Hey guys so I'm in the market for a new timing kit and see our members here and on NASIOC etc.. were all using Gates with good success but no longer. I was almost going to buy the Gates kit but did some last second research fortunately. Timing is nothing you want to play with or cheap out on!
Be careful of kits and sellers who mention the belt is made in Japan usually the rest of the parts will be from China.
Possible contenders for kits:
If the parts are real and really from the manufacturers pictured I think this kit is a safe and best value:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MITSUBOSHI-T...-/362001946550
#1.) Gates is now made in China (mostly or possibly entirely).
Sometime in 2016 they went with Chinese parts and people have reported all kinds of issues and failures with Gates. Supposedly kits for example TCK328N are from Japan still whereas ones like TCK328 and TCK328A TCK328RB are all China made now. Personally I wouldn't trust anything Gates who knows if old or new stock is from where with them?
#2) Gates blue Kevlar racing belts are prone to skipping and stretching more so than a typical rubber belt.
There are lots of reports about these belts fraying, stretching and causing timing issues and famous people in the Subaru forums like "Unabomber" don't recommend them. Ignore/skip these "performance/racing belts". I suspect the same is likely of any other branded Kevlar racing belts and have seen similar general warnings in the past.
#3) The water pumps and tensioners,idlers,pulleys are also bad from Gates
People have reported failures shortly after install or less than 20K miles.
What is the solution for a high quality belt/timing kit?
Try to get Japan only parts
OEM Subaru but there are cheaper ways to get the same parts (eg. everyknows Subaru OEM parts are often made by Aisin, NTN/NSK, Mitsubishi, Koyo). If you buy those parts branded as the original in a kit you could save (just make sure they are real and really from Japan!)
GMB Japan is probably not safe based on this post (not sure where the parts are made it is possible they were from China):
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/...it-is-it-safe/