Drive belts... Whats good? Whats bad?

[porschpow]

I need to replace my accessory belt and was wondering what's a good brand.

Bando
Gates
Dayco
Continental
ACDelco
Motorcraft

[DerekTheGreat]

I can't seem to find Motorcraft stuff and was recently told Gates are garbage. I'll find out though as I've ordered two for my car. Heard Dayco is supposed to be good.

[porschpow]

Rockauto seems to carry Motorcraft.

I am assuming that is the best

I am not sure if Dayco is brand FLAPs carry

[t65neon5]

after a general check on the internet and a few ford forums, the general opinion is that gates is the OEM supplier to ford (I personally do not deny or confirm this)......I have had gates and goodyear, and both seem to be of good quality,

[mercurygm88]

I've personally always used Gates when available, never had a problem with one either. My Town Car has a brand new Goodyear on it, but thats only because it was brand new in the trunk when I bought the car.

[gadget73]

Gates, Dayco, Motorshaft are fine. Never heard of Bando. Continental makes tires, never seen their belts. ACDelco is a re-brander these days, so their belts might be made by anyone.

I'd assume Motorcraft OEM is actually Gates or Goodyear. Generally I'm not real picky. I use what I can get when I need one most of the time. I'm currently running a pair of Dayco belts.

[GM_Guy]

The Motorcraft belt I got for the vomit comet was made in Thailand. Motorcraft seems to be following in the footsteps of AC Delco, more and more foreign manufactured parts.

Bando strikes me as the budget belt, not the belt that is going to give me a really long life.

Gates and Dayco are pretty much the only belts available up here from the parts stores (plus their budget brands), always used whatever they carried (coke/pepsi type of thing, just give me whatever you got). Goodyear had more limited availablity, no complaints about the gatorbacks I put on the box.

Alex.

[sly]

Gates "gator back" are some of the best if not the best. Gates belts other than the gator back series are common belts that may or may not be any better than anyone else.

[Mainemantom]

I have used Motorcraft, Gates and Dayco. Goodyear is another choice. All seem to be decent. If you keep the tension on them properly, change them when they need it and KEEP A SPARE IN THE TRUNK, you will be in good shape. Does not matter what brand, they all can fail. Same with hoses. Keep spares.

[knucklehead0202]

Yep, on the newer single-belt cars, a goodyear gatorback is as good as it gets. Barring that, I'd probably go gates or motorcraft. Delco is GM crap mostly isn't it? Poison if you ask me.

[DerekTheGreat]

Well, I know Delco distributor caps are at least better than MSD caps. Fireturd burned wasn't happy with the MSD cap and partially melted it, been happy with the Delco replacement.

[porschpow]

Yeah, I would get the Goodyear gatorback but the FLAPS don't carry 'em, ill just settle with gates