Cam and Crank seals on 105k?

[WRXtranceformed]

Well, I've got almost 93k on my TL and it's about time to start thinking about doing the timing belt service (usually around 105k)

There's a guy who does timing belt kits for real cheap on Acurazine. Here's what comes in the kit for $295:
Timing belt, water pump, bearing tensioner, hydrolic tensioner, and all drive belts

I asked him what optional parts people are ordering through him for this service and this is what came up:
Spark plugs: $14 each
spark plug seals: $2 each
valve cover gasket: $5.75 each
timing belt idler: $35
cam seal: $4.95 each
crank seal: $5.50

I'm definitely doing the spark plugs, don't think I need the seals. I will likely get the valves adjusted so the gasket is going to be needed, but what about the timing belt idler, cam seal and crank seals? Apparently some folks replace the thermostat too. Any thoughts on the TB idler, seals and Tstat? Necessary or no? I think the thermostat is like $25 shipped.

[.RJ]

Change the idler, tensioner and anything else that spins on a bearing.

Leave the seals alone unless they are leaking.

[ViPER1313]

Change the idler, tensioner and anything else that spins on a bearing.

Leave the seals alone unless they are leaking.

I disagree - you might as well do the cam/crank seals while you are in there. If you put it all back together and they start leaking 10k miles down the road, you are gonna kick yourself in the ass that you didn't spend the extra $15. Leave the T-stat alone unless it is unaccessable or your car is already slow to warm up.

[.RJ]

There's a bigger risk damaging a new seal on installation than leaving the non leaking seal alone, at least on a newer Honda. Both are pretty unlikely...

[ViPER1313]

RJ is right that if it isn't done correctly that it will leak. I have seen a ton of cam / crank seals start to leak in the 100k mile range - the SHO's cam and crank seals are all leaking after 70k miles / 8 years, and my Pontiac's rear main seal is starting to weap a bit after 83k miles (just enough to see a small oil stain on the side of the pan underneath of it.) IMO they are not hard to install and doing it is not hard while you are already in there. Either way, if they start to leak it's not the end of the world, and it wouldn't keep me up at night if you left them alone if they aren't leaking.

[JohnC]

I didn't replace the cam or crank seals on my WRX during the 105k timing belt replacement. They weren't leaking then, and they're not leaking now, ~2 years and ~15k miles later.

[WRXtranceformed]

I've got at least 1 oil change in between when I'll need the timing belt done, so I'll have Chris (my buddy who is a Honda tech who does all the work on my car) peep them and see if they are leaking. If they aren't I'll probably let them be.

[NTIman]

I wouldn't replace them unless they're leaking. Most likely their not. I rarely see leaking crank/cam seals.

[WRXtranceformed]

Ended up picking up the entire TB / WP package, idler and valve cover gaskets (I'm probably going to go ahead and do a valve adjustment which is recommended around this mileage) for $341 shipped. The spark plugs were $40 picked up with the AAP deal. Hoping to keep the total cost of the TB service to around $550-600!

Thanks for all the advice guys :thumbup:

[WRXtranceformed]

Hi guys, just so I don't shit up this part of the forum with another timing belt question, I had my contacts at the local Honda dealership hook my girlfriend up with some work on her Civic and they mentioned that her timing belt is coming soon as well. She only has 60k miles but her car is an '04. They said that they typically recommend a timing belt at 7 years or 90k miles max for that Civic, and she's got about 4 months left until 7 years is up. What do you guys think? Necessary to go ahead and get the timing belt done or should we wait another 30k miles? On my car it's not recommended until about 105k.

[.RJ]

What does the owners manual say? If its 7/90 then yes, absolutely do it. If the belt lets go, things get expensive.

[WRXtranceformed]

I'll peep the manual tonight at her place. That's what I told her, that she doesn't want to cheap out on the timing belt job but I wanna make sure that it really is necessary at 7 years.

[WRXtranceformed]

Manual said 7 years / 105k miles and my Honda tech buddy Chris who works on my car said that she definitely needs to start to consider replacing it. 7 years is actually one of the longer ones he's seen and Honda recommends it because the belts tend to dry rot and just let go.