What all should definately be replaced during a timing belt job. I'm thinking belt, dry belts, t-stat w/ gasket, belt cover gasket(s), water pump w/ gasket, coolant, distilled water and gasket dressing. Assuming my 96 won't need a special tool to deal with the tensioner and no idler bearings need attention, what else should I do at the same time? Any recommendations on where to buy the parts? I want dealer quality parts without the feeling of being raped while walking out of the place <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

ive been wondering the same thing. im gonna do it eventually so i might as well get the kit. i would change the idler though. when in school i changed my timing belt on a pos geo and it walked off in the middle of nowhere because i didnt change the idler. hitchin with a weirdo is no fun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> .... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" /> ... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

I just wrote an article about the replacement when Wooglin(sp?) did his belt. I've seen enough 3.4L water pumps leak to recommend it be changed. It uses Form-In-Place-Gasket (FIPG at the dealer) even though you may remove a paper gasket. The article will be available May 1st.

Send your VIN to a couple of online Toyota dealers and you should find a 30% savings off of list price.

Here's a story:
When I found the water pump leaking on our 4Runner and it was still under warranty (with only 50,000 miles), I took it to the dealer.
The service advisor called to say the timing belt was a little frayed and the drive belts should be replaced.
Since it was all apart, he could offer me a special deal to install these belts without a labor charge.
The low, low price was $225.
You can probably guess that I declined.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
I think these would be about $80 (delivered) from an online dealer.

Something I have found (on several occasions actually!) that might be a good thing to note in the article: some of the idler and tensioner bearings were shipped dry and noisy from the OEM manufacturer to Toyota. I doubt Toyota even boxes these parts; they just flow through the parts pipeline. They destroy themselves fairly rapidly.

A simple way to check your replacements: spin them. If they make any audible noise, get a different (silent) one from the dealer. Personally I would always replace the idler and tensioner as well as the water pump when doing a timing belt; its just cheap insurance.

OK, not that cheap, but a real timesaver.

Here's that article:

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/timing_belt/

And take note of what ChiliMan said about idlers and tensioner.

Awesome article! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thanks to all! Any particular online sellers you could recommend?

Sending you a PM...

I received a quote that appears to beat any other online pricing enging I've been able to find but I don't know what one of the parts is for. Anyone know what this part is?

88440-04040 PULLEY AS

The two idler pulleys are already listed elsewhere so it's not one of them. Maybe a water pump pulley? If so I'll add it to the list of things to not order until I see it's required. I'd rather go back in later for crank and cam seals if I discover they're leaking.