I recently purchased a set of GSC S2 cams w/ their beehive valvesprings and plan on having them installed at a local shop. My car (evo ix) barely hit 38k miles not so long ago, and the shop recommends that I have the timing belt job performed.

I'm aware that the timing belt is due @ 60k , but this shop wanted me to at least have the timing belt auto tensioner replaced the least when having my cams installed.

Any feedback/info. would be very helpful on whether it's something I must replace

 

yes its a good idea to have your belt and tensioner replaced.

the tensioner isnt desinged to be fully extended then compressed multiple times,

get a gates racing belt and tensioner.

just my .02

 

The tensioner has a piston inside with a spring under it and is filled with silicon oil. There is also a small orifice that allows the oil to move in or out of the cavity under the piston. When compressing the tensioner in a vice you want to do it slowly. Otherwise, you can wreck the tensioner.

I suppose, at a shop where production out the door is profits, throwing on a new tensioner is a good idea.

 

Not a bad idea, but I just replaced my t belt, tensioner and water pump at 75k miles and everything looked fine. Belt didn't look bad. That doesn't mean that it wasn't streched a little or the tensioner wasn't getting weak. its a pain in the *** job. Thats for sure.

 

I have seen tensioners fail after being fully extended, its always a good idea to replace it, cheap insurance.
A new belt would also be a good idea, regular OEM ones are fine. Or if you want to be bad *** get a full Gates t-belt/balance shaft belt kit.

 

he should go for full bad assery!

 

Thanks for the input , I look forward to having my GSC S2 mivec cams come in

 

extreme psi has the timing tool tensioner for a good price, just to let you know. That where I got mine when doing a cam install