No_Skillz
15+ Year Contributor
- 2,759
- 26
- Dec 8, 2004
-
Freehold/Morris,
New_Jersey
I have here in my hand one Autozone timing belt and one OEM timing belt. I have read that Autozone belts are rebranded belts from a company called Gates. Doing some more digging, I've found nothing but good reviews on Gates' belts on many types of cars, not just DSMs.
Just some quick observations with the two side by side:
Gates' belt is overall thicker.
Gates' belt has a thicker cable sandwich.
Gates' belt teeth have more robust grooves.
Gates' rubber is more of a hard rubber where OEM is plasticky.
Gates' was hella less expensive.
I want to use Autozone/Gates over OEM.
I would like to get the opinions of other people who have USED Autozone/Gates belts.
(On the same note I am also using Autozone inner and outter tie rods. Quality from visual inspection, feel, and heft surpasses that of OEM. I currently have ~1000 miles on these.)
And no, I don't work for Autozone.
Just some quick observations with the two side by side:
Gates' belt is overall thicker.
Gates' belt has a thicker cable sandwich.
Gates' belt teeth have more robust grooves.
Gates' rubber is more of a hard rubber where OEM is plasticky.
Gates' was hella less expensive.
I want to use Autozone/Gates over OEM.
I would like to get the opinions of other people who have USED Autozone/Gates belts.
(On the same note I am also using Autozone inner and outter tie rods. Quality from visual inspection, feel, and heft surpasses that of OEM. I currently have ~1000 miles on these.)
And no, I don't work for Autozone.