Each conscientious car owner closely monitors his iron horse, fulfills the standards for replacing components and consumables. One of these auto maintenance procedures is replacing the timing belt (timing belt). The reliability of the machine depends on its quality; stability of the engine, which can “fly” from breaking an old or low-quality belt; safety of the driver and passengers.
In today's review, we will present the best timing belts in 2020 from trusted manufacturers for various car brands and models. The rating is based on the pricing policy of manufacturers, reviews of service technicians and the opinions of real car owners.
Purchase rules
As with the purchase of any auto parts, before buying a timing belt, you should carefully study the comparative characteristics of several models compatible with your car, analyze reviews and compare the cost of parts from different manufacturers and at various points of sale.
To choose the best timing belt for yourself, it is worth remembering the basic significant rules for testing before buying:
- confirmation of product quality. An appropriate quality certificate and an original hologram on the packaging of a car part will help to reduce the risk of buying a counterfeit product (some place a sticker on the belt itself, but such cases are less common). Make sure that there is a hologram on the box without signs of re-sticking, and then make sure that there is a certificate for the goods - every conscientious seller must present it upon first request;
- lack of visible marriage. Each belt you consider as a potential purchase should be carefully inspected for any manufacturing defects and mechanical defects that may have been caused during transportation. Any nicks, cracks, tears, cuts, traces of use should be a signal to refuse to buy this copy, since they significantly reduce the reliability and service life;
- digital belt differential. The production technology of this spare part is such that an impressive size blank is cut into copies, which is marked with a digital differential. This is the accepted norm for time-tested brands. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the numbers. If all possible values are repeated on one belt, most likely there is not an original part in front of you;
- cost of production. No matter how much you would like to reduce the budget for car maintenance, the apparent cheapness of the belt should be alarming. Before you may appear as a product of a "dark horse" and a replica of a well-known brand. Therefore, always compare prices from several sellers, including large brand distributors, and look for values close to the arithmetic mean;
- brand. No brand gives an absolute guarantee for each sample - the share of defects is present in all industries, and in the modern world they are extremely skillful in counterfeiting products.However, a product from a stable manufacturer that has long conquered its market segment, purchased at a branded point of sale, is more likely to serve you faithfully far beyond the manufacturer's warranty obligations.
Which timing belt is better to choose
With a modern assortment of various types of products, it is almost impossible to draw up an unambiguous overall rating - the pricing policy of auto parts brands is as extensive as the configuration of the cars themselves, so we will describe which timing belts are better in two major nominations: among relatively budget models and premium class.
Economy class
Consider the five timing belts from different manufacturers with their advantages and disadvantages.
Manufacturer: BMRT (RF, Balakovo)
Description:
The only Russian manufacturer that is able not only to compete with foreign ones, but also to lead the rating of timing belts in the middle and low price category. The plant produces exclusively rubber products. The secret of his success lies in his narrow specialization.
The wear resistance of the belt allows it to be used slightly longer than the guaranteed mileage. In the assortment, you can find parts for the goods of the domestic auto industry - timing belts Priora, Grants, Kalina, and popular foreign brands collected, including in Russia: Renault and Nissan. Balakovo products cover most of the economy car segment.
Pros:
- product range;
- quality confirmed by European standards;
- affordable price;
- positive feedback from specialists.
Minuses: not identified in this segment.
Manufacturer: BOSH (Germany)
Description:
A well-known manufacturer of equipment and electronics for one and a half years, which also has excellent recommendations for produced spare parts and accessories for cars.
The concern implements a fairly acceptable pricing policy and constantly deserves disagreeable reviews from real users. The downside of the timing belts is their vulnerability during severe overloads, but in the economy segment this is a general trend.
Pros:
- adaptability of goods to various car models;
- high protection against falsification;
- excellent quality within the warranty period;
- affordable price.
Minuses: after replacing the belt, there is a grinding period to the pulleys.
LEMFORDER (Germany)
Description:
This manufacturer is part of a concern of enterprises specializing in auto parts, which also include timing belts that are suitable for both German cars and "Koreans" (Hyundai-Kia concern), "Japanese" (brands "Honda and Toyota" ), “Americans” (“Chevrolet” and “Ford”), there is also a good VAZ timing belt (including Grant's timing belt, Kalina, Largus, etc.).
With generally good quality characteristics, the expert community is concerned about the fact of a sharp decline in its own production. The company subcontracts belts in Korea or other German factories, packing them under its own name. The subcontractor manufacturers themselves have good recommendations, but in fact, under the Lemforder brand there are completely different trademarks.
Pros:
- compatibility with cars from different countries of the world;
- product quality;
- wide price range.
Minuses: disguise under this brand of products of other brands.
HUTCHINSON (France)
Description:
This brand produces the most wear-resistant belts that are operated for a long time and mileage. At the factory assembly of a car, they are used by European and Japanese brands (from BMW to Citroen). The machines at the enterprise itself are constantly being updated, as are the production technologies. Spare parts meet all quality requirements in Europe and Asia. They have good compatibility with the domestic auto industry. The operating range goes beyond 100 thousand kilometers.
Pros:
- compatibility with cars from different countries of the world;
- product quality.
Minuses: not identified.
AMD (South Korea)
Description:
In Russia, this manufacturer has established itself very well as a supplier of spare parts for domestic cars. Although it was originally a project of Japanese and Korean factories to maintain their line of cars in working order. But the dynamics of the company's development quickly made it possible to go beyond East Asia and begin to conquer the world. Gas distribution belts of this brand are extremely rarely subject to rupture, which means they minimize sudden total engine failure. Car owners in product reviews note the adaptability in Russian cars and their satisfaction with the choice.
Pros:
- compatibility with cars from different countries of the world;
- increased reliability and burst protection.
Minuses: not identified.
All of the above manufacturers are adapted to the Russian market, their timing belts are suitable for the most popular models of cars made or assembled in Russia. And this, basically, is an economy class, like the components themselves, so car owners are satisfied not only with the quality, but also with the price of the belts.
Premium class
Owners of more expensive and luxurious vehicles and spare parts require appropriate ones. The premium class rating contains the five best manufacturers with a price and class noticeably higher than average.
DAYCO (USA)
Description:
This brand is deservedly included in our top, although in fact it is less popular in Russia than it deserves. The company is viewed with skepticism by our compatriots, although it copes well with its obligations.
Daiko divides its supplies roughly equally between assembly lines and the component market, but it has insufficient protection against counterfeiting, a large volume of which is in the Russian Federation, therefore, among the responses of Russians, there are often unpleasant ones.
Pros:
- strong average in terms of quality indicators;
- protective coating for additional abrasion resistance and noise protection;
- adaptation to Russian cars.
Minuses: high percentage of gaps due to falsification flooding the market.
GATES (Belgium)
Description:
The most famous brand among people versed in cars, the vast majority of whose products go to conveyors, so the auto parts market sees few timing belts from this company, and it is better to order them directly from the manufacturing plant or from the officials. Quality is at its best, as is the unit price tag.
Pros:
- excellent workmanship;
- brand reputation;
- cooperation with the best brands.
Minuses:
- high cost;
- a small amount of goods in the secondary market.
CONTITECH (Germany)
Description:
Comprehensive component manufacturer for fans of one brand for the maximum number of used auto parts. The company's products are expensive, but available for selection on the shelves, although, like its Belgian counterpart, it is focused on direct supplies to car manufacturers. The brand's products practically do not cause complaints about the quality either from experts or from ordinary users. One “but”: after the installation of the belt, an adaptation period is almost always necessary - the correct fit on the pulleys takes time.
Pros:
- product quality;
- prolonged service life due to improved composites.
Minuses: the need for lapping.
INA (Germany)
Description:
This manufacturer serves factories of the best brands in Germany and France with access to the Japanese market and considers it its duty to provide multi-stage and meticulous quality control at all stages of production of its products. The factories of the company are scattered around the world, but the standards for checking products everywhere are carried out according to the same regulations, reducing defects in their own market to a minimum.
Users deservedly honor the brand for its unsurpassed reliability, therefore, timing belts under this brand can be found both in a luxury car and in a domestic medium-sized sedan.
Pros:
- exceptional reliability;
- the minimum percentage of rejects.
Minuses: not identified.
OPTIBELT (Germany)
Description:
It is the largest manufacturer of belts in Europe and is renowned for its superior performance. A special production technology makes the “rubber bands” stable but flexible, so the teeth do not move along the gears. The owners of domestic and foreign cars agree that the purchase of such a belt is an investment in long-term peace of mind for the safety of the engine of their iron horse and their own safety while driving. This product does not deliver unpleasant surprises.
Pros:
- colossal reliability;
- manufacturability of performance.
Minuses: not identified.
The ABC of Operation
Having decided which company timing belt is better, drivers, especially those who have encountered problems caused by defects in the production or operation of gas distribution “rubber bands”, should study the replacement alphabet and safety precautions associated with these components. Here are the simple truths of exploitation:
- the average mileage of the timing belt from replacement to replacement is kept at 60 thousand kilometers. It is better to look for specific information on your car in the manual from the manufacturer, but if there is no way to study these materials, you should play it safe and work at average rates;
- belt tension is a guarantee of its high-quality work. An excessive indicator leads to stretching and is usually associated with excessive efforts of the master, which threatens early failure of bearings and pumps, not to mention the timing belt itself. Initially lack of elasticity threatens belt misalignment, which can be followed by a major engine failure. To prevent unpleasant surprises from becoming global, the degree of tension should be checked immediately after installation, and then checked after half the recommended service life and, if necessary, tightened / changed to a new one;
- if the car “lives” in hot climates all the time, the belt can shorten its life due to drying out, loss of flexibility, cracking. The part is made of rubber, which is extremely difficult to protect from changes in constant heat. The recommendations from the manufacturing plants of timing belts always indicate that permanent heat is the basis for replacing a component ahead of schedule by a quarter, and sometimes even a third;
- attention should be paid not only to the belt itself, but also to its protection. If the casing is damaged, dirt, oil droplets and other engine compartment fluids are likely to get into its contents. Which also leads to premature aging of the rubber;
- savings are not always justified. For example, in the case of replacing a belt without timing rollers, as Russians like to do. According to the regulations, these parts are changed in the kit through certain mileage indicators, regardless of their visual condition. Otherwise, rollers that look good and are quiet by ear may stop rotating at the most inopportune moment, and soon after reinstalling the belt, then you will have to change everything at once, and possibly “get” to repair the motor due to a rupture with all the ensuing consequences;
- it is possible to change a belt without rollers only if the first one is out of order much earlier, for example, due to defects in the casing and the subsequent pouring of oil, drying out of rubber, etc. But then the timing for replacing the belt and rollers will become asynchronous, and this will need to be closely monitored, not hoping for a Russian maybe.
The correct choice and conscious use of the timing belt, as a whole car, is a guarantee of the personal safety of the driver and his passengers. And also additional protection of the family budget from sudden expenses for repairs.
