hey there folks, want to put a new cam belt and water pump on my latest 5 (shes a mk2 1.8 jap import)
is there any particular ones worth a go in particular?
or shall i just stick with gates or blueprint etc?
What does this mean?
Pollyanna, both are well known makes of car parts. Gates specialise in drive belts and associated parts; Blueprint supply many other parts.
I bought a David Manners Group cam belt and water pump kit. They have a good reputation for quality parts at reasonable prices.
Gates and Blueprint are after market parts manufacturers/suppliers. I personally would use Mazda parts, espcially for the water pump and gasket.
For most cambelted cars that I’ve owned, I go for Gates. Long established, top notch reputation.
Also fine with Dayco. I’ve never used Contitech, but would be happy with that.
It is important to remember that the MK1 - MK2.5 1989 - 2005 MX5 cars have a non interference engine which means should the worst happen and belt snap, the engine will not be damaged beyond repair as is the case with most cars. You just end up with a snapped belt that need replacing and an immobile car - inconvenient but not terminal.
I do hear of waterpump failures but usually where not fitted correctly or where a cam belt has been changed without doing the pump at the same time and it has expired somewhere between 60k and 120k.
If anyone can site premature failure of the cheaper David Manners waterpumps(firstline) or their cam belts please report it on here.
Rob - Are you saying Mk3’s and 4’s are not non interference engines?
(obviously I don’t own either, but just curious!)
Hi Gerryn
As far as I know these have interference engines but fitted with an internal timing chain rather than the external belt.
Yes the later cars have timing chains.
Double post.
The only problem I have had with Blueprint is their brake pads where the backing plate dimensions are a bit too generous on the wings that rub along the caliper slides grooves and they usually need grinding to slip in the caliper carrier groove.
Especially on Subaru’s but have had similar problem on Mintex MX5 disc pads backing metalwork.
I have had one cambelt failure on a Golf GTI some 20 years ago at 70 mph on a main road and would not want that to happen again. I would prefer to be on the safe side and change on schedule and at reasonable quality.
Yes, wouldn’t want to experience that - interference engine so I guess it locked up - hopefully you hit the clutch quickly.
The MX5 with external belt would not be much different as cam/crank mismatched timing would cause compression issue with snapped belt and stop engine turning PDQ.
Re. Interference v non-interference, my understanding is the M2-1001 motor (high compression) is an interference engine, so if a head has been skimmed, maybe it gets a bit unpredictable.
Difficult to know without very costly experimentation.
Obviously would depend on tolerances but how many MX5s out there with skimmed heads and how many belts actually break?
No consolation if you have been unlucky enough to suffer this without being negligent.
I got the Golf GTI into the local garage and according to the Autodata timing belt book the car had an interference fit.
The belt was changed and the car had suffered no damage but just like SAZ found it was not the best place to have a failure.
Therefore to schedule and good quality parts.
The GTI was at 50K miles and at that time VW said the belt did not need done before 80K miles and even at that it was not an issue according to VW.
Then people started changing them at 40k miles.
I’d go for a Gates belt. I use what is essentially a Gates cam belt as a primary drive belt on my Norton Commando and that is transmitting about 50 hp from engine to gearbox, so they are strong.
Ian
Gates invented the toothed timing belt and went on to invent the serpentine belts used on all vehicles today - I only fit Gates.
SKF invented the self aligning ball bearing - I use SKF bearings when I can.
Blueprint are part of the Bilstein/Febi group and supply OEM quality parts. I use Blueprint all the time.
I fitted a Gates timing belt set and Blueprint pump to the MX5 and SKF front hub bearings on my Shogun.
My Track prepped Mk1 Golf has done over 2600 miles on track with the above manufacturers parts fitted.
Genuine Mazda all day long.