JHM Timing Gear . . .

B6/7 S4/RS4
#21

lol.

Squiddy (or anyone else for that matter), are the guide/tensioner weaknesses only with the B5’s? I’ve read so much about them and even some B7’s but I’m curious if it applies to the RS4?
Bryan at Rodgers (indie in Ottawa) tells me it’s a $5k job and if needed, I would consider it as a preventative item too. I’m only at 36k miles but if it’s on the future agenda, might as well plan for it. I too want to keep my car for a long while and this, along with DRC, are the two things I think will be bigger ticket items (unless I go JHM SC - I wish).

#22

I’ve always said it should be part of regular maintinece on these cars. People that are running beyond 75k with original timing components are playing with fire.

#23

totally. The problem is that people buying $12,000 cars don’t do so in most cases anticipating that expense. It’s a ‘cheap’ way to get into a cool car.

I still haven’t heard much discussion on the RS4 timing components or failures. Does anyone have any information on that?

#24

B7 RS4s haven’t had any issues really. Audi must have more thought into those components, which makes sense considering how the motor spins 1k more RPMs.

#25

I haven’t heard many B7s in general have too many timing chain/guide issues. Seems the issues are mostly with the B6s and their first generation guides.

Anyone correct me if I’m wrong.

#26

For what it’s worth my B7 had a chip in one of the guides that is metal sleeved by plastic/composite, whatever it is. It wasn’t “broke” by any means, but it could have potentially turned into a problem.

#27

I have the early model B6 and at 96,500 miles I needed to get the full + kit from jhm which replaces literally everything. I’m not even sure how the car was still running.

#28

Well we know that Audi did revise both the guides and adjusters anywhere from 05-07. Someone on AZ that worked for the company that made the guides(Honeywell maybe) said that the guides went through at least a few revisions. Not much info about the adjusters. They fail because the holes elongate, so maybe a harder steel, or even heat treated stock parts would be more durable.

Maybe they fixed it, maybe they didn’t. It is skewed by the fact that most 07+ cars probably don’t even have 100k on them whereas B6 cars pretty much all do. There have been a few 07-08 cars over the years on the forums that have had timing failures, so I would say that OEM components still are not up to snuff, even the latest revision.

After all…JHM would not be building their own guides if the latest rev. OEM’s were reliable.

#29

^Exactly. The B7’s are newer, and I have seen a few of them go down for timing components, so I think the revisions are too little, too late. Plenty of cars use plastic guides, so I don’t see that being a complaint, but the way that they are mounted and loaded seems to be poorly thought out, so they would need more than minor revision to fix. Same with adjusters - you can’t just increase hardness on one component and call it a day. The next weakest link always becomes a target. I think the RS4 will show similar signs, when they come of age, but very few have really gotten into high mileage, so it’s hard to tell if or how many may have troubles.

As for me, my cousin used to have a 2005 B7 S4 tip, and he’s always hated me for continuing to have mine. He sold his due to chain noises a few years ago. Now he’s super pissed that I’m doing a chain job, and even more pissed that I’ll be doing it for <$2k and paying no labor (DIY).

#30

I’m not convinced the b7 4.2 or even fsi s5 motors have revised guides. They’ve shown just a prone to break as the other 4.2 motors. From what I’ve read the Rs4 is a completely redesigned unit to accommodate the extra rpm. My confidence level with my S5 has increased since jhm bought one.

#31

RS4 owners lucked out in this area it seems.

#32

I’ve seen minor differences between B6 and B7 guides. Are they sufficient? Probably not, but they’re there.