Milky Bar Kid 1001

Hey any advice on the best way to change to belt on my '04 WRX UK spec?? Iv read in the Auto Data belt book that u need a couple special tools, iv got the cam holdin tool or can get hold of one but do u need to the crank holdin tool?? If so where can i get one??? Also is it worth changin the guilds etc, mine done just over 50,000, i kno it's difficult to say till it's in bits but if it worth doin generally i can get all the parts in one go rather than stages. Also how hard is it to do the job, the book shows 5 steps to take it off and bout 15 (slight exaggeration) to refit the new belt. Iv got mechanical experience but neva tackled one before so a lil advice wuld b greatly appricated.

swrtno1

iTrader: (2)

Its worth doing your water pump when u are in there. Got my cam belt done last year bought the cam belt kit that came with all the bit that were requiered cost me about £250 I think

As for the tools needed I dont know as I put it into the garage to be done! Not something I would tackle myself, no come bk if something gose wrong if you do it urself.

bly

iTrader: (1)

search on youtube there's vid's showing how to do it

arumdevil

I did mine without crank holding tool. Put in in 5th Gear and get someone to apply the brakes.

Splitpin

As has been said can be done without any specialist tools. Arumdevil's spot on re. immobilising the crank.

It's a much, much easier job with the radiator out (and you can use the opportunity to give everything a good clean, flush through and install fresh coolant). If you are not using a new tensioner, the reset procedure is absolutely critical. It can be done without a hydraulic press but must be done with the tensioner vertical, and very slowly, or you'll break it.

Wouldn't agree with the suggestion above that it's worth changing the water pump, unless it's actually knackered/leaking. Water pumps on these engines are good and last a looong time. Similarly on an '04 car you will probably find that the idler pulleys are fine to re-use.

arumdevil

Yep definitely take the rad out for access and visibility. My tensioner is the swing type and I used a G clamp to compress it - very slowly, over a few minutes.

Milky Bar Kid 1001

Thanks guys for the useful advise, as i say iv got mechanical experience so shuldn't b much an ordeal, iv got CD showin how to do it so il print off rel pages. As for the waterpump, pulleys etc il have to just wait til iv got in bits to see if they need changin to.