Timing Belt Kit Questions

[sonjason]

Need some help from the experts here... I notice a lot of these "kits" on eBay and Amazon have like 14 parts in them. Example here:

4Runner 5VZFE V6 3.4L Complete Timing Belt Kit - eBay (item 310256967690 end time Mar-29-11 22:10:03 PDT)

I have seen several posts on here stating this is a good kit, but are all these parts really necessary? My plan was to do the timing belt, water pump, and drive belts and call it good. Are there any of these others in this kit I should also be concerned about changing too?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[Spish]

Thats the one I got, works like a champ. All the parts are not nessasary, but if you get into it and find something else bad, you will have the part. Also, while you are in that deep, you might as well change all these parts.

 

[rajuncajun]

I used the same kind of kit. Just double check all the parts and make sure they are all the same part as you would get with "genuine" Toyota parts. It's quite a bit cheaper. Honestly you will need most of those parts if you are overdue on your mileage. I used a good 80-90% of the parts when I did my belt.

The rest of the parts are good to have.

 

[rjaudi]

I used every part in that, but the crankshaft and camshaft seals. They were not leaking so I didn't replace them. I had to do my timing belt because one of those idler bearings went bad. So definitely replace those.

 

[fenrisx]

Toyota 4Runner V6 Timing Belt & Water Pump Kit 3.4L - eBay (item 190488321298 end time Mar-09-11 07:01:19 PST) this kit is 100% OEM if you care, otherwise save the $33. I know there was one kit that looked all OEM, but there were a few parts that weren't (part #'s were correct, just not the brand of part).

I just had all my stuff changed out a few days ago.. and it was definitely worth it. The engine is quieter now.. due to the new rollers/tensioners I'm guessing.

How many miles are on your truck? If you've got a lower mileage truck, and this is your first timing belt job then I'd bet you'd be fine skipping out on everything other than the belts themselves, and water pump.

 

[WK15]

I used the same kit that is in FENRISX’s post yesterday on my 4Runner. I started at 8:00 am and finished at 3:30 pm in the afternoon. I used all parts except the three seals as RJAUDI states in his post. There were no leaks noted, so no seals used. I removed the A/C unit and mounting bracket to gain access to the Hydraulic Tensioner. I didn’t have to disconnect any of the PS and or A/C lines to gain access to the Hydraulic Tensioner. I used zip ties to hold those accessories out of the way. Zip ties are wonderful.


To me it was very easy and straight forward procedure. I just took my time and was not in a hurry to do anything. This forum provided a lot of very useful information on how to do the job.

 

[sonjason]

How many miles are on your truck? If you've got a lower mileage truck, and this is your first timing belt job then I'd bet you'd be fine skipping out on everything other than the belts themselves, and water pump.

I've got 118K right now, and don't believe the timing belt has ever been changed. I just want to make sure I don't skimp as I plan to drive this truck for 100K - 150K more miles.

In comparing the $288.88 vs the $250 kit, I couldn't see much difference other than price. The water pumps are both Aisin, the timing belts are Mitsoboshi, tensioners are both Toyota, rollers are both Koyo, and drive belts are both Bando.

The way I see it, I can buy the $250 kit and put that other $40 toward a new Koyo radiator too.

Now if I could only figure out how to avoid the $320 in labor I have to pay the mechanic for the timing belt and radiator replacement work. :whipping2

 

[2runnersnyynyg]

I started at 8:00 am and finished at 3:30 pm in the afternoon.
per this statement $320 is cheap the dealer labor is at about 6hrs at roughly $105? its the extra $300 ? your call.
if the mechanic is also changing the radiator its a steal at $320

 

[sonjason]

yes, the mechanic quoted 6 hours for the timing belt kit and 2 hours for the radiator, @ $40 per hour. Not a dealer, but a trusted local mechanic. With parts added, I should be out around $700 bones with a new timing kit and radiator professionally installed. I guess it could be worse!

 

[fenrisx]

I would think you'd be fine just doing belts. Save the tensioners, rollers, and seals for the next time you're due for the timing belt.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

IMO opinion it's false economy to skimp on things like the idler pulleys or water pump when doing the timing belt.

All of the labor (and yes, it's a tedious task) to get at the timing belt also would need to be done to do the water pump, an idler pulley,etc...

Wouldn't you hate to go through all the work of doing the timing belt only to have the water pump go out a month later? Doesn't make sense.

I say replace everything up there including the water pump (tensioner does NOT need to be replaced unless is fails the TSB test).

Now I usually take things a step further - I replaced the alternator when I did mine because I did NOT want to have to go back in there for another 100K miles.

And oh yeah, there are two small coolant hoses on the oil cooler that you most likely will not find at an auto parts store. These hoses set real close to the exhaust manifold and lead a hard life - I am surprised we don't hear of more failures of them because I think a lot of guys don't replace them (or even know about them). They cost about $20 at Toyota and are worth replacing while your hands are bloody IMO.

 

[rjaudi]

With these all in one kits at a very reasonable price it is a no brainer to replace the tensioner and idlers. My case is a good example. My dad had the timing belt done at 60k and 120k. AT 160k the idler had started making noise. I had to rip everything back out and buy all new parts prematurely to redo the job.

 

[Elton H]

ya i was way over due for a t belt job and my water pump had failed at 188k glad i was only a few blocks from home and not in the middle of no where

 

[2runnersnyynyg]

buy the whole kit and use it all. their is a reason they sell these parts as a package. because you need to take care of them! my tensioner pulley broke while performing the trucks 2nd t-belt! happened on a saturday and the dealer i work atdid not have it in stock(we stock it now)had to wait untill tuesday to finish.
you have the kit and a trusted local professional doing the install,it wont cost you anymore to do it now,it will cost you more if one of the parts you dont install fails in a the next 5 years(roughly depending on miles when you should do this again) just do it and sleep like a baby.
like a good carpenter,measure twice cut once. do it once not twice, its your $$$$$$$$

 

[sonjason]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm just going to ask him to use all the parts in the $250 kit, and rest easy for a while.