Gates T42146 PowerGrip Cam Tensioner Pulley for Subaru EJ20/EJ25 WRX STI

Vehicle Fitment

• 1998-2010 Subaru Forester (All Trims - Base, L, S, X, XS, XT, XT Limited, XT Premium, XT Touring, Sports 2.5 X, Sports 2.5 XT, X L.L. Bean Edition, X Limited, X Premium) - 2.5L EJ25 H4
• 1998-2011 Subaru Impreza (All Trims - L, RS, TS, Outback, Outback Sport, 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5 GT) - 2.5L EJ25 H4
• 2002-2014 Subaru Impreza WRX (All Trims - WRX, WRX Limited, WRX Premium) - 2.0L EJ20 / 2.5L EJ25 H4 Turbocharged
• 2004-2014 Subaru Impreza WRX STI (All Trims - STI, STI Limited, STI Special Edition) - 2.5L EJ25 H4 Turbocharged
• 1998-2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - 2.0L EJ20 H4 Turbocharged (JDM / Canadian market)
• 1997-2009 Subaru Legacy (All Trims with EJ20 / EJ25, including Legacy GT and Legacy 2.5GT) - 2.0L EJ20 / 2.5L EJ25 H4
• 2000-2009 Subaru Outback (All Trims with EJ25, including Outback XT and 2.5XT) - 2.5L EJ25 H4
• 2003-2006 Subaru Baja (Base, Sport, Turbo) - 2.5L EJ25 H4
• 2005 Saab 9-2X (Aero, Linear) - 2.0L / 2.5L H4 (Subaru-based EJ20 / EJ25 platform)

Fitment Notes

• This is the CAM TENSIONER PULLEY ONLY - T42146 is the pulley/bearing component that mounts to the hydraulic tensioner body. It does not include the hydraulic tensioner body itself (T43138). Both components should be replaced together during any complete timing belt service.
• Fits the Subaru EJ20 2.0L and EJ25 2.5L flat-four (boxer) engine families - confirm your engine code before ordering. Common compatible codes include EJ201, EJ202, EJ205, EJ207, EJ251, EJ252, EJ253, EJ255, EJ257.
• Not compatible with Subaru EJ18, EJ22, EZ30, EZ36, FA, or FB series engines - confirm your specific engine family before ordering.
• Always replace the timing belt, tensioner pulley, idler pulleys, and hydraulic tensioner as a complete set - worn components operating against a new belt will accelerate wear and can cause premature belt failure.
• Subaru EJ-series engines are interference engines - a timing belt or tensioner failure will cause severe internal engine damage including bent valves and potential piston damage. Use only quality components and follow Subaru's recommended service interval.
• Sold individually - one (1) tensioner pulley per package.

Features

• OE-equivalent fit, form, and function - Gates engineers the T42146 to meet or exceed the original Subaru OEM tensioner pulley specifications, ensuring correct engagement geometry with the timing belt and hydraulic tensioner body for accurate belt tension maintenance throughout the service interval.
• Premium metal bearings - the T42146 uses metal bearing construction that resists contamination from engine fluids, heat, and debris, providing the same or superior bearing life compared to the OEM Subaru tensioner pulley it replaces.
• Gates PowerGrip quality - manufactured by Gates Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer of power transmission belts and timing system components, with direct involvement in OEM timing system development for major automakers globally, including Subaru's EJ and FA engine families.
• Precision geometry - the pulley's contact surface is machined to OE-equivalent dimensional tolerances, ensuring consistent belt contact across the full pulley width and preventing the edge loading and uneven wear caused by undersized or imprecisely machined aftermarket pulleys.
• Heat and contamination resistance - the bearing and outer race materials are selected to withstand the elevated temperatures present in the Subaru EJ engine's timing cover environment across the full recommended belt service interval, typically 60,000-105,000 miles depending on model and usage.
• Sold individually for targeted replacement - available as a standalone component for those replacing only the tensioner pulley, or as part of a complete Gates timing belt kit for comprehensive service.

Specifications

• Part Number: T42146
• Brand: Gates Corporation
• Product Line: PowerGrip Premium Timing Belt Pulleys and Tensioners
• Part Type: Cam Tensioner Pulley (bearing pulley for hydraulic tensioner)
• Engine Compatibility: Subaru EJ20 2.0L / EJ25 2.5L Flat-Four (H4)
• OE Comparison Rating: OE Equivalent - meets or exceeds OEM specifications
• Quantity: Sold individually (1x tensioner pulley)
• Mounting: Mounts to hydraulic tensioner body (T43138, sold separately)

Included Components

• 1x Gates T42146 PowerGrip Cam Tensioner Pulley

Product Description

The Gates T42146 PowerGrip Cam Tensioner Pulley is the OE-equivalent bearing pulley component designed for the Subaru EJ20 2.0L and EJ25 2.5L flat-four engine family, covering the full range of EJ-series applications from the 1998 Forester and Impreza through the 2014 WRX and WRX STI, including the Saab 9-2X which shares the Subaru EJ platform. The T42146 is the pulley - the bearing wheel that contacts the timing belt and rotates on the hydraulic tensioner body - and is sold separately from the hydraulic tensioner body itself (Gates T43138). Both components should be replaced during any complete timing belt service, as a worn pulley bearing on a new tensioner body will accelerate belt wear and can introduce the vibration and noise that precedes tensioner assembly failure.

Subaru's EJ-series engines are interference engines, meaning a timing belt or timing system component failure results in catastrophic internal engine damage - bent intake and exhaust valves at minimum, with potential piston damage depending on the failure point and RPM at the time of failure. This makes the quality and completeness of timing system service critical in a way that it simply is not on non-interference engine designs. Gates approaches EJ-series timing components with OE-level engineering: the T42146 is manufactured to match the original Subaru OEM tensioner pulley's dimensional specifications, bearing materials, and heat tolerance requirements, ensuring the replacement pulley maintains the same geometry and contact characteristics as the component it replaces rather than introducing variations that could alter belt tension or tracking.

Gates Corporation is directly involved in OEM timing system development for major automakers globally and brings that engineering depth to its aftermarket product line. The T42146 is compatible with all EJ20 and EJ25 engine codes across the Forester, Impreza, WRX, WRX STI, Legacy, Outback, Baja, and Saab 9-2X platforms - confirm your specific engine code before ordering to verify compatibility, and note that the T42146 is not compatible with Subaru's EJ18, EJ22, EZ30, EZ36, FA, or FB engine families. When performing a timing belt service on any EJ-series Subaru, Gates recommends replacing the complete timing system - belt, cam tensioner pulley (T42146), hydraulic tensioner body (T43138), and all idler pulleys - to ensure the new belt operates against equally new components and achieves its full rated service life.