Timing Belt and Water Pump Kits

[Jason.Marshall]

Good Morning!!
Just curious about the best brand of Timing Belt and Water Pump Kits people use on our RS...

I'm looking at getting mine done you in May - I've searched the forum and have seen that Gates has been mentioned.

Any responses gratefully received.

RegardS

Jason

[Marathonman72]

I would only use genuine Ford parts on any of my cars

[S1 RST]

Geraint OEM = Gates 😎

[Poynter87]

As Geraint has said above personally I would only use Ford parts but as the water pumps are very expensive new quite a few owners have used Sp water pumps to refurb the old pump for a lot less though it depends if you can afford to have the car off the road whilst the pump is sent away.

[Nemo]

Ford or Gates Kevlar belt for me. SP Pumps refurbish is a cheaper option as genuine RS pumps are ridiculously expensive. I've known people fit a standard water pump on theirs with no detriment.

[Nemo]

Part box sell them and he's an owner and club member.
Co-ordsport is his forum name.

[DanT404]

I have always used Gates cambelt kits. Not sure who produces the OE belt and tensioners for the frs but i would expect Gates or Dayco.
Genuine pumps are crazy money now as the other guys have said, a refurb is a lot cheaper but again, time constraints may not allow that.

[Nirach]

I also use Gates for belts/idlers/tensioners. Always have and never had a problem on any car.

[Jason.Marshall]

Thanks for those comments guys

I've seen the prices of the pump so I did wonder about a refurb...

Pennies are being saved!

Took 2629 out for a run yesterday - Awesome

[big mike]

Interesting on the Gates ones,
Im looking to get my mk2 one done and asked on a few Facebook pages,
The almost universal view was the gates ones were crap ( including a well respected specialist) which surprised me as I remember back in the day of early mk1 ownership they were well thought of

[DanT404]

Interesting on the Gates ones,
Im looking to get my mk2 one done and asked on a few Facebook pages,
The almost universal view was the gates ones were crap ( including a well respected specialist) which surprised me as I remember back in the day of early mk1 ownership they were well thought of

What were they recommending instead? Gates have a great reputation generally speaking.

[big mike]

Most have said genuine Ford only.

[S1 RST]

I used a genuine ford kit on mine, but probably made by Gates anyway 😂
never had a gates failing, and done loads of cambelt changes on different cars.
No need to change waterpump as it is not driven of the cambelt, so if it still is and looks fine i'd leave it, can always be changed without touching cambelt.
already had one for a friend rebuilt by SP water pumps and even being in Belgium, turnaround was less than a week, included shipping
I done a how to in the past on changing cambelt to ford specification on forum here, might be of help

cheeRS Chris

[DanT404]

I used a genuine ford kit on mine, but probably made by Gates anyway 😂
never had a gates failing, and done loads of cambelt changes on different cars.
No need to change waterpump as it is not driven of the cambelt, so if it still is and looks fine i'd leave it, can always be changed without touching cambelt.
already had one for a friend rebuilt by SP water pumps and even being in Belgium, turnaround was less than a week, included shipping
I done a how to in the past on changing cambelt to ford specification on forum here, might be of help

cheeRS Chris

Exactly that, lost count of the genuine parts ive fitted, which are made by an aftermarket manufacturer anyway. I dont think you can go far wrong with most reputable brands personally. Good advice regarding the waterpump .