Cambelts

What is a cambelt and why is it important?

A cambelt is a rubber or nitrile toothed belt that is reinforced with fibre cords.  It is the connection point between the crankshaft and camshaft, maintaining a constant, timed motion when the engine is on.  So why is it important?  The crankshaft converts linear energy from the pistons (which move up and down) into the rotational energy that ultimately turns the wheels of your vehicle.  The camshaft allows air and gas to flow in and out of the engine by opening and closing the valves of the engine.  The cambelt links the two, but without it the pistons and valves would collide resulting in considerable engine damage.

When should I replace my cambelt?

Phone or email our team of specialist technicians with the make, model and registration number of your vehicle and we will give you specific advice.  If you are uncertain about the service history of your vehicle (as with Japanese imports) it is imperative to get the cambelt replaced.

Additional components

The auto tensioner is a high-pressure, fluid-filled tensioning system that reacts to temperature, optimising the tension applied to the cambelt relative to the temperature.  If your vehicle operates this system of cambelt tensioning we advise you to replace this in conjunction with the cambelt.

All cambelts rely on tensioner and idler bearings to keep them guided and in some instances, tensioned correctly.  Once the front of the engine is dismantled, our technicians examine these bearings carefully for wear and tear.

Behind the camshaft, balance shafts, oil pumps and crankshaft gears, are oil seals.  If oil leaks onto the cambelt, belt deterioration and premature failure will result.  Ask our experienced technicians to provide a quote to replace your seals.

The water pump is sometimes driven by the cambelt and usually always requires removal of the cambelt to replace – even if it is driven by an auxiliary belt.  Any sign of leakage or noise would indicate that replacement of the water pump is required.

Drive belts run auxiliary components such as the alternator, power steering, air conditioning and sometimes the water pump.  In most cases these drive belts are removed prior to replacing the cambelt.  Our technicians inspect the drive belts for damage and will recommend replacement if it is necessary.  Please note: after new drive belts are fitted, they may require further adjustment due to stretching.  The stretching causes a distinct squealing noise that usually occurs when the engine is cold.  The re-adjustment would usually be carried out at no additional cost.