counterman said the Gatorback is a Goodyear product. I presume that would refer to the belt only, which makes no matter to me since I already have a new belt directly from Subaru. Does anyone have any experience with either of these pulley sets? The Duralast is more expensive.

 

Mike V.

I don't have any personal experience with the Gatorback parts, but a Google search on ''gatorback timing belt'' turns up some comments about their belts which aren't too encouraging. Perhaps the idlers and tensioner are decent, but...

Gatorback = Duralast Pretty much...

 

 

One Think I have learned as an Employee of A 3000+ store chain...Things get renumbered... like my water pumps were a1 Cardone... now they are some other brand....

 

My gatorback timing belts are Now gates...

 

 

my .02 says buy the Duralast, We know Autozone isn't going anywhere.. so we know your warranty will be around..

if goodyear timing belts wear as poorly as GoodYear tires do, better get something else at all cost. I have never seen a good GoodYear tire.

My gatorback timing belts are Now gates...

Possibly because the Gates ones seem to have a reasonable reputation.

Good year makes Excellent belts... I have yet to have one fail on me, I have seen several gates belts fail...

 

My Company is merging with another company so that is the reason we are changing..

Good year makes Excellent belts... I have yet to have one fail on me, I have seen several gates belts fail...

It seems this falls into the ''your mileage may vary'' category.

When my dog saw a Goodyear blimp, she was so scared, she wanted to run for her life.

I think OB99W's comment pretty much sums it up... But, like I said, I am not interested in the belt, only the pulleys/idlers. Regardless, as it turns out, I have some unexpected high expenses to deal with so I am going to roll the dice and leave the idlers/pulleys alone (unless of couse any are detectably faulty). I plan to only change the belt, water pump, thermostat and crank and cam seals. I have the O-ring for the oil pump too but if I do not see any leakage, I doubt I will remove it.

 

Hope I don't strip any aluminum threads...

 

Mike V.

I have a set of idlers removed at 80K, you can have them for the cost of shipping (if I can find them).

avk,

 

That is very kind of you to offer. Thanks! But at this point I don't think I have time to wait. I still have not gotten to the job and I plan to drive up to Maine this weeekend (about a 1,000 mile round trip) and I want to change the belt before I leave.

 

On the other hand, if you want to get those parts out of your shop, let me know. I would not mind having them around for possible future use. Are they the original parts that were removed from a car with only 80,000 miles on it?

 

Thanks again!

 

Mike V.

The parts are original. They do not feel as tight as brand new ones, but have less miles than yours.

I mentioned it just in case, because you are not buying new.

So if you want them, let me know.