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How are timing belts made?
I’ve always been curious about the different materials involved in vehicles. I know belts are usually made of rubber, but how are timing belts made?
Bonnie Stinson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question! Timing belts in cars are usually made of rubber, but they can also be made of polyurethane or neoprene.
To make a timing belt, rubber is reinforced with corded fibers and then toothed to reduce friction and noise. Materials are molded into a premade shape and then the sleeve is precisely trimmed according to the requirements. Sometimes additional coatings are added for situations that require low dust.
Did you know that the first timing belts were actually invented for textile mills in the 1940s? It wasn’t until 1954 that a racing car used a timing belt for the first time. In 1966, the Pontiac OHC Six engine was the first mass-produced vehicle to use a timing belt.
Since the 1990s, metal timing chains have become more popular since they last longer. A major benefit of metal chains is that you have to replace them less frequently than rubber belts.
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