Can't believe it happened again (2nd time after a race). After picking my daughter up from work (8:00/pm), I was being challenged on the way back home by a newer modded Mustang GT owner. My 20 year old daughter says something to the effect " Is he faster than your Corvette, Dad ", oh well !!, so off we go from a slow roll, and I end up beating him by several cars. The real side to this story is not the win, but the loss, I just want to express how important it is to inspect those serpentine belts that get overlooked for long periods of time. I had just ordered new Gatorback replacement belts that day, and this morning went to install them and found that the A/C belt had shredded during the night before's little encounter , and upon coming apart it had wrapped up and pushed the outer harmonic balancer ring outward by a 1/4'' inch. Be it bad luck, timing, karma, whatever, 'Guys', go out and check your belts conditions and replace them if necessary. For a $12 part going bad, it is now going to cost a lot more in time and money to fix the problem,. Also, has anyone installed Powerbond balancers or others , I am definitely not going to replace it with a OE balancer again, I am open to suggestions from members who have used other after market balancers and have had good results, Thanks guys !!

 

Thanks for the info

 

Phew glad u won... All that matters. Lol

I just went out to inspect my belt. Good advice!

 

Daryll, buddy, I realize you don't want to go with a stock balancer again but that's not what caused your failure. It was your own fault for not checking your belts. If I told you once, I told you a thousand times . . . And that's what you get for racing with your daughter in the car.

Btw, I have Friday and Monday off this week. Guess what I'm doing?

 

As an original owner, one of the advantages is I know for a fact what and what not has been done to my car. Changing the belt was one thing that was done before it was needed. Just as most of what I have done.

 

Good reminder to keep up on maintenance items before they come back to bite you in the butt.

 

Ive got a powerbond installed on my car and its been fine so far. No issues what so ever.

 

Was your daughter impressed?

 

Are you sure you don't have it backwards? The balancer is known to move forward and wobble, maybe that is what caused the belt to shred instead of vice-versa.

PS, it's a violation of forum rules to post about street racing, so we'll see what happens.

 

I have a few state boys as friends and they race now and then !!!!! (with the cruiser) (they are human)

 

Everyone enjoys their Corvettes in different ways. So long as no one gets hurt, I'm all for having some fun. On second thought, the Mustang owner the OP beat probably has a damaged ego.

 

TURBOS

 

It was the balancer that caused the belt to come off. No way the belt could have caused the balancer to shift. Ati balancers are pricey, but it's the best one you can get. I got their 10% ud pulley. Most people go with a powerbond because it's cheaper.

 

I guess it's the same as the constitution has become. Interpret it as you see fit.

Do not discuss, suggest, engage, or encourage any illegal activity on the forums

 

Let me start this reply to some forum members by saying that I had not realized the error to policy at the time of my posting, I will express that my intent was to just bring attention to the issue of 'preventive maintenance' to our cars to avoid any future unwanted issues such as mine. In regards to being 'above the law' issue, I take that as a very sensitive backhanded statement(as most LEO's), I have spent decades providing public service and putting my own well being in jeopardy for others countless times. I found myself in a moment of a perfect storm and let it dictate my decision, but I have no problem taking accountability for my actions (ticket). Let me move on to 'Thanking' those who offered their experience with aftermarket balancers that replied to the root of the post.

P.S. My response is not done with any malice, so let's move on to better things !!

 

, the belt shredding would not cause the balancer to move forward but a separating balancer will cause the belts to shred and I'm pretty sure this is what happened... either way it's good you caught it before anything bad happened... and congrats on the mustang kill

 

Yes. Installed Powerbond (now owned by Dayco) race series HB several years ago. Excellent results, no issues.

Btw, the PB Race series comes in three different flavors:

1. Race Performance standard diameter - PB1117SS
2. Race Performance 10% underdrive - PBU1117SS10
3. Race Performance 25% underdrive - PBU1117SS25

http://www.daycoproducts.com/parts?c...scription=1137

P.S. I just plugged in "2003" Corvette in their parts catalog listing, but that is purely arbitrary, as ALL C5 Corvette LS engines use the same part numbers.

HTH

 

I'm sure...while walking home...


OP, that sucks. GLWR

 

I suspect that the balancer caused the belt to fail too.

I had a balancer fail and used the Powerbond stock size replacement. No problems at all. It stayed perfect with no wobble at all.

Good Luck.

 

Can someone please be more specific about "checking the belts". What am I looking for exactly? Thanks.