Harmonic Balancer Oil Leak Help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Derry nh
Harmonic Balancer Oil Leak Help
I have a '91 (L98) with auto transmission that's been diagnosed with a leaking harmonic balancer seal. It's still bearable but getting worse so decided to bring it to be fixed. I got a call that they didn't realize the steering rack would need to be moved to make room for the pulley puller, that the quoted $200 repair cost would double, and asked whether I wanted them to continue. I said no.
After checking this forum, it's still not clear to me how much of a job this really is, can the balancer be safely removed with out a puller, etc. Some posters with C4s had the LT1 engine and others didn't say.
How big a job is this, should I find another repair shop, and what does the harmonic balancer do anyway?
After checking this forum, it's still not clear to me how much of a job this really is, can the balancer be safely removed with out a puller, etc. Some posters with C4s had the LT1 engine and others didn't say.
How big a job is this, should I find another repair shop, and what does the harmonic balancer do anyway?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
I replaced the harmonic balancer on my 86' in about 3 hours. I did need to have a puller and installer (which you can rent from auto parts stores), and I did need to remove the flywheel cover so I could use a wrench to hold the engine in position to remove the crankshaft bolt.
I did NOT have to remove the power steering rack on my car, but I did have to disconnect one of the metal lines so the puller could do it's job properly.
I installed a Dorman balancer, which was about $50.
I took some pictures that you can see here:
http://members.***.net/effergyvette/..._balancer.html
One of the pictures shows the metal line being disconnected and the next one shows the puller in position under the metal line.
I did NOT have to remove the power steering rack on my car, but I did have to disconnect one of the metal lines so the puller could do it's job properly.
I installed a Dorman balancer, which was about $50.
I took some pictures that you can see here:
http://members.***.net/effergyvette/..._balancer.html
One of the pictures shows the metal line being disconnected and the next one shows the puller in position under the metal line.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
I replaced the harmonic balancer on my 86' in about 3 hours. I did need to have a puller and installer (which you can rent from auto parts stores), and I did need to remove the flywheel cover so I could use a wrench to hold the engine in position to remove the crankshaft bolt.
I did NOT have to remove the power steering rack on my car, but I did have to disconnect one of the metal lines so the puller could do it's job properly.
I installed a Dorman balancer, which was about $50.
I took some pictures that you can see here:
[
One of the pictures shows the metal line being disconnected and the next one shows the puller in position under the metal line.
I did NOT have to remove the power steering rack on my car, but I did have to disconnect one of the metal lines so the puller could do it's job properly.
I installed a Dorman balancer, which was about $50.
I took some pictures that you can see here:
[
One of the pictures shows the metal line being disconnected and the next one shows the puller in position under the metal line.
Jake
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
What do you mean by leaking harmonic balancer seal? Are you talking about the timing cover seal? The timing cover seal can leak cause the balancer has a groove worn in, because the seal is bad, or could be both.
The only thing I can think of that could leak from the harmonic balancer is through the keyway. When you reinstall a balancer, you want to clean up any oil in/around the keyway. And fill the keyway with high temp RTV right before you press it on.
http://www.mustangcollective.com/sho...d.php?p=123442
The only thing I can think of that could leak from the harmonic balancer is through the keyway. When you reinstall a balancer, you want to clean up any oil in/around the keyway. And fill the keyway with high temp RTV right before you press it on.
http://www.mustangcollective.com/sho...d.php?p=123442
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Derry nh
How can I tell if the leak is from the timing cover/main seal or the harmonic balancer? Is it an obvious observation? The service manager at the shop I've been with for years says it's the balancer that's leaking.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
If the keyway is letting oil past, then it will let oil get to the crank pulley, and the pulley will sling it all over the place.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 14
From: Stafford Connecticut
seal
It's your timing cover seal that is leaking.Your balancer also probably has a groove on it .Melling sells a repair sleave for the balancer.Look underneath your car where the balancer goes into your timing cover you will see oil dripping from there.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
From: North Bay Ontario
Make sure that your harmonic balance hasn't started to separate and the outer ring has slipped back and worn a hole in the timing cover...
And, you can purchase a replacement seal for the timing cover that has longer sides, so when you press it into the timing cover, the location where the rubber seal seals around the harmonic balancer is not where the little groove has been worn by the previous seal.
And, you can purchase a replacement seal for the timing cover that has longer sides, so when you press it into the timing cover, the location where the rubber seal seals around the harmonic balancer is not where the little groove has been worn by the previous seal.
