I realize that if a belt breaks, then my car is not doing so well. So, after 8 years of never thinking to have them replaced during other maintenance sessions I had them replaced today. Furthermore, after 106,000 miles I have new spark plugs (got the high performance 90k mile ones)...

Anyway, what's the big deal if all of that is fine and dandy still? Why replace them? I'm curious as to if I'll notice much in the way of performance or if that's just a replacement to try and keep from a breakdown at some point in the near future... The latter was my thinking when I had them review my car history at the shop and do the work...

 

no big deal in having the timing belt changed if its running good, but when it breaks, the valves open and pistons turning, you just bent,broke your valves or have valve holes in the piston. so a 500 dollar job just became a 3000. dollar engine ovh or replacement, and instead of a 2-4hr job, now its a 1-2 week job. Hope this answers your no big deal if all runs good.