Bullet22r

Hi all just wanted to ask you guys on your opinion on gates water pumps? I ordered the kit from rockauto and the kit seems to be of quality of OEM the timing belt is made in USA the idler, pulley, and tensioner are made in Japan but when i got to the water pump its made in China so what are your opinions on the water pump should i just order one from rockauto thats Aisin for 60 dollars or are their any other alternatives?

ksti

Seems kind of silly, (oxymoron) to put in a Chinese WP with the others parts being Japanese and USA made.
IMHO this isn't a small job your going to do.
Spend the $60.00 and get the Aisin WP you will be better off.

ksti

EDIT: Let me clarify, it seems odd that Rock Auto would supply a Chinese WP with Japanese and USA made parts mixed in.

Bullet22r

It was a complete kit so I don't think RockAuto was the packager seems to me it was Gates.

Bullet22r

But i will be ordering an Aisin WP just to ensure that I won't be doing this job for some time. Hopefully it is actually made in Japan. Not that i doubt Aisin will put their reputation on a Chinese made product.

jacked_72

I had the same issue with my Subaru's timing belt kit. I even called Gates to complain because they market their timing belt and water pump kits as "OEM," which is a crock of crap because Subaru never had water pumps made in China. I got them to admit finally that the only thing in the kit that was OEM were the bearings and that they have their "own" plant making water pumps in China. Came with a nice paper gasket. So, Gates seems to be selling Chineese parts and relying on their former reputation. Just like Moog. Except I don't think that Moog engages in the questionable advertising by labeling non-OEM parts as OEM.