Is it better to buy the pieces for a Timing Belt + Water Pump replacement separately or as a kit?

Will I get higher quality parts by doing it one way over the other? What did you do and where did you buy your parts? This is for the 3.4L V6.

 

I bought a kit of eBay with all OEM parts. I'll look to see if I can find which one.

 

You should check out trdparts.com. They have all genuine OEM parts for half price. And you know where you're getting it from.

 

here you go: all oem parts

complete kit with everything you need and should possibly change for $250 http://www.ebay.com/itm/190521450224?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

or just the basic timing belt, water pump, pulley kit $150 http://www.ebay.com/itm/180651555010?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

http://m.ebay.com/itm/180729034728?_mwBanner=1

This is what I got. Might find better prices now, bought it 2 or so years ago.

 

3.4 V6's don't have timing chains

 

the links are to a timing belt kits but I fixed the post so it reads correctly

 

This is the one I have purchased twice from the same vendor on Ebay. Was very pleased with it, all OEM (notice a difference in the price) and shipped it out right away. They go on sale from time to time so you can save a few extra bucks. They are not all the same so read the description and the list of parts carefully.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TIMING-BELT...CES-/180729034728?vxp=mtr&hash=item2a144a37e8

Any other maintenance on the truck I would order OEM parts online. Specifically Here.

Camelback Toyota Parts

 

This, many of them say OEM and have most OEM parts but not all OEM.

 

I always use the Aisin kits.

 

if you want to spend $30 extra buying the exact same kit with the exact same parts from the exact same guy, then go ahead, but if you follow your own suggestion and read the list of what parts you are getting, you will see the kit I linked earlier is the same kit but at a $30 cheaper price with "slight" differences in description such as "koyo" instead of saying "Toyota koyo" but they are exact same part numbers. the only difference is this kit gets the parts direct from the Toyota parts suppliers, so you don't have to pay extra to buy an asin part box with a toyota sticker on it.

as you said "read the description carefully to be sure what you are buying", I had conversations with "aircabinman" to see why he had different prices for the same kits and he told me "some people rather pay more to see a toyota sticker on the box" so those kits cost more because they are sourced through Toyota rather then straight from the mfg but the parts are exactly the same and made by the same mfg.

 

... guilty pleasure.


@keakar Thanks for sharing your correspondence with "aircabinman." Good to know for the next time I purchase a timing belt kit.