Gates belts_made by Goodyear?

herr_oberst · 05:50 PM

My Porsche parts guy says he heard rumors that Gates and Goodyear belts might be the same thing, or at least come from the same assembly line. The (brand new) Porsche fan belt is labeled "Porsche" and "Goodyear".
Gates belt just says Gates/Green Stripe and then a part number.
Porsche /Goodyear belt is smooth on the inside, Gates belt is notched.

I have read stories of factory belts going for years and years and years without issues. The Gates branded belt I put on three years ago feels old already and the length falls between 2 shims for optimal tensioning.

Methinks the Gates unit fits many, many applications, some better than others, and I doubt if they come from the Goodyear factory.

Just wondering if anyone had some real dope on this very minor topic.

fty · 06-18-2007, 04:32 PM

Did a search..seems like they are both big competitors.

scottbooth · 06-18-2007, 05:45 PM

The only Gates brand belt that I have ever bought for my 911SC (a 78) was one I got at a chain auto parts store (Advance Auto I think) when I was on a weekend road trip and my fan/alt belt broke, and like a dumba$$ I had left my spare belt in the track toolbox at home. (Logic: I am not going to the track so why would I need this toolbox? Genius.)

The Gates I got was definitely the wrong size (too big) but, with all the shims on the outside of the pulley, it spun the fan well enough to keep the car going, charging, cooling, etc. It looked very sloppy and sketchy and I was pretty surprised that I made it home with no further issues.

This may not be a slam on Gates per se but instead on the parts matching computer that Advance uses. I read the screen over the guy's shoulder and he gave me what the computer told him to. I don't know if their next smaller size belt is too small, or would indeed be a better fit.

FWIW, when not in a pinch, the belts I have bought for this car since I bought it 10 years ago, regardless of supplier (I use Pelican these days

) have always showed up branded by Continental. And they fit perfectly. YMMV of course as your car is newer.

Actually, the guy I was visiting at the time owns an 89 Carrera, so probably pretty similar to your car. His spare belt didn't fit my car, but I think it was a Goodyear. I was able to use his pulley tool since mine was at home. Otherwise I would have been even more screwed.

Moral: if you are going to be an idiot, and drive your Porsche without your spares and tools, at least go find somebody else that has a Porsche.

Good luck
Scott

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Goodyear makes some VERY high quality belts. When I ran the commercial fishing boat a few years ago, the hydraulic pump was belt driven off the crank with an electric clutch for the first few years. We could go through a set of Dayco Top Cog belts every few days, we tried the Gates, and eveything else but finally settlyed on the Good Year MatchMakers. They would last an entire season of constant use which was borderline for for a belt drive setup.

herr_oberst · 06-18-2007, 06:28 PM

Does Goodyear make differing qualities of belts? I notice that not all Gates belts are Green Stripes.

mtech325ic · 06-18-2007, 08:31 PM

Goodyear makes at least two differing qualities. The Gatorback is the premium belt and they also make an economy belt. Continental is my choice for my cars.

fty · 06-18-2007, 08:41 PM

Yeah just bought a continental from pelican...after taking the fan assembly apart..mine was dry rotted and after digging thoroughly through this car..Im beggining to question how often stuff hat needs to be replaced was.......

herr_oberst · 06-19-2007, 04:46 AM

or if it was replaced by OEM quality or Autozone specials.

KFC911 · 06-19-2007, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by herr_oberst
...Just wondering if anyone had some real dope on this very minor topic.

Here are a couple of threads that discuss the brands and sizes of the belts (and there's some great info from Grady, Warren, and several others):

Pulley Shims, Wrong Config?

Busted Fan Belt, Can't fit new one on?

Hope this helps...

fty · 06-19-2007, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by herr_oberst
or if it was replaced by OEM quality or Autozone specials.

I dont even wanna think about it...at least i know the major stuff, tranny rebuild and clutch was done by a GOOD P mechanic the regular maint. is what is scary.