What tools do I need to change timming and balance belt?
 

It has been some 30,000 miles and about eight years since the timing and balance belts on my 1988 924S have been changed. Therefore, it is time that I tackle that dreaded job of belt replacement. I have never done the job, so can you please tell me what tools that you would recommend buying to do the job right?

If you have any advice from your experience about of the actual replacement procedure please feel free to comment.

Thank You.

The basics you need are a thin 27 mm wrench offset wrench, a flywheel lock, and a balance shaft spanner. And a torque wrench, of course.

http://www.mikepellegrini.com/Graphics/tools.jpg

If you can't find a thin offset wrench, a thin wrench works.

As for the balance shaft spanner, there are a bunch of different styles that work. The first time my son and I did a belt job, we used two punches in the holes and held them with a vicegrips.

Clark's has a whole lot of good info:

Timing Belt and Balance Shaft Belt Tensioning
Camshaft / Balance Shaft Belt Information
Timing Belt and Balance Shaft Belt Installation

And my favorite thread on tensioning: Clark's Garage Message Board :: View topic - Belt tensioning without the tool

Interesting articles Mike, thanks for the advice.

I just changed the timing belt on my '83 944. Similar design except mine has eccentric roller tensioners and yours has a spring tensioner for the timing belt. I am a typical home mechanic and I was able to change the belt quickly without using any of the special tools: offset wrench, a flywheel lock, and a balance shaft spanner.

If you are not taking off the upper/lower balance shaft sprockets, I don't think you will need the balance shaft spanner. Personally, I would not change the water pump because I would rather go through the work again just to replace the water pump. At least, for my '83, the timing belt is a 1 hour job. So, I'll push the water pump until I start seeing a leak.

My regular wrenches worked just fine and no need for the offset wrench. I used a wrench and a ratchet.

And, to lock my fly-wheel, I used a cheap $3 flat head screw driver. I removed the starter and locked the flywheel in place with the screw driver. I had a buddy help me torque the main crank-pulley bolt while I was underneath the car.

Check these videos out:
YouTube - Porsche 944 Turbo Water Pump Change - part 1.wmv
YouTube - Porsche 944 Turbo Water Pump Change - part 2
YouTube - Porsche 944 turbo Water Pump and Belt change - part 3

And, read the instuctions at Clark's Garage.

cheers,
~S

You are aware that once you work on the belts, the water pump will feel neglected. Checking the WP may be a good idea. If the new cam belt is overtightened, you will ruin the WP seal or WP bearing.

Cooling System

The front crankshaft seal and oil pump sleeve may need replacing. If you take off the belt covers and you have a few drops of oil leaking under the crank pullys, the seal is bad. If not replaced (and usually the oil pump sleeve as well), you are just putting in new belts that will be ruined by the oil thrown up by the crank pullys.

....comments? A few...

GL
John

I have to admit, the 944 is the ONLY vehicle I've ever owned where so many owners replace the the WP at the same time as the belts for no better reason than someone told them it's a good idea. When was the last time anyone heard of a WP failure that wasn't caused by over-tensioning or a poor rebuilt WP? The WP on my 83 made it to 160K as did the clutch. I also find it interesting that so many people remove the crank bolt to get at the TB pulley to get the belt on...every 944 I've owned I always managed to work the belt behind the PS/AC pulley with a little bit of finesse. The belts on these cars are considered pixie dust for some reason...it's a freaking timing belt, not a a portal to a parallel universe.

Thanks again for all the good advice and the different options on tools. My goal here is to simply replace the belts and nothing else. If the water pumps fails later on, I don't mind getting my hands dirty again.

That You Tube video is interesting, the instructor chooses to tension the belts by sense of feel. I suppose if you have enough experience with these belts you can do it by hand.

This is another 2nd test ---When you think you have the tension correct....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296653583.jpg

GL
John

2 tight............amen brother!!

Hilarious.

Of course, you know that the ghost of FA Porsche will haunt your dreams, and the German High Command will be by shortly to make sure your papers are in order.

While I am not one of the pixie dust crowd... I will point out to that a broken belt will set you back close to 2k on one of these cars... In many cases more than the car is worth.... Most people remove the crank pulley to do the front engine seals.....

I changed both belts on my 924S without any special tools. I'm new to these cars, and new to doing my own maintenance really (before I got the 924 I'd only done oil changes and fitted stereos).

I found that the balance shaft tensioner can be adjusted using a normal adjustable wrench and a socket.

As I say it was my 1st time and I found it took me about 3 or 4 hours. A fair bit of this is taking other parts off to get at the belts, and putting them on again afterwards. I was working slowly, using the write-up on Clark's garage (and had watched Van's great youtube tutorial on it too).

I didn't replace the balance shaft pulleys as they'd been done about 20k miles ago and looked fine (will probably swap them next time) so didn't need the special pin wrench or any alternative trick.

One tip I would give you is to remove the spring tensioner from the engine to get the cambelt off. I wasted about an hour trying to work it behind the roller. It's attached by 3 nuts which can be tricky to spot (you don't want to undo the other nuts that hold it together).

If you take your time, follow the guides on clark's, youtube and here, I'd say it's nothing to be scared of. And doing it yourself should save you a lot.

good luck - Mike

I am not questioning the actual need for a well done belt job or what the consequences can be. I'm commenting on all the mystery some people seem to put on a simple belt replacement. The 944 isn't the first car that will suffer from a poorly installed timing belt. Personally I've used the twist method on both belts for many years on numerous 944's with no problems but confirmed the first one and retension with the P901 tool; conversely some people have had a TB or BS belt fail within 5K miles for whatever reasons but probably incorrect tension or a bad roller.

Sorry for my attempted injection of a little levity in such a serious topic ;)

I got it...:D

John

We have about three feet of snow up here in NH so the car is up on jack stands inside the garage. It is good to know that I have the time to try out many of your suggestions because my only deadline is the springtime. However,SmileWavy I don't expect the job to take that long.

Whereabouts are you? I'm in southern NH and could come over and walk you through this some evening if you want. Let me know (my schedule is crazy but I'm always willing to help out another 944 owner...)

Thanks for your offer, I live in Derry NH. With all this information, I should be OK, but send me a PM with your e-mail when you get a chance.