Typically, belts last between 100,000- and 160,000km before needing to be replaced (it varies considerably from engine to engine so don’t take this as an absolute guideline – always check what it should be for your car). They’re not the simplest jobs to do and, unless you’re mechanically savvy and know what ‘top dead centre’ means, it’s best to take your car into a garage to have the work done. It will typically cost you a few hundred Euro to have a belt replaced, but while that’s hardly inexpensive, it’s as nothing to the cost of repairs if you fail to have the belt replaced and it snaps further down the line.

Does my car have timing chain or beltby reg

Ball joints play a major role in the steering and suspension of cars and can last a long time. However, driving on bad ball joints can cause major damage and total ball joint failure can be fatal. If you’re unsure about the condition of the ball joints in a car, then speak to a garage about good quality replacements.

Ball joint failure isn’t a common problem, but can be the result of years of driving along bumpy, uneven road surfaces. A broken ball joint may be the cause of a mysterious clunking noise or drifting steering. And once they’re worn, they will seriously affect your steering and suspension. If a ball joint fails completely, it can even result in the wheel dramatically falling off the car. A scary thought! But what are ball joints and when do you need to replace them?

TIP: Ball joint parts made from low-grade steel or using inferior heat treatment can lessen the price, but also reduce the lifetime of the part by up to 50%.

Does my car have timing chain or beltnear me

Most cars require the timing belt to be changed every 5 years or 160,000 kilometres (whichever comes first). When you buy a second hand car coming up to or over 5 years old, you should always check if the timing belt has been changed or when it is due. If it needs to be changed you should contact a competent centre like BestDrive for peace of mind.

Toyotatiming belt or chain

Over time, a belt will wear. It may show signs of cracking, it may stretch and cause the engine to lose power or run poorly, or it may snap altogether. In the last instance, this could be disastrous for your car; if the timing belt snaps and the timing goes off while the engine is running, then valves could hit pistons and be bent/damaged beyond all repair. In this instance, you will need a very, very expensive top-end repair job to be done to make your engine work again, so it’s best to replace the belt before or at its scheduled maintenance point.

You will find that ball joints on each side of the car tend to have similar wear, which means it’s common to have them replaced in sets or matching pairs.

You’ll have heard of timing belts and timing chains being a part of your car’s engine, but what does timing mean? Has your car got a belt or a chain? What are the possible problems with a belt?

Which Toyota modelshave timingchains

List of cars withtimingchains

Ball joints connect the car wheels to the suspension system, and allow them to move together. As the name suggests, these clever ball-and-sockets acts as a pivot, similar to the hip joint in the human body. Ball joints are made of a bearing stud and socket that fit snugly inside a lubricated casing. They connect the control arm to the steering knuckles and allow for smooth and solid movement in the suspension. The front suspension of most cars has at least lower ball joints and in some cases upper ones as well.

Yes! Not all ball joints are created equal. Parts that are made from premium materials with an innovative design have greater strength and durability. MOOG ball joints are made from superior compounds that are better able to cope with high temperatures, dirt and abrasion. The housings are forged from a single block of fine-grain alloy steel for greater strength.

Best used cars withtiming chain

We are focusing on the timing belt in this feature. In brief, timing is how the valves (inlet and exhaust) open on your engine in precise accordance with the movement of the pistons – this is all a matter of very precise timing, you see, and hence the phrase ‘timing belt’ for the item which controls this combustion ballet. The belt is attached to a series of sprockets and pulleys in your engine, which determines exactly when the valves open to optimise your engine’s performance through the most efficient burning of the air/fuel mixture. Some diesel engines also have fuel pumps that are driven and ‘timed’ by the same belt.

If you suspect ball joint wear, the car should be inspected as soon as possible. Ball joint replacement is not straightforward, as they can be very tricky to access and install – especially with age and rust. On some cars, the ball joint is integrated into the control arm. If you’re not familiar with the suspension and wheel assembly, it’s best to visit a garage for a professional check.

Oh, and belt versus chain? The belt is obviously cheaper, in terms of both its component cost and replacement charges, but chains tend to be a bit stronger and longer lasting. However, even chains can wear out and snap, so it’s not a fool proof mechanism for engine timing.

Toyotatiming chainreplacement schedule

The most obvious signs of a belt on its last legs are a loss of power when accelerating, slippage (normally identified by a high-pitched, intermittent screeching sound from the engine), slow pick-up at lower revs and even a rattling noise from the engine (although this is more commonly associated with worn, stretched timing chains). Get it seen to as soon as possible.

This is a huge question and one we simply don’t have the space here to answer in full – the best way of solving this would be to list every car that has a belt, and every car that has a chain. However, there are plenty of good online resources that will list cars with belts and cars with chains, which will come up with a simple ‘does my car have a timing belt or timing chain’ Google search (other internet search engines are available). If you can see a plastic cover affixed to the side of your engine, then you most likely have got a belt; if not, it’s probably a chain. However, the advent of full-engine plastic covers that sit on top of the whole unit tend to make this sort of identification hit and miss.

Get a FREE Timing Belt Check or a priceless peace of mind Car Safety Check from BestDrive Continental. Register for your free Car Safety Check now, so that you and your passangers are safe on the road.

Does my car have timing chain or beltby vin

Ball joints deteriorate if dirt, grit and impurities get inside or grease escapes, leading to a lack of lubrication. Added to this, rusting and general wear and tear also damage these suspension parts. The effects of this deterioration are excessive play and looseness (beyond the manufacturer’s specifications). While healthy ball joints allow for smooth movement from side to side, they shouldn’t wiggle or jolt up and down. This is a clear indicator that you need to look into ball joint replacement.

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Because ball joints can last a long time, they’re often forgotten! But they do wear out and won’t usually last as long as the vehicle. Remember that they work extra hard on bumpy, winding roads, so it depends on the vehicle’s mileage and the conditions it has been exposed to.