Having them just to have them is pretty much a waste IMO. When installing a set of camshafts properly, and having them degreed to the manufacturer's specs, a set of adjustable gears at that point will be needed, as somtimes installing a cam "straight up" won't yeild advertised power gains.

All of the ones pictured are good gears, I recently picked up a set of the HK$s. The purple is kinda queer looking though....

 

Failure to properly tighten the lockbolts will do damage. Cheap garbage *** POS gears will fail as well. I hate to buy the "Bling Bling" bullcrap unless I have to, but I wouldn't cheap out on anything on the timing belt or somthing that can easily take out your valvetrain if it's garb. Stock gear> cheap crap gear.

 

Take a good look


These lasted almost a year of daily driving, and spirited weekend drives. Almost lost my engine to this piece of crap. I was lucky to figure out what the problem was before they completely crapped out on me.

Funny enough, my car feels much stronger without them.

I've had various sets of cam gears on different cars. My first set were AEM and they loosened themselves up over time. I had to periodically check them, and finally chucked them after I got sick of always tightening them.

Haven't really had good luck with any of them.

If you're building a show queen and like hard parking, then they will probably do you fine.

If you definitely have to have cam gears, I would be really careful about your choice.

Me, I like stock.

 

that looks like a nightmare. maybe if you are certain of the setting, you should loc-tite it so it would not loosen over time

 

I feel when choosing the gears look for adjustability, weight, and strength characteristics (unless you want bling factor, you can also look for balance). Most are made from the same billet Al, but if you take a look at the helix gear, the thickness where the cut outs are (for weight reduction) for the allen bolts are very thin. Its not surprising (to me) that it broke.

As already stated the purpose of the gears is to adjust the power band, and with the correct matched parts and a good tune you can come up with good power gains.