This is why you should change the idler bearings when you change a timing belt...

[AndyTTR]

Thought I'd share a few pics of the carnage that ensued after a catastrophic timing belt failure in my mates 1UZ powered Soarer.

I reckon that the lube leaked out of the idler bearing, causing it to overheat and begin melting. The drag this put on the belt comined with the heat caused the water pump bearings to fail, cocking the shaft and seizing the pump. Amazingly the car continued to run after the pump seized! After getting a japanese warning that it was overheating my mate pulled over and the engine stalled (when the belt finally gave up and imploded I assume).

The previous owner of this car (previous to me) had the belt changed, but apparently not the bearings or water pump.

We cleaned it up, slapped a new pump, bearings, tensioner and belt on it and its as good as new again! The Stitt's thread on 1UZ timing belts came in very handy - cheers for that.

Anyway, pictures!

I forgot to mention that after the car broke down, it got run up the ass by some old guy in a VK commodore. The VK was written off, but the Soarer was back on the road after some work. The panel beaters thought it broke down due to an electrical fault - they called in an auto elec who pointed out that there was no cam angle signal. When the mechanic pulled it apart he found the shredded belt... and wanted $2000 to fix it!

So this is how it was when we got the car back...

[Lachie]

So, where are the pics

[AndyTTR]

Skid mark on the water pump pulley...




Remnants of the idler bearing...






The heat was so great that the stainless bearing shells had started to blue...


Remains of the belt... the teeth were in a neat little pile in the under tray.

[AndyTTR]

Going back together...




Dodgy mechanic didn't remove one of the bolts that hold the A/C compressor to the hydro pump resulting in this. Apparently 'it just came apart' in his hands... yeah right!




Hot tip for new players - change your front main seal when doing this job or much pain and frustration will follow.




$9 of parts, 9 hours of labour.


I think I was going a bit crazy by this stage... but I swear that looks like a smiley face.


And the Soarer lived happily ever after!

[AndyTTR]

So, where are the pics

Soz dude, I blame the forums 10 pics per post rule!!

[ed]

humbug @ catastrophic

you only needed a new belt and water pump!
i was expecting holes in blocks and pistons through bonnets or some shit like that

3/10

[AndyTTR]

haha, sorry to get your hopes up! The belt did let go pretty good though.

[fixeruperer]

haha yeh i was expecting some real carnage

[ed]

the belt photos saved you.

you also lost points for still having one ball remaining in the bearing assembly

[AndyTTR]

ok ok, I'll change the thread title to something more relevant... I just love using the word 'catastrophic' too much.

[Cuts]

wow....just wow.

[Lachie]

Soz dude, I blame the forums 10 pics per post rule!!

No worries just seemed odd to me!

[jonathan yee]

awesome..........

[StuC]

so i take it the non vvti 1Uz's are a non-interference motor. What did you do about the snapped off bolt hole/mount? Id be cracking the shits at the mech if i were you

[AndyTTR]

Yeah, the early ones are non-interference but it seems pretty common to blow the HG when the belt goes...

The A/C pump still had 3 of 4 mounting points, seemed pretty solid... plus it's not my car. The car sat in my mates garage for 8 weeks after being at the panel beater for 6 weeks, would've been hard pressed getting money for a new pump out of the mechanic I reckon.