j894

1999 Accord LX- Coupe
2.3l F23a1
5sp

Couldn't find info specifically about my question in a search but, Im' looking to do the timing/balancer belts, water pump, tensioner springs, and tensioners soon.

I normally would use Honda parts for doing everything but I was actually looking at the component kits rockauto.com has, which have DAYCO (p/n WP244K1A), GATES (p/n: TCKWP244) or Goodyear (pn/ GTKWP244) timing/balancer belt & tensioners plus water pump for around $90. The same OEM parts from Honda are around $250.

Has anyone had a good experience with any of these kits? Do they last and compare in quality to the OEM Honda parts and take abuse? Most of the time I cruise around and drive normally but I like to beat my cars once in a while.

I was reading the OEM Belts are made by GATES, and the balancer belt is even listed as "GATES" brand on the Honda parts lists. Obvisouly the waterpump and other hardware are made else where.

So to make a long story short, is it worth it to get all Honda parts ($250), OR get the cheaper compnent kits: Dayco,Gates/Goodyear and just replace them at a shorter interval for about 1/3 the cost???

I normally don't mind paying extra for quality OEM parts but we're talking a big price difference here.

Any brand recommendations?

Any input from those who have experience with these brands would be greatly appreciated.

MAD_MIKE

Gates kit is OEM which includes GMB idler/tensioner pulleys. Save your coin and keep the Honda reliability.

2.0Si

I had the exact same question in the main timing belt thread and coincidentally I also have the same vehicle/engine. I still haven't spec'ed out the parts yet but I'm strongly leaning towards the quality aftermarket parts. I just can't justify the exorbitant markup on OEM Honda parts in my mind.

djkurious

Gates (Unitta) makes the belts for Honda. Go with the Gates kit.
I believe there is a coupon code floating around somewhere.

Evs-One

Gates belts are OEM, but everything else in the kit is garbage.

Aisin kits are your best option, as Aisin makes the OEM pumps for all V6 Hondas and all Toyotas, and they make top notch replacement pumps for all other engines. Their t belt/pump kits include Mitsuboshi(Honda OE supplier) belts, Koyo(OE supplier) tensioner and idler pulleys, and the Aisin pump.

These are much cheaper than OEM Honda and the same parts.

I sell them to my customers for this engine for around 180

Arthas

Everything else Id use any brand, but for timing belt, OEM only.

djkurious

I purchased the kit from Gates with the tensioners and belts.
Belts were gates and tensioners were Nippon Seiko (a.k.a. NSK).
When did Nippon start making garbage?

Evs-One

Most of the Gates kits I have seen come with GMB bearings, which yes, are garbage.

NSK is legit, although Koyo is the OE supplier.

Remember to replace cam/balancer/crank seals and oil pump gasket if sign of leakage.

j894

Interesting. How long ago did you buy the parts?

I was looking at the Honda OEM part list and its lists Nippon Seiko as the brand of the OEM balancer & timing belt tensioner: http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...+-+TIMING+BELT (part# 7 & 14)

Do different suppliers make the OEM stuff for different year models? Are you saying Koyo make the bearings for NSK & Honda? It shows NSK as the brand for the OEM Honda parts in the link above, I'm just trying to clarify.

Also, Have you seen either of these kit have failures?

Sorry about all the questions, I don't know anything about the part suppliers for Hondas.

djkurious

It was last fall when I purchased the kit.

Evs-One

NSK makes a lot of the OE stuff, but mainly wheel bearings(Koyo does also). Koyo is the major supplier for all engine idler bearings- even the new V6 engines have all Koyo idler and tensioners for the timing belt. The hydraulic tensioner is Aisin.

I would stay away with GMB pulleys. NSK or Koyo are great. Gates, Goodyear and Mitsuboshi are great aftermarket belts. Seals, stick with Honda or ARS/NOK, depends on which seal.

j894

Ahh, I hate this part juggling, re-branding crap.

So go with the AISIN kit? It comes with the tensioner springs anyway which the others do not, by the time I would order that from another site or dealer it would be $15-20 more with shipping anyway. Isn't misuboshi also an OEM belt supplier in some cases?

MAD_MIKE

I've never had a problem with any GMB bearings, tensioners, or water pumps.

19Accord97

I used the Dayco kit for mine. (5th gen Accord though)

2.0Si

Thanks for the interesting and informative discussion. I'm still in the parts selection/procurement process so it's good information to have. While I'm certain there's a fair amount of variability in parts quality, I must say I'm kinda leery of blanket categorical statements that Brand X is total garbage/POS. All things considered, at a similar price point I would want to choose the brand that statistically has the higher probability of being better, but there are numerous other factors to consider including price, availability, etc.

djkurious

Interesting read: https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...ce+shaft+belts

2.0Si

Thanks for the excellent link. I found the posts by Targa250R extremely informative and detailed. He obviously knows what he's talking about.