10 best timing belts

The timing belt in the modern engine plays an important role - not only the reliable operation of the car depends on its quality. The rush of a belt drive can mean a fatal engine failure (in many models, the piston head bends valves), therefore, to underestimate its role is more expensive.

The review presents various manufacturers that produce the best timing belts. Places in the ranking were distributed based on product characteristics, opinions of service center specialists and feedback from owners who preferred a particular brand.

The best timing belts of the budget and middle price segment

5 AMD

Products of the Asian company AMD firmly occupied its niche in the domestic market. Initially, the brand was created in order to supply spare parts for cars GM, Hyundai, Kia. It arose by combining Japanese and Korean manufacturers and very quickly expanded its activities - in addition to supplying assembly lines for factories, a large proportion of products began to move intensively onto the world market.

According to the majority of owners, the high strength of the timing belts of this company eliminates the possibility of a sudden rush, which, as a rule, leads to dire consequences - the valves of the gas distribution mechanism collide with the piston group. This causes a major and costly repair, also unplanned. In their reviews, the owners express satisfaction with the products, as well as the opportunity to use it for servicing domestic cars (Lada Grant and other VAZ models).

4 Hutchinson

Timing belts manufactured by the French company Hutchinson, the world leader in rubber-metal products, are deservedly popular in the domestic auto parts market. The fact that the products are supplied to the assembly lines of most European auto giants (Ford, BMW, Toyota, Hyundai, Citroen, Nissan and others) speaks of the unsurpassed quality and reliability of timing belts. The company regularly upgrades its production and uses new technologies to improve the technical characteristics of the manufactured goods, which meet accepted European quality standards.

Hutchinson gas distribution belts are compatible with most brands of cars, including domestic VAZ (LADA). Worthy quality combined with low price make this product very popular. In addition, in their reviews, the owners note the strength and a longer period of operation (100,000 km is not the limit).

3 Lemforder

One of the five companies of the German concern ZF, which produces a wide range of automotive components, including gas distribution belts. The market coverage is wide: in addition to the quite understandable support of the German automotive industry among Lemforder belts, you can find models for Korean (Hyundai, Kia), Japanese (Toyota, Honda), American (Ford, Chevrolet) , as well as Russian (VAZ) cars.

Regarding the company, only one fact is alarming: the once-strong brand has recently (assured by professionals and experts in the car market) lost ground and became nothing more than a packer for other manufacturers. Fortunately, under the Lemforder logo, most often are either Korean or German (from the BOGE and Sachs counterparts) spare parts, the quality of which meets high standards.

Advantages:

• Available timing belts for various price categories;
• a wide range of goods;
• high quality products that go under the company logo.

Disadvantages:

• Under the company logo, more and more products from other manufacturers appear.

2 Bosch

The old German company, founded in 1886 in a place called Gerlingen. We all know “Bosch” as one of the best manufacturers of household, construction and garden equipment, but only a few know that the company is no less successful in producing auto parts and components, including gas distribution belts.

Most consumers respond complementary to their products - the cost of the belts is relatively small, and the quality with moderate use is excellent. Of course, they do not withstand the large overloads, but not all products from well-known manufacturers can boast of this.

Advantages:

• a large number of supported car models;
• low forgery of goods;
• high quality products (with moderate use);
• low cost

Disadvantages:

• When installing a new set, a small grinding of the belt to the pulley profile is required.

1 Balakovo

The only representative of the cohort of the best manufacturers of gas distribution belts from the Russian side. The secret of success is simple and unobtrusive: Balakovsky Plant is engaged exclusively in the production of rubber technical products. Accordingly, if the solution of one big task does not involve the forces of one department, but of a whole workshop and even a plant, then success should come immediately.

If we talk about the quality of belts, it is almost not inferior to foreign counterparts. Belt wear with adequate vehicle operation occurs at a guaranteed mileage figure (sometimes the belt runs longer). The range covers a wide range of cars: this includes the entire B1 platform from the Renault-Nissan concern, which is accessible to the domestic user, as well as VAZ cars (Grant, Priora, Kalina, etc.).

Advantages:

• the range covering the range of Russian cars;
• high quality even by high European standards;
• good feedback from experts on functional test results;
• low cost

Disadvantages:

• no visible flaws.

The best timing belts premium

5 INA

The official supplier of timing belts for conveyors, from which the models of Mercedes, VW, Peugeot, Audi and other brands descend. Even the Japanese concern Toyota, one of the most demanding and scrupulous manufacturers, uses INA products. Despite the fact that the factories of the corporation are located around the world, quality control is the same everywhere and provides multi-level monitoring, completely eliminating the marriage.

It is for their exceptional reliability that owners appreciate the timing belts of this company. They are suitable for installation in modern domestic cars of the VAZ family (Priore and other popular models). High reliability (the quality of the product eliminates the impulse when replacing in due time) and a long operating period are an indisputable advantage, which is acquired with the timing belts of this company.

4 Optibelt

The products of the German manufacturer Optibelt, the largest in Europe, enjoy great consumer confidence.Timing belts manufactured by this company are of the highest quality and reliability, which is very important when choosing this part of the mechanism, especially if the valve path may intersect with the piston head.

The basis of the product is chloroprene rubber with a protective fabric layer, the manufacturing technology of which allows to obtain a very durable and at the same time well bending material. The teeth on the timing belts Optibelt are made so that completely eliminate the shift in gear, and a protective coating provides the minimum coefficient of friction. The domestic buyer has the opportunity to install this belt on the model of VAZ (Priora, Lada Grant and others). In their reviews, the owners consider the choice to be a pragmatic and correct decision, due to which they will not have any unforeseen situations when operating the car.

3 Dayco

Old American company for the production of timing belts for internal combustion engines, specializing also in the production of tensioning devices, dampers, water pumps and hoses (on a mediocre level). For domestic users, Dayco is something distant and little known, so skepticism about the purchase is an integral part of the company's trade policy.

Unlike competitors, the volume of supply of spare parts to the primary (factories) and the secondary markets are approximately equal to each other. Unfortunately, belt forgeries are very common in Russia, so many negative reviews can be found in the world wide web. In connection with this state of affairs, American belts are significantly losing in popularity to German spare parts from Contitech.

Advantages:

• the cost level is approaching the middle segment;
• the patented technology of covering the profile of the belts with a Teflon compound to increase wear resistance and reduce noise;
• there are belts for cars of concern VAZ: "Priora", "Kalina", "Grant" and earlier models.

Disadvantages:

• a lot of fakes in the domestic market - belts fail after a minor run.

2 Contitech

Contitech is one of the branches of Continental that manufactures rubber suspension elements, timing belts for internal combustion engines, as well as other automotive parts and components. Like the leader of the rating, Gates Company, Kontek, cooperates directly with automobile plants, but finding their products in the secondary market is much easier, although the cost will be quite high.

As for reliability and overall quality, there are no complaints about the German company for these components - the belts run for a long time, sometimes even more obviously than the declared value. There are no visible problems, however, when installing belts from a given manufacturer, it often takes time for the final correct fit in the profile of the driving and driven pulleys.

Advantages:

• high quality products from a leading manufacturer of automobile tires;
• extended service life due to periodic improvement in wear resistance component.

Disadvantages:

• Some belts require lapping along the groove profile.

1 Gates

Perhaps the most famous manufacturer of belts for internal combustion engines. The Belgian concern covers not only the automotive industry: Gates are involved in the computer, in the agricultural, and even in the metallurgical industry.

As for concrete timing belts, they are very difficult to find in the secondary market. The fact is that Gates, on the rights of the best manufacturer, conducts direct cooperation with leading automotive companies, and supplies only a small part of its products to the spare parts market. Therefore, components can be ordered either straight from the factory or through a service center. The cost is high, but fully consistent with the inherent quality.

Advantages:

• the most famous manufacturer of timing belts;
• top quality products;
• cooperation directly with manufacturers of cars.

Disadvantages:

• high price.

How to choose a reliable timing belt

The choice of gas distribution belt is similar to the choice of auto parts in general, but with the exception of one small nuance. Before buying, be sure to pay attention to the following aspects:

Price. The main and obvious indicator, "litmus test" to determine forgery. To identify the original belt, you should study offers from several distributors - a sharp difference in price towards cheaper prices directly indicates an attempt to sell a fake product with your hands.

Brand The second important parameter, which, however, can not guarantee the originality of the product to 100%. The skill of the current falsifiers has gone far ahead, but the purchase of products of a well-known brand in most cases allows to avoid problems with the further operation of the belt.

Differential digital signage. The brand product is cut from a large piece, the marking of which contains a differentiated digital designation. If absolutely all figures are repeated on the finished belt, then with a high degree of probability this is not the original.

Lack of mechanical damage. When the question of purchase is almost resolved, it remains to verify the external integrity of the product. Check the product for tears, cuts, and worn inside, as any defect can lead to a quick belt failure.

The presence of the original hologram and the corresponding certificate. To protect products from fraud, many companies resort to quality certification and placing a special hologram on the box (less often on the product itself). Make sure that this mark is in place and that you must require a certificate accompanying the product before making a final choice in favor of one or another option.

Popular vote - who is the best manufacturer of timing belts?
We vote!

Dayco

Lemforder

Bosch

Contitech

Gates

Balakovo

Hutchinson

AMD

Optibelt

INA

Total voted: 1417

Vote results