Harmonic Balancer-Preventative Maintenance
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 26
I can tell you it's a labor intensive job. Not one to be taken lightly. 800 dollars is a fair price.
You have to take out the radiator and condenser as well, also its very important to replace the front crank seal. No one of any mechanical aptitude that gets 50 to 90 dollars an hour ( shop time ) could do this job for 100 dollars. OEM balancer is 80 dollars, a good After market balancer is 200 dollars. this is a 1000 dollar job at any reputable shop.
Some asked about how common this problem is.. With the longevity of these cars, its not if... it when.
There are two issues
1) inter fit of the crank OD to ID of the Balancer failure over time. ( Bolt backing out )
2) loss of the elastomer bonding agent between the two segments. ( Causing the outer race of the balancer to separate from the rest of the balancer and the crank shaft.
Loss of the balancer could potentially destroy your motor when the crank runs severely out of balance due to a balancer failure. You will feel the vibration, but quick action and a tow could save you..
With loss of the elastomer, same thing happens but sometimes you will see and hear chucks of rubber separating from the balancer. see evidence on the garage floor ( if you are lucky.
If the balancer moves front an back and destroys the front seal integrity, say good by to your motor.
Not trying to scare anyone, but this is a problem that needs some attention. a C5 runs hot under the hood only adding to the drying out process of the elastomer, which holds both elements of the balancer together..
Good luck
Bill aka ET
You have to take out the radiator and condenser as well, also its very important to replace the front crank seal. No one of any mechanical aptitude that gets 50 to 90 dollars an hour ( shop time ) could do this job for 100 dollars. OEM balancer is 80 dollars, a good After market balancer is 200 dollars. this is a 1000 dollar job at any reputable shop.
Some asked about how common this problem is.. With the longevity of these cars, its not if... it when.
There are two issues
1) inter fit of the crank OD to ID of the Balancer failure over time. ( Bolt backing out )
2) loss of the elastomer bonding agent between the two segments. ( Causing the outer race of the balancer to separate from the rest of the balancer and the crank shaft.
Loss of the balancer could potentially destroy your motor when the crank runs severely out of balance due to a balancer failure. You will feel the vibration, but quick action and a tow could save you..
With loss of the elastomer, same thing happens but sometimes you will see and hear chucks of rubber separating from the balancer. see evidence on the garage floor ( if you are lucky.
If the balancer moves front an back and destroys the front seal integrity, say good by to your motor.
Not trying to scare anyone, but this is a problem that needs some attention. a C5 runs hot under the hood only adding to the drying out process of the elastomer, which holds both elements of the balancer together..
Good luck
Bill aka ET
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 104
From: Springfield Ohio
The radiator and fans need to be removed to give clearance to access the balancer. The condenser does not need to come out - it can be pulled up and out of the way if needed. The car was designed to allow the condenser to be pulled up by a foot or more without disconnecting any fittings to the condenser. The engineers got this one right! It's hard to visualize but you'll see what I mean if you do the job yourself. There isn't much room to work even after the necessary items are removed, so take your time, plan it well and do it right. It's not something most of us would want to do again for at least a few years.
Last edited by tbrowne; Mar 4, 2016 at 08:55 AM. Reason: Add italics
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 289
Likes: 19
From: Hilton Head Island, SC
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
when I said out, I meant out of the way.. radiator has to be removed, condenser can be just moved out of the way but has to be moved. there is no room to work..
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Mar 4, 2016 at 10:20 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
When we perform a replacement on a balancer, we always do the front seal and the front cover gasket. It also requires a balancer bolt as mentioned as it is a torque to yield bolt (the threads stretch when torquing it down to approx 250 lb ft.). The job should also include water pump gaskets. It is an ideal time to replace both the drive belt and the a/c belt as they are removed during the process.
We charge 6 hours of labor on a C5 -@$105 per hour.
We charge 6 hours of labor on a C5 -@$105 per hour.
Last edited by blacksedan87; Mar 4, 2016 at 06:35 PM.
