JHM Timing Gear . . .

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

So after seeing a while back the shiny cam adjuster with “JHM” etched into it, I had to know what the deal was. I called and said that I want to preventatively to a timing chain job, and was interested in their new shiny stuff. I was told that they indeed have JHM cam adjusters in beta testing, and they should be ready for release before too long. Also that a pair of their adjusters would be less than one OEM one, which is also very encouraging. They have noted at least one other timing component issue that they will address, but do not even have a prototype yet, so it will be very long in coming.

Anywho, for those looking to do this service, might be worth waiting a while if you can. Shiny stuff confirmed!

And before 10 people tell me I’m stupid for wanting to do this service, I alone am the judge of what is worthwhile to me. It’s my car and my finances, and I plan to keep it for a very long time. If what I am told is true, then this service will be under $2k in parts, a price point that is quite worthwhile even if it has to be completed every 60k miles. Since pistons and valves are at stake, I think that’s fair.

When I do this, I should be able to collect a nice piece of data that has otherwise not been addressed in this community. Look for that over the summer when I do this job. Pics, dyno results (however conclusive or inconclusive they may be), and notes will follow on that.

#2

Thanks for sharing. I’ve been wanting to pro-actively do the timing as well. Will certainly wait for this release.

#3

Good stuff.

But may I ask, what your expecting to show with a dyno? Curious.

#4

Will you be doing the work yourself? I just hit 87k and have contemplated getting this taken care of but the cost labor has deterred me.

#5

dyno results just to see how healthy the car is, I guess?

#6

JHM has been working on the entire “timing chain” solution for years. The cam adjuster has been out for a while, in testing. Guides, have been tested for a very long time. The goal for JHM is to have a ultimate chain kit just like the belt driven motors have the ultimate kit. As if the shiny stuff isn’t enough of a tease, now there is every part of the “system” that is currently in testing. JHM is not leaving anything on the table that isn’t getting addressed.

This is AR, you’re not going to get people telling you you’re stupid for being smart and cautious about your car. The right time to replace the components is as soon as you feel comfortable.

#7

You will just have to wait and find out! It’s not timing related, if that helps.

Yes; all labor will be by me, with some supervision from a couple of my friends who are Audi certified technicians. If you are local, I would be happy to give you a hand after I do mine. If I were paying for the labor, I would be much more inclined to sell the car and buy something else. Not only that, but the only shop in the country I would trust to do the job correctly is in California (JHM). Dealerships and indy’s don’t get enough of these to be proficient, and it certainly is highly technical. (in my opinion)

I can’t wait for the electric adjuster guide, but I can always dive back in and do that, and its failure is very rare, I am told. Meanwhile, mechanical adjusters and chain tensioner(s) are already showing age. But I certainly appreciate the efforts of yourself and the crew over there to continue bringing us solutions.

#8

JHM looks to be revolutionizing the timing chain components in a couple of ways. Stronger and better pricing namely. Pretty cool.

I told them to charge more than stock, not less.

#9

The way I see it is the more savings they provide over oem will result more proactive maintenance and those customers splurging on their performance parts since they “saved” so much over oem.
Example. I would be paying 5K for timing service but since its only costing me 3K Ill pick up some headers, tune and IM.

#10

I think it might be better to make the psrts more expencive. More expencive parts keep the cheep kids from buying the csrs…when the cheep kids come in generally thats when all the advancement dies…

#11

I will seriously consider buying another one in a few years though as a project. Get a built motor with upgraded timing and slap a blower on it…supercar territory for $25-30k

I kinda agree with your outlook though Chris. Fucking kids have drove the last nail in the B5S4 coffin.

#12

Why not get an RS4 and slap our blower on it instead? ;D

#13

If it were an Avant, perhaps we could talk.

#14

I didn’t say that wasn’t going to happen first.

#15

Truth. I reckon most people would save time and money in the long run by just sending their car to JHM.

#16

Doesn’t stop people now. It just makes them put off maintenance and dump the car on someone else.

#17

+1. I would have saved around $3-$4k with my build.

#18

Aaaah but you probably saved $$$ by sending it when you did - look to the future!

#19

best of luck with the work. always a great idea doing maintenance in a planned/predictive way

#20

More money for smoke screens and bat mobile stuff