Ebay Cam Gears

[hardsteppa]

So I was looking for an adjustable cam gear for the exhaust cam...saw some on ebay that were pretty damn cheap, $100 and under. This one looked good, in that it says the outside gear is steel rather than aluminium, and they are sold as one, rather than a pair, not to mention the bargain price

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NISSAN-SKYLINE-RB20-RB20DET-RB25DET-RB26-CAM-GEAR-GEARS-/150544637164?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item230d28dcec

this one looked ok too, with the outside gear also being steel, and not a bad price, but don't need the pair. Can't see much difference in quality between the two

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NISSAN-CAM-GEARS-RB25-RB20-RB26-R32-R33-R34-GTST-GTR-/250804476375?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a651c99d7

I was after opinions, recommendations, feedback? from anyone who's tried these or had experience with them. Really curious about the quality between these and the "brand name" stuff that is 14 times the price. I'm more looking to shift the powerband down a little, so it's not going to be a hi-revving beast or anything, if that makes a difference....thanks for everyone's input in advance

[eightsixboy]

I had the exact cam gears on my hr31, they seemed like they were half decent, just replace the bolts with high tensile ones.

Both those cam gears are the same, just different color. I've seen the exact cam gears advertised alot by different sellers, they must all buy them from the same place.

Ones to stay away from are any with 3 bolts, most out there have 5.

Dont get the fidanza ones, i had some on my old 4ag and the color faded and looked like ass after about 2-3 weeks.

Honestly i think the 'brand' name ones are just marked up a crap load, they would be 'better' quality but its more just the wank factor of having tomei or hks cam gears. I haven't heard of anyone having any issues with the cheaper ones.

Edited April 19, 2011 by eightsixboy

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

I run a greddy unit and would not run anything less. for a part that costs like 1/100th of the car but can destroy the engine you would be an idiot to cheap out over a few $$$

considering even HKS f**ked up their first batch, i'd say it's something that needs to be done right

[Ad's]

Ebay is ebay. Take your own risk! Would it really be worth it just to save a few bucks? I persionally don't put anything on my car that isn't best/ish quality but that is just me.

[eightsixboy]

Ebay is ebay. Take your own risk! Would it really be worth it just to save a few bucks? I persionally don't put anything on my car that isn't best/ish quality but that is just me.

I agree totally but I think the cheaper ones would be made similar material as the brand name ones. You never no there all prob made in taiwan or something anyway , just come out with different brand and price tag.

[3LGODZILA]

I agree totally but I think the cheaper ones would be made similar material as the brand name ones. You never no there all prob made in taiwan or something anyway , just come out with different brand and price tag.

the brand name parts have alot of time and $ put into research and design, testing it out and learning from there mistakes once they get it right they mass produce them. whereas the Chinese company will take the finished product and put a bit of time and $ into getting it as similar as possible and then mass produce them in poorer quality factories where the end result may vary slightly from item to item - just like the greddy copy plenums theyre all out the same factory yet some fit good and some don't. its taking a risk like joey said spend the extra $100 its a engine part ffs

[krzysiu]

I run a greddy unit and would not run anything less. for a part that costs like 1/100th of the car but can destroy the engine you would be an idiot to cheap out over a few $$$

considering even HKS f**ked up their first batch, i'd say it's something that needs to be done right

Greddy ftw

[hardsteppa]

thanks for the replies guys. The brand names seem to be a bit more than $100 extra though, more like $300 extra. I guess I was asking, the cheaper ones range from $40 to $200 or so, and was there any difference between them or all pretty similar?

I used to be of the opinion that I would only put "brand" stuff on my car, but it seems there is alot of stuff available cheaper nowdays that IS of fair enough quality for the average user.....a perfect example of this being the BC coilover range that I've yet to read a bad review about. And really, like it or not, you *are* paying for the brand name, every time you buy a brand name part. Although some of that may be paying for a reputation built up by selling quality parts, I think companies will still cash in on that and charge extra accordingly.

To the guys who feel the ebay gears shown might be a danger to the engine - asking for your experience here, what do you see on them that might be a weak point that would cause failure? Like, do you see any points that are not thick enough, or there is not enough support in them, etc? From what it shows in the pics, they look fair quality to me, although would need to see in person i guess to really tell properly. I'd rather not fork out any more than i have to for something that really, I'm probably going to spend half a day trying a couple of settings, and then leave it at that and forget it....car is a daily driver and just looking for budget mods to tweak it a little.

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

thanks for the replies guys. The brand names seem to be a bit more than $100 extra though, more like $300 extra. I guess I was asking, the cheaper ones range from $40 to $200 or so, and was there any difference between them or all pretty similar?

I used to be of the opinion that I would only put "brand" stuff on my car, but it seems there is alot of stuff available cheaper nowdays that IS of fair enough quality for the average user.....a perfect example of this being the BC coilover range that I've yet to read a bad review about. And really, like it or not, you *are* paying for the brand name, every time you buy a brand name part. Although some of that may be paying for a reputation built up by selling quality parts, I think companies will still cash in on that and charge extra accordingly.

To the guys who feel the ebay gears shown might be a danger to the engine - asking for your experience here, what do you see on them that might be a weak point that would cause failure? Like, do you see any points that are not thick enough, or there is not enough support in them, etc? From what it shows in the pics, they look fair quality to me, although would need to see in person i guess to really tell properly. I'd rather not fork out any more than i have to for something that really, I'm probably going to spend half a day trying a couple of settings, and then leave it at that and forget it....car is a daily driver and just looking for budget mods to tweak it a little.

cheap cam gears can slip to max/min setting due to soft metals in the gear and/or bolts

also there are plenty of bad reviews on BC coilovers

[krzysiu]

thanks for the replies guys. The brand names seem to be a bit more than $100 extra though, more like $300 extra. I guess I was asking, the cheaper ones range from $40 to $200 or so, and was there any difference between them or all pretty similar?

I used to be of the opinion that I would only put "brand" stuff on my car, but it seems there is alot of stuff available cheaper nowdays that IS of fair enough quality for the average user.....a perfect example of this being the BC coilover range that I've yet to read a bad review about. And really, like it or not, you *are* paying for the brand name, every time you buy a brand name part. Although some of that may be paying for a reputation built up by selling quality parts, I think companies will still cash in on that and charge extra accordingly.

To the guys who feel the ebay gears shown might be a danger to the engine - asking for your experience here, what do you see on them that might be a weak point that would cause failure? Like, do you see any points that are not thick enough, or there is not enough support in them, etc? From what it shows in the pics, they look fair quality to me, although would need to see in person i guess to really tell properly. I'd rather not fork out any more than i have to for something that really, I'm probably going to spend half a day trying a couple of settings, and then leave it at that and forget it....car is a daily driver and just looking for budget mods to tweak it a little.

I got my greddy cam gear for like $260 (brand new) so not that crazy.

Also for the record my brother and mate both run the bc coilovers. Non have had problems yet. Been almost 2 years

[scotty nm35]

Nothing wrong with those cam gears by the looks of it, but its the risk you take I guess. Replace the bolts as said and they should be fine, better than HKS's attempt. 5 bolt so they shouldnt slip, just loctite the new high tensile bolts in place.

BC's FTW!

Taiwan has been the best manufacturer (cost v quality wise)for a long while now imo.

[Hanaldo]

Another +1 for BC's, I love em. Haven't seen any bad reviews except the one guy who snapped a spring, but that was covered under warranty.

I wouldn't put cheap ebay cam gears on my engine though, that's in a whole other boat.

[SargeRX8]

You do run the risk of them slipping but really you can adjust them and then lock them your self. They are made of the same metal but I wouldn't rely on their bolts and the threading.

If you're gonna buy a set, buy them, adjust them then have them modded to take two or 4 pins and have them tacked. Need to adjust it later, drill out the pin and tack.

Better option is have your stock ones modified to be adjustable.

[hardsteppa]

so I have a bit more of a look, and found a couple of things...the HKS, Tomei and Greddy ones seem to be an all aluminium, or "duraminium" construction, for the weight saving?...I'm not keen on this, I would prefer the outer ring be steel for durability, like the stock one is. The ebay ones seem to have the cam attachment holes in slightly the wrong spot, compared to the "brand" ones. Maybe to allow them to be used for either in or ex? Don't know that it would make a difference, would just mean the adjustment scale part sits at a different spot, ie- not directly on top.

[PM-R33]

Anything to do with the timing of the car I would not skimp out on. All it takes is a small failure and it will cost you an engine.

Not saying those ebay ones are bad, they might be fine, but is it worth the risk? Your call.

[blue_vl_t]

I have had a set of these in my possession, they look very nicely machined, i would perhaps replace the bolts as they are chrome if i remember correctly, could be rubbish quality, gears looked really good in the flesh

[v kush]

im running a set right now on my rb20 i have and have had them on for about 8 months and havent had a problem but i did switch the bolts to grade10 high tension bolts as for name brand or not there the same thing as my tomei ones on my rb26 there the excat same cuz the company stole the design thats why there soo cheap cuz they dont have to oay for the reserch the just take the demention and start making there own i was ganna do it but i would only be making 5 on each set

[limpus]

For the record...i ran ebay cam gears on my old skyline and they were fine too...made decent power and copped an absolute pounding...and they never caused a single issue... so don't read too much into it...

BUT...MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE BOLTS LIKE EVERYONE HAS SAID!!! And maybe the washers too...

Do that and you'll be fine...

[hardsteppa]

yep, would definitely change the bolts and washers for some good gear. I've looked at what info I can find on the brand name ones, and *just from looking at pictures and reading info* (as in, I haven't seen them in person so can't say conclusively) but I definitely don't want the 3 spoke ones, like HKS (which seem to be the MOST expensive), and don't want all-aluminium ones, which it seems ALL the "brand" ones are....obviously for the weight saving in race engines, but I don't care about that, I'd rather the durability of steel....so it sounds crazy, but it seems like the ebay ones are the "best" ones out there for me. Think I might make a purchase.....

[hardsteppa]

ok so they turned up in the mail today. I was very impressed. Machining looks great, nice finish, steel outer edge is very solid and thick in the centre section where the inner bolts into, inner alum section is thick enough where it is held on by adjustment bolts (which is the part I was most concerned about), no dags or rough edges anywhere. Bolts looked fine but if there was a weak point, they would appear to be it so will pick up some stronger ones tomorrow. They came as a set of two so if anyone wants the other one, I am putting it in the for sale section, along with some pics if anyone else just wants to check out the construction of them.