Authenticity of eBay timing belt kits
 

I'm looking to buy an OEM timing belt kit from one of the sellers on eBay. It seems there are a few sellers with a decent amount of reviews that claim to use all OEM parts.

A guy recently told me to watch out for sellers that put cheap aftermarket parts in OEM boxes. So my question is - is there any way to confirm the authenticity of the parts in these timing belt kits. Are there any sellers you recommend?

Thanks!

A lot of people recommend this one from aircabinman.

I ordered it and it will be delivered TODAY.

Toyota 3.4L/V6 Complete Timing Belt & Water Pump Kit | eBay

I've been liking the looks of this one because it claims to have toyota belts and seals. I'm not sure how important that is or if there's any way to confirm authenticity of pump, pulleys etc

NEW GENUINE TOYOTA 3.4 V6 5VZFE WATER PUMP TIMING BELT KIT 17 PCS 4RUNNER TACOMA | eBay

I bought one from AirCabinman on Ebay also last Summer on recommendations from this forum. Parts look legit. I have over 50K miles on the kit now, no issues.

AirCabinman is the one. Installed last summer as well. No issues whatsoever.

I like this one myself: For Toyota 3.4L V6 Engine Water Pump &Timing Belt Kit Tacoma Tundra 4Runner T100 | eBay

However the only two things I would look out for is that the idler bearing is NSK; other idlers such as the Koyo have been smaller in width than the belt. Also try and at least make sure the WP is Aisin; someone years ago used a GMB that failed them almost right out the gate, not saying all aftermarket ones are bad right out of the box.

Here it came in today.

Keep in mind Brando and Mitsubishi make belts for Toyota and Lexus.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...52c1b57dd1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bcd11a00e7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b3183ea02a.jpg


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Ohhh and just to be clear in regards to the comment above mine, that Koyo and NSK bearings are identical widths to the MM. I checked them.


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Can you see any Toyota part numbers molded/cast into any of the parts?

I'm ready to buy a t-belt kit, and from the feedback here in our forum I was looking at the aircabinman kit. I was talking with my Toyota parts guy yesterday, even with the discount he gives me the parts from Toyota was over $700. When I told my guy about the ebay kit he told me to verify that every part has a Toyota P/N on it, otherwise they're just chinese knock offs.

Did you look at the pictures? Yes they are same as OEM. Toyota doesn’t manufacture the parts themselves, they use mitsuboshi for their timing belts and Bando for their drive belts and Aisin for their water pumps and koyo for their seals and pulleys.

I have a transfer case output shaft seal in the Toyota packaging FROM THE DEALER and it has KOYO embossed in it.

Let me correct above^
When toyota get their parts, they have specifications and the manufactures has to meet those specifications (part is labelled as TOYOTA or toyoda). The manufacturers can also make those and those are NOT 100% toyota standards (sold as Aisin/denso). AISIN and DENSO are owned by TOYOTA and many other manufacturers use AISIN and DENSO products in their cars (even BMW!).

Toyota OEM oil seals are made by NOK, you should see NOK embossed on to the lip or side oil seal. If I remember right, OEM drive belts are also Mitsuboshi.

Here is an example: I installed OEM toyota wheel bearing into a hilux axle and after the installation I could spin the dust shield smoothly. Another person installed a branded JAPANESE Wheel bearing (NSK, KOYO or NACHI: Not sure, but confirmed it was Japanese) on to his trucks axle. After his installation, the dust shield spun bit tightly.

I used Bando drive belts on my corolla and I have to adjust it after 300-400 miles, but recently used a mitsuboshi drive belt and even after 1100 mile road trip it didn't stretch a bit!

I have an OEM seal in front of me it’s a koyo. Just an FYI. Not purchased from eBay, straight from toyota.

Also not trying to be rude, but if you have to adjust drive belts that often, you obviously have other issues or did nott use proper tension Initially.

So an OE seal doesn't have the Toyota p/n embossed on it? I have no idea, that's why I'm asking. From all of the feedback on the different t-belt kits to use, aircabinman definitely gets the best feedback. I'm just trying to be sure that they're legit parts ( either 100% OE or a darn good aftermarket version).

When the dealership is selling me parts at wholesale cost and that price is more than twice of what this ebay kit is, the skeptic in me has to wonder 'how' can the ebay seller can offer the same parts at a deep discount.

Just because it's the same OEM does not mean it was made to the exact specs as Toyota's parts.

And I'd bet (but not much), that there is very small differences between Toyota parts and Asin parts for the exact same parts that look identical on the naked eye.


Eddie

Let’s stick to what we actually know.

We could speculate all day long, but would love to see some actual evidence of this. It’s a little odd to think the same manufacturer creates 2 of the same seals to different standards in the manufacturing process.

Granted speculation probably has the poor guy who posted even more paranoid so he will spend 3 times the money lol.