[ScoobyRu]

Getting ready to do my timing belt. I've narrowed it down to two contenders:

Contender A: eBay kit, $323 shipped. Includes everything "OEM". I don't think the pump is OEM. It's a NPW, which from what I read is still a good pump.

Subaru Outback Timing Belt Water Pump Kit 2006 09 2 5L | eBay


Contender B: The tried and true subarupartsforyou kit. $439 shipped using free shipping coupon 13346. Includes everything plus the little rubber hose that comes off the water pump.
http://www.subarupartsforyou.com/cp_partdetail.php?partid=21390



I'm also going to do the valve covers and adjustment while I'm in there.


So obviously I should try to go OE on something as important as the timing belt. But I also don't want to pay $100+ if the only quality difference is a few Subaru cardboard boxes.

 

[ChromeDomeAl]

I just did mine last weekend and found the Gates kit to be extremely thorough:

Gates TCKWP307 Engine Timing Belt Kit with Water Pump : Amazon.com : Automotive

Not sure if that's the right kit or not - do your due diligence and check. But I think you can save a lot of money by going with this kit. Some of the parts, or maybe all, are JDM, so it's a quality kit.

I just posted a new thread this last week on a few tips for doing the timing belt on the DOHC models. I think yours is SOHC, but check out the thread and see if it provides some insight to the job before you tear into it.

 

[mrk610]

Make sure you have the one that matches ur VIN #
http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/109-gen-3-2005-2009/52640-timing-belt-kits.html

 

[tdelker]

The gates kit I had had the exact same idlers and markings on all the parts as what I took off, except for the belt itself. I didn't notice the water pump.

 

[mrk610]

ChromedomeAl

Did you replace all the seals when you did the timing belt too.
If your did were the also from gates

 

[ScoobyRu]

Thanks guys for the input. You mentioned that the Gates kit had the same markings. Were all the bearing sizes the same? I've seen pictures online comparing stock idle rollers to an aftermarket roller, and the stock bearing has a much larger surface area. It didn't mention what brand the aftermarket roller was.

 

[pjk79]

I have not done mine, however when I do I will be using the OEM kit. Besides you will save money on labor doing it yourself.

 

[ScoobyRu]

So here is the direction I took. I decided to use the Gates Timing Belt kit sans water pump from Rock Auto. I also added the crank seal, camshaft seals, thermostat+seal, valve cover gaskets, and the 2 drive belts A la carte.

This allowed me to throw in the OE Subaru water pump+seal for only $50 more than the Gates pump from subarupartsforyou, as well as a PCV valve.

Total? $318. Less than the eBay kit and still using the high quality pump. Not to mention I also got the valve cover gaskets and a PCV too.

Here's the break down:


========== GENERAL INFORMATION ==========
Company: SubaruPartsForYou
Order date: 2/20/2013

========== ORDER INFORMATION ==========

Product Name: PCV VALE FOR ALL 2002-2007 LEGACY OUTBACK 2.5 (NON
H6) (NON TURBO)
Item#: 11810AA040
Unit Price: $13.00
Quantity: 1
Shipping Method: FedEx Home Delivery

Product Name: WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY & GASKET FOR 2006-2009 LEGACY
OUTBACK 2.5 (NON-TURBOS) (items 21&22)
Item#: 21111AA280 & 21114AA051
Unit Price: $99.00
Quantity: 1
Shipping Method: FedEx Home Delivery

Coupon: 13346
Grand Total: $112.00


-------------------------------------------------------------------

2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5L H4 SOHC
FEL-PRO VS50561RValve Cover Gasket$ 19.23$ 0.001$ 19.23

FEL-PRO TCS46008Camshaft Seal$ 5.40$ 0.001$ 5.40

GATES TCK307Timing Belt Component Kit$ 143.79$ 0.001$ 143.79

GATES 34012Thermostat$ 9.69$ 0.001$ 9.69

GOODYEAR 4040332Belt$ 9.29$ 0.001$ 9.29

GOODYEAR 4050345Belt$ 10.05$ 0.001$ 10.05

TIMKEN 710236Crankshaft Seal$ 4.44$ 0.001$ 4.44

Discount $ -10.09

ShippingFirst Class Mail, Ground$ 14.41

Order Total $ 206.21​

 

[ChromeDomeAl]

mrk610 - The kit was complete. The only thing I had to get separately was the seal for the oil pump I bought. I upgraded to the Sti oil pump from Rockauto.com. Luckily I had a buddy with an extra seal. Otherwise, I bought the Gates kit with a water pump and it was all there - even some extra mounting bolts.

 

[frankie]

1.Any worries about using the supplied water pump from the Gates kit? It isn't stamped "Made in Japan"?? Although the impeller is all metal..I am worried that it's Chinese....Any experience with the Gates WP?

2. The Gates water pump gasket is cardboard...should I use an OEM Subaru gasket?

 

[rasterman]

You want an OEM pump from Subaru.

 

[tdelker]

Although there are plenty of people installing the gates WP. Most say use the OEM gasket, but I went with the cardboard one as well as the gates supplied WP.

To be honest, I wouldn't have changed the WP given how much difficulty it gave me (torn a pinhole in the bypass hose getting it off. Installing was a pain.) Most say it will last until the next timing belt, if you still have the car.

 

[frankie]

Thanks for the replies.... Another question:

Has anyone who has installed the Gates WP had problems with it? I think leaks around the gasket are caused by either improper installation or a poor gasket.

 

[Altadude]

I put in a gates a couple of months ago and it hasn't leaked a drop. I think all the problems are caused by the installer.

 

[tdelker]

I refuse to say since I am a superstitious type