If I had a dollar for every time that question comes up...

Here's what id recommend: buy a parts kit with all japanese made bearings.

Looks like gates doesn't do that any more. Aisin makes a kit that comes with the water pump and (reportedly) all japanese bearings. I'd either go with Aisin or OEM for those parts.

 

I am looking at a Gates timing kit ending in "N" ,which is supposed to denote OE parts- everything I can see ( except the belt ) is made in Japan. If you are going to change the water pump, I recommend a genuine Subaru or an Aisin .

 

price them both out and see how much $ difference it makes

 

I went RCM, since they make sure the kit has Koyo, NTN, and NSK OE parts. They have different belts for the kits. Dayco, OEM, HKS, etc. I went Dayco. They're OEM, just not OEM for Subaru.

 

I've used Gates kits on a couple of my vehicles. A Honda Odyssey and my 2000 RS. Everything seems good so far. Gates are a reputable supplier in my experience.

 

I just don`t recommend any of the Chinese made water pumps supplied in kits - OE pumps last well past the TB interval, Chinese pumps , not so much .

 

Aisin.

 

Or bust.

 

Aisin - gave up on Gates a while back after multiple timing belt failures.

 

FWIW , I`ve been in the parts business for many , many years , and do not recall a single belt failure , in the last 30 years or so , with Gates or Dayco belts. This is not new technology , and the materials used have only improved . This is a system- all the components are designed to replaced at the same time .

 

It's not the belt that's the problem in the Gates kit. Its the multiple hard parts that they used to get from good suppliers that in recent years are more from the lowest bidder.

 

Gates kits are known for bad tensioners.

 

ok, ok, Gates are rubbish - gee. My experience does suggests otherwise but I'll keep an eye on things.
I do acknowledge and agree with comments about the confidence you get using Japanese manufactured bearings.

 

My original post mentioned Gates kits with "N" on the end of the part number . The "N" differentiates it from the standard kit by having ( in all the ones I`ve seen ) Japanese sourced components ( except the belt ) . I have used these kits in both the RS`s , our Outback XT, my Legacy , and about to use in the wife`s Forester . I never compromise in my parts selection . Use what you will , I don`t own stock in Gates .

 

I'm resurrecting this thread as the info has changed. Looking like as of 2020+ Gates kits are now garbage.
Get Aisin - at the time of this writing FlatIron tuning (vendor on here) had the best price at $318: Aisin Timing Belt Kit & Water Pump (Subaru)

 

I just ordered the AISIN kit from flatirons but they were out of stock so went with the RCM (oem belt and water pump) + japanese bearings etc