Timing Belt / Water Pump replacement. Quality??

[Lufusol]

'05 Legacy OB 2.5i (2.5L) at 95k miles


Hi guys, I want to do the timing belt/water pump a little early. I like to go high quality so I don't have to do it again, does the parts source really matter?

I have found a couple OEM-replacement kits around $200-240 for the timing belt. The water pump is all over the place, from $35+ shipping on ebay to $70 and up.

No engine mods, but I do drive it hard, I do hit the red line frequently. I don't want to have to do this again for a long time and I want to make sure the quality of the belt, tensioners and pump will hold up.

I did some searches but nothing specific turned up. Does anyone recommend a higher-than-OEM quality timing kit (or water pump)?

[Sir Punk]

a belt is a belt. and you will have to do it again around 200k.

[SubyMass]

also interested i this

[Back Road Runner]

I would just suggest buying oem.

Ditto on these replacements not increasing the change interval. You'll still do it again at 200k. The only thing you want to avoid is something failing before 200k. Oem will be the safer route.

[Lufusol]

Originally Posted by Back Road Runner

The only thing you want to avoid is something failing before 200k.

That's exactly what I was concerned about ... thanks for clarifying that for me I fully expect to do it again at 200k... and hopefully not much sooner!

Thanks guys!

P.S. - if you know any suppliers to AVOID, that would be helpful to know. I know that sometimes not all "oem replacements" are made equal (i.e. Carquest brake rotors, yuk!)

[98tredsvt]

I was having this debate myself a few days ago, mainly with the water pump. Because you can get a reman. water pump from napa for like $40 (for my wrx atleast, I assume the same for yours) and its tempting, but I just went OEM for about $110

[yarrgh]

why are you replacing the water pump? I've heard many-a-time that people replace them "as long as they're in there", but how many failures have been reported? Maybe there are so few failures because everybody replaces them so often.

But I digress, OEM is your best bet for quality.

[reddevil]

IF, big IF, you can confirm the EBAY waterpump is new, then I would go with the EBAY waterpump and timing belt combo often offered.

I have purchased about 3-4 timing belt EBAY kits that come with new idlers and bearings/what not. EVERYTIME the bearings are "made in Germany" I don't even need the timing belt, I just want the idlers!

[dstan]

our cars do not require alot of Maintenance, so when you do spend get the good stuff. OEM and do replace the water pump and seals.

[Back Road Runner]

I don't know about water pumps but remanufacturered power steering pumps are largely junk. Many of these rebuilts are of very poor quality control.

[Jerry Xu]

Changed out the OEM blet at 115K the belt looked like new. Seriously, no sign of cracking or anything. I think they last much longer than that.
Changed out the OEM water pump. I wanted to cry because it was absolutely not necessary. The thing was beautifully made, no play in the bearing at all. Oh well, once the gasket was broken, I had to put a new one in. But it was a waste of $ and time. The tightening bolts, however, were rusted. I changed them to ss.

[5UBE]

I ordered all the parts for my timing belt change from Chaplin's Subaru (one of our sponsors). The water pump was $73.16 and I paid it gladly for a part that I KNEW would be both NEW and a genuine Subaru part.

If any of you have ever experienced a water pump failure (seizure) after doing a timing belt swap, you'll know why it's important to change both. It's never happened to me (because I always change both, no matter what kind of car, if the timing belt drives the water pump), but I've seen it happen a couple of times. It's just not worth taking the chance... if you've got the thing apart, do it... it's just like paying your insurance premium... you MAY not need it, but do you want to take the chance?

[ej_trbo_si_eater]

i just did the timing belt in my 95 legacy it came as a kit it was a gates belt wit all the rollers an the auto tensioner for 191 bucks

[Jerry Xu]

The ebay water pump is brand new.

[lumpy]

B.S. and a bit of a warning on the water pump question.

There are many posts on this board and others that will tell you that you don't need to change the water pump with every timing belt change. I believed the misinformation and thought that I could do it with every other timing belt (essentially every 200k) like people were saying.

Well, yesterday my water pump on my 2001 Forester went at 126k. I just replaced the timing belt at 105k and now a part that would have cost me $70 to prevent this, is now going to cost me way more to fix.

CN: Don't be cheap. Replace the water pump with every timing belt change. Ask me how I know.

lump

[jedz123]

Lump
Sorry to hear about your pump faliure... But I never replaced mine and a few of my cars reach the 1/4 million mark no problems... I've owned 7 Subarus before my legacy outback and never had an issue with the H2O pump on any of them...motors were: EA82, EJ18, (3)EJ22, EJ22T and an EG33. But never had an EJ25 till recently... May replace it now though, currently the motor is torn apart for valve repair...

[lumpy]

Fortunately the car never came close to overheating. I'm just glad that I have a temp gauge and that I keep my eye on things.

I would absolutely do it while the engine is torn apart. Relatively cheap part, but it is obviously labor intensive to install. Shoulda, woulda, coulda...

[JG12gauge]

Its getting time to replace the one on my dune buggy

[Lufusol]

Originally Posted by Jerry Xu

Changed out the OEM blet at 115K the belt looked like new. Seriously, no sign of cracking or anything.

I have been hearing a bit of a squeal for a while. I'm in for an oil change and inspection sticker this weekend, I show up and the mechanic has the hood open and the engine running. A couple old accessory belts on the floor and new ones under the hood... I am a few thousand miles under 100k and he picks up the AC compressor and alternator belts, shows me the grooves were cracked, pieces missing, the belts felt *crunchy*.

I am really glad he caught this and went ahead and replaced them because they were about to snap! But I still haven't done the timing belt and I'm seriously worried if the accessory belts were that horrible! Definitely going to do it before 100k, and thanks everyone for the responses, I'll probably get the ebay timing kit but a genuine subaru H2O pump.

Edit: P.S. no more squeal