Cambelt benefits?

1. vtr_dan Regular Poster Joined: Sep 2007 Hull Posts: 290 Now: 2008 Audi TT Then: 2003 Saxo VTR

   #1 8th November 2010, 21:43

   Hey
   
   My cars currently on around 51k. Service and MOT are due in January (bit of time to save).
   
   As my cars on 51k I'm guessing the garage will recomend a cambelt change.
   
   Bit of a daft question but can someone tell me what the benefits of having the belt changed are (apart from it'll snap if i dont have it changed)? Will i notice any differnce in the cars health etc?
   
   Cheers
2. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

   #2 8th November 2010, 21:57

   The car will run exactly the same with a new cam belt. It's just for piece of mind really.
3. user_36974 Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2009 Manchester Posts: 570 Mercury Grey VT?

   #3 8th November 2010, 22:05

   as said, you wont notice any difference. will save you £££s later on though.
4. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #4 8th November 2010, 22:06

   Piece of mind really & at least you`ll know the timing been set up correctly.
   
   Steve.
5. vtr_dan Regular Poster Joined: Sep 2007 Hull Posts: 290 Now: 2008 Audi TT Then: 2003 Saxo VTR

   #5 8th November 2010, 22:34

   Cheers guys
6. Reechard Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Cirencester Posts: 2286 2x Mazda Mx5s, Volvo s80, Citroen DS4

   #6 8th November 2010, 23:12

   If it snaps then you risk damage to the engine, more often than not killing it. Its about the time you need to start thinking of having it done. So will be worth while in the long run
7. McGuire86 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Cornwall Posts: 5658 '08 Civic Type R GT FN2

   #7 8th November 2010, 23:39

   whens the best time to have it done out of interest ?
8. Sorchiton Newbie Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 9

   #8 19th November 2010, 23:23

   a rough rule of thumb id say is 40,000 50,000 miles, i think for the eastcoast its 30,000/40,000 miles.
9. Woody91 Established Member Joined: Jun 2008 Coseley, West Mids Posts: 1267 306 D-Turbo

   #9 19th November 2010, 23:36

   About 72000 or 3 years is what the dealers normally do but best to change it before then so you reduce the risk of it snapping
10. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

    #10 19th November 2010, 23:46

    I know alot of people get worried when it comes to cam belts but they arn't made of elastic bands - they are metal bands with a rubber coating - which are made to last along time - and as long as they are fitted properly and at the correct tension they will last for miles. My saxo vtr did well over 100,000 miles before i changed it and the original looked as good as new.
11. blackie_2k5 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B

    #11 19th November 2010, 23:54

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by outrage_uk I know alot of people get worried when it comes to cam belts but they arn't made of elastic bands - they are metal bands with a rubber coating - which are made to last along time - and as long as they are fitted properly and at the correct tension they will last for miles. My saxo vtr did well over 100,000 miles before i changed it and the original looked as good as new.

    they are a consumable part and although designed to last a long time the belts do fatigue, they are under serious heat, pressure and tension, and turn round billions of times in their working life, ppl get worried as they know this is the case and the problem of snapped bets can cost a SERIOUS amount of money
    
    very few cambelts are metal banded, certainly not saxo belts lmao, most of them are fibre usually nylon with rubber coating
    
    ive seen cars do 150k on the original belt, ive also seen cars do 15k on a belt, you cant judge when itll break, average lifes are worked to be around 80k which is why most say change at 72k to give you plenty of time.
12. Tom5190 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2007 Someones Bumhole Posts: 5721 Mk2 16v Desire

    #12 20th November 2010, 00:00

    Aye never came accross a metal banded belt before. Also the age is just as important as mileage, mines had 3 belts, its on 105K and an 02 plate.
13. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

    #13 20th November 2010, 02:06

    My saxo belt that i put on was metal banded under the rubber and the subaru one is made with glass tensile cord which is no doubt even stronger.
    
    If anything, the bearings in the tensioner or water pump are more likely to fail before a snapped belt causing it to slip and knacker your valves. If anyone has worked on a non fixed cam pulley engine (such as the Renault K4M) you would understand that the french design for an important mechanism like timing can easily go wrong with a loose bolt. Silly designers
14. raunchz Saxperience Addict Joined: Jul 2005 Solihull / Bournemouth Posts: 14233 2015 Lapiz Blue Golf R

    #14 20th November 2010, 02:58

    I'd change them every 50k or 5years
    
    Is just my philosophy