What should a brand new URO belt tension damper (shock) NOT look like after 1,108 miles?





Here is a photo showing a brand new URO damper right out of the pack (top) and the unit with 1,108 miles on it (bottom).



Checking to see if the damper bushings are worn was simple as you can hear in this video.

So are URO belt tensioners junk? I’m suspect but should know in approximately 1,000 miles . . . .

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Is xxxxx URO junk. YES!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

This PDF lists the 3 manufacturers of dampers I found at the usual replacement part houses.

While I wait for unit #2 to fail I'm open to recommendations for a good replacement.

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This car had a history, now it has a future.

Learn more about my Benz here.

The dealer damper lasts the longest and lasts long enough to be the most economical, even among otherwise trusted brands.

Sixto
87 300D

URO makes some trim pieces (like the gasket for the now-useless roof antenna on the 210 and 208) that are unavailable from the dealer or any other source. (The only way to get the OE gasket is to buy the entire painted cap, around $130+.)

So for that or another trim/cosmetic-type piece, I'd consider it.

For anything that is functional -- and particularly something that is critical -- I wouldn't trust URO unless all of these three things were true: I was stuck somewhere, it was the only part available, and it wasn't hard to change. Then when I got back home I'd order the proper part to replace the URO one. In that sense URO parts are like space-saver spares, for temporary use only.

I have seen a case of a URO tensioner losing the bushing completely.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

All Uro parts are garbage, along with all APA and FEQ (First Equipment Quality) parts. If you buy the cheapest brand available, don't be surprised when it fails quickly.

As Sixto said, only the OE/dealer belt tensioner shock has the updated-style bushing. The aftermarket ones (even the good brands) do not. Click here for a comprehensive vendor quality list, and remember that you get what you pay for.

How about this 11-month-old Uro flex disc?

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Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

Any URO part, even with zero miles on it, is carp.

They don't understand the concept of lasting rubber at all, witness the parts in this thread.

As far as trim pieces, etc, they don't understand the concept of chrome, at all. (witness one chrome grill, one antenna mast..)

The ONLY time you use URO parts is when fixing up all parts on the car to legitimately advertise "everything works" when selling the car. After about 3 months the car begins to fall apart everywhere a URO part is involved.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Honestly, I would feel guilty as hell doing that.

I would make a rubbish used car salesman... Or a pretty good one, depends which way you look at it

I think the OP should change the thread title from "Are URO belt tensioners junk?" to "URO belt tensioners are junk!"

it should more be like

confucious (sp) say that Uro parts are junk (old proverb)

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

David, can you tell us more about the updated bushing?

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Hey I can comment on the URO belt tensioner. I installed one and in less than a round trip to work and home; 84 miles; it failed. Rubber failed. I called the parts house I bought it from and they refunded my money; online.
I wouldn't buy ANYTHING made by URO.
I told the online parts store they ought to look at the reliability of URO parts; they could cause bad rep for there company.

If it hasn't been said enough URO is the worst trash you'll ever buy for a Benz. NEVER buy cheap china garbage. For example look up the flex disc accident you'll see what everyone is saying.

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97 W202

for items like a flex disc or ball joint or infact anything mechanical - choosing a uro part is akin to loading a gun with poisoned bullets and playing russian roulette.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)