New Belt Designs

[dogememe]

Recently, maybe the past 3-6 months, I’ve noticed new belts are thinner than before.

All three brands we carry at work (Gates and our two house brands) are coming like that…

Some customers are actually noticing and refusing to buy them. I have lost several sales. I don’t blame them - Personally, I also wouldn’t buy one of them, especially at the price some of these cost!

I’m wondering if they somehow improved the material to make it possible that these last as long as the previous/traditional design, but I really doubt it… I think it’s just the cheapening that is going on across many industries. Thoughts!?

 

[JHZR2]

Wait…. Width or thickness?

You’re showing width. The number of ribs and width should be set, as should the length.

Thickness is another story but your photo doesn’t show something to compare.

 

[Lubener]

Cost cutting measures as I see it.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Just bring back the Gatorback

 

[dogememe]

Wait…. Width or thickness?

You’re showing width. The number of ribs and width should be set, as should the length.

Thickness is another story but your photo doesn’t show something to compare.

Sorry I meant thickness… specifically the thickness of the ridges. Not the width of the belt they are obviously not different otherwise it wouldn’t work haha.

 

[AKhan87]

OEM Toyota belt for my Lexus (on sale buying from Toyota's website) is cheaper then well known name brand from online retailers, forget in-store AAP or AZ.

Also comparing them, the OEM belt looks to be of way better quality, why should I even consider buying after market, unless I was in a pinch? I wouldn't

 

[SC Maintenance]

Sorry I meant thickness… specifically the thickness of the ridges. Not the width of the belt they are obviously not different otherwise it wouldn’t work haha.

Can you clarify.

Are the ribs different / thinner? Or just the backing - the part from the bottom of the rib to the flat side of the belt.

Technically they could make the backing stronger, by using better belting reinforcement like Kevlar or whatever. Certainly not saying they are, but if we don't know we don't know.

Of course it wouldn't surprise me at all if everyone is cheapening everything. Its called "Value engineering" and its the way of the world. Most engineering projects are designed to squeeze cost out, not improve or make anything new.

 

[CarbonToast]

The Vs are not as tall. I'm not sure that last 1-2mm of pointy V was actually doing anything. Just more material and friction.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The Vs are not as tall. I'm not sure that last 1-2mm of pointy V was actually doing anything. Just more material and friction.

Yes, it will sit further into the pulley and as you already mentioned provide more friction and longer service.

So given that yes I would agree its just a cheapening. I wonder how much business these companies loose by doing this stuff. If they cut the cost by 10%, and only loose 3%, they win. I presume most Pro's don't have time to worry about getting a better one and they just stick it on and hope for the best.

 

[SC Maintenance]

OEM Toyota belt for my Lexus (on sale buying from Toyota's website) is cheaper then well known name brand from online retailers, forget in-store AAP or AZ.

Also comparing them, the OEM belt looks to be of way better quality, why should I even consider buying after market, unless I was in a pinch? I wouldn't

Toyota belts are ridiculously inexpensive for some reason. Not so much for other OEM's. Surprisingly because nothing else Toyota is.

The OEM Toyota belt for my Rav is half the price as the Nissan OEM belt for my truck. The truck is much longer, but the Bando for either is about the same price. However every other OEM part for my Nissan is much, much less than any other equivalent Toyota part. Its odd - but accurate I think.

 

[BobsArmory]

Just bring back the Gatorback

I put a Gatorback on my wife's Impala back in the day. I was surprised with how quiet it was. I didn't know they stopped making it.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I put a Gatorback on my wife's Impala back in the day. I was surprised with how quiet it was. I didn't know they stopped making it.

When Continental bought them out years ago they continued the design for a little while under a different name but it appears to be gone altogether now

 

[dfarr67]

Brand name aside- it's country of origin for me- Mexicans never heard of starting a car at -35C, rubber is like brittle plastic.

 

[repairman54]

Gatorbacks were too good that's why they got discontinued. Quiet and long lasting in my experience.