Timing belt OEM Subaru or Gates
Gates makes good belts.
Gates is fine. If you find the gates racing belt it's better. But they are super rare these days. Stay away from any Amazon or ebay crap.
Gates, I've installed dozens of them and never had a problem, easily outlast the timing belt.
I used a gates (rpm) belt , its expensive ($80?) but i feel like thats a part you dont want to go cheap with !
We have a gates timing belt in our 04 Jetta that was placed Dec 2010 and 72k miles ago. Going to change it here soon with a new one this spring. Its accessory belt is gates too. My 06 Navigator has a gates drive belt. Brother in law’s BRZ had a gates belt.
Just for reference, I just had timing belt done on my daughter’s 2011 legacy at our indy mechanic:Labor: $531 replace timing belt with front engine oil seals and water pump, idlers, tension, upper radiator hose, l inner timing coverParts: approximately $800Total approximately $1350
Just had the same work done. Same car. I paid more, and I felt like I got a good deal.
The common complaint of gates timing belts is that they're loud.
Gates timing belt broke and took out the engine in my old 2009 legacy with the sohc 2.5l. It was only installed for about 5 years and 60k mi / 96.5k km. Don't skimp on the most important belt your engine has, buy genuine subaru.
I have worked on some where the belt itself snapped in under 10-15k miles, others where the bearings fell apart in the 40-50k mile range. I no longer use them and refuse to install them on customer vehicles.
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