Timing belt AISIN or OEM Audi

I used the Aisin kit. There was a thread on CL about how "the Aisin belt isn't the same standard, look the text on the original is still there but the new one rubbed off fast". Idk, I'd call BS on that, all the text on my belt was gone and it was serviced at a dealer.

Aisin is the one you want. Full stop.

I just did a timing belt / water pump kit on my bugeye. All the components you get with it are exactly what you’d get if you went to the dealership (even down to the little component boxes albeit with a different logo stamped on it), except for maybe the pump itself. Aisin was one of the OE water pump manufacturers, and they have a long history in Japanese car parts and motor sports. The instructions that come with the kit make it super easy, too.

Those cracks look worse than what mine did. I had gotten my car at 134k mileage and I changed my belt at 180k but to be very honest I think my belt had been on there for much longer before I owned that vehicle and I think I got lucky it never snapped into pieces.

I'd definitely want to at least peak at the timing belt for its condition / date stamp. Aisin kit with water pump and OEM Subaru thermostat is what you want.

Aisin is definitely a go to.

I would just buy the Aisin timing belt kit TKT-031 and then seals from the dealership (or an online Lexus/Toyota OE website)

The Aisin kit will have OE parts, where as other brands probably won't (Dayco definitely not, Continental is a mixed bag)

Nothing is really hard at all to work on with the UZ series V8s. They're not even that expensive either - a complete Aisin timing belt kit with a new Aisin water pump, Japanese idler pulleys, new tensioner and Japanese belt costs less than the Dayco kit from Autozone.

Just go to Rockauto and get the Aisin Timing Belt and Water Pump kit, its like $170 and you're getting OEM parts.

But I would do a Lexus and go the extra mile for the Toyota OEM TKT Aisin kits for timing belt/pump/tensioner replacement.

Highly recommend using the Aisin Timing Belt kit (TKH003) as it contains the actual OEM parts in a kit without having to use more expensive Honda parts.