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Old 04-05-2011, 11:23 PM   #11
J. Steinbeck
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 140575
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Hotlanta, GA
Vehicle:
2007 Magnum SRT-8

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unabomber View Post
support those who support your hobby.....it pays off.....it pays off.
This is absolutely true. Pay a little extra to support those who support us. I'll admit that don't always follow that philosophy, but I should. Then again, sometimes I'm working through a commercial account source that doesn't always make the vendors on here an option. For those who are picking and choosing, though, an effort should be made to keep it on the board. Customer service alone means a lot, and you'll get it from 99% of the vendors here.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Unabomber View Post
The rest of that crap is Chinese knock-offs of OEM parts that will last about 4 minutes.
Eh, any reservations on your part are understood, but just being honest, that hasn't been my experience. The pulleys may be Chinese (I can't recall what they had stamped on them), but I've seen the components out of that particular part number kit do fine through an entire change out interval in Subaru applications. I'm not absolutely sure if ordering that Gates kit part number from two different sources will net different components outside of the belt. Is OAKOS a vendor on here? If so, they catalog that same part number kit for nearly the same price... it would be worth asking:

http://www.oakos.com/Merchant2/merch...egory_Code=200

Hell, the price difference would be worth it just because someone will actually answer the damn phone and help you with specific questions.

I bring this up because of one personal observation... regardless of how much you pay for a given "kit," if you insist that it include genuine Subaru supplied parts, you are going to have check with the vendor and make sure you are getting what you pay for. As said, I just don't feel like I can tell you with certainty that the supposed Chinese pulleys in the kit in question are bad, but if you don't want to risk it and it will place your mind at ease, insist on the OEM stuff at a greater price

The shop I work for always gives the customer the option of going cheaper, but they also make any possible risks clear. Only the customer knows what he or she is really willing to do. You (the OP) will ultimately need to call around and decide for yourself what the best compromise between wallet, risk, and loyalty is, especially with something as crucial as a interference engine timing belt kit.
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