Harmonic Balancer-Preventative Maintenance
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 38
From: Midwest
St. Jude Donor '08
Harmonic Balancer-Preventative Maintenance
Hi all,
I have a low mile 2002 Z06.
I'm looking to start using the car for longer cross country road trips.
Over the years I have addressed many of the little updates to the known issues that are common to the C5. (EBCM, LS6 valve springs, rear differential seal, steering column lock just to name a few)
As preventative maintenance, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to replace the factory harmonic balancer with a good aftermarket unit.
From reading the many posts using the search engine, it looks as though the ATI #917266 unit is a good choice with an ARP bolt.
I need the ARP bolt part number.
Currently the stock balancer is fine.
My concern is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere USA with a failed balancer.
Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid?
Any thoughts or opinions on my plan would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Silverbird
I have a low mile 2002 Z06.
I'm looking to start using the car for longer cross country road trips.
Over the years I have addressed many of the little updates to the known issues that are common to the C5. (EBCM, LS6 valve springs, rear differential seal, steering column lock just to name a few)
As preventative maintenance, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to replace the factory harmonic balancer with a good aftermarket unit.
From reading the many posts using the search engine, it looks as though the ATI #917266 unit is a good choice with an ARP bolt.
I need the ARP bolt part number.
Currently the stock balancer is fine.
My concern is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere USA with a failed balancer.
Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid?
Any thoughts or opinions on my plan would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Silverbird
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
Hi all,
I have a low mile 2002 Z06.
I'm looking to start using the car for longer cross country road trips.
Over the years I have addressed many of the little updates to the known issues that are common to the C5. (EBCM, LS6 valve springs, rear differential seal, steering column lock just to name a few)
As preventative maintenance, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to replace the factory harmonic balancer with a good aftermarket unit.
From reading the many posts using the search engine, it looks as though the ATI #917266 unit is a good choice with an ARP bolt.
I need the ARP bolt part number.
Currently the stock balancer is fine.
My concern is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere USA with a failed balancer.
Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid?
Any thoughts or opinions on my plan would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Silverbird
I have a low mile 2002 Z06.
I'm looking to start using the car for longer cross country road trips.
Over the years I have addressed many of the little updates to the known issues that are common to the C5. (EBCM, LS6 valve springs, rear differential seal, steering column lock just to name a few)
As preventative maintenance, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to replace the factory harmonic balancer with a good aftermarket unit.
From reading the many posts using the search engine, it looks as though the ATI #917266 unit is a good choice with an ARP bolt.
I need the ARP bolt part number.
Currently the stock balancer is fine.
My concern is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere USA with a failed balancer.
Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid?
Any thoughts or opinions on my plan would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Silverbird
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 2
From: Peachtree City Georgia
H.b. Replacement
Wise choice ! On a recent trip from Atlanta Ga. to Dallas Tx. my H B came loose. Pulled off in Terrell Tx. with a shade tree Mech who was able to retighten the H B to the crank using some very unorthodox techniques. It got me back to Atl. where I had my Vette Mech install a new one .Hi all,
I have a low mile 2002 Z06.
I'm looking to start using the car for longer cross country road trips.
Over the years I have addressed many of the little updates to the known issues that are common to the C5. (EBCM, LS6 valve springs, rear differential seal, steering column lock just to name a few)
As preventative maintenance, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to replace the factory harmonic balancer with a good aftermarket unit.
From reading the many posts using the search engine, it looks as though the ATI #917266 unit is a good choice with an ARP bolt.
I need the ARP bolt part number.
Currently the stock balancer is fine.
My concern is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere USA with a failed balancer.
Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid?
Any thoughts or opinions on my plan would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Silverbird
I have a low mile 2002 Z06.
I'm looking to start using the car for longer cross country road trips.
Over the years I have addressed many of the little updates to the known issues that are common to the C5. (EBCM, LS6 valve springs, rear differential seal, steering column lock just to name a few)
As preventative maintenance, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to replace the factory harmonic balancer with a good aftermarket unit.
From reading the many posts using the search engine, it looks as though the ATI #917266 unit is a good choice with an ARP bolt.
I need the ARP bolt part number.
Currently the stock balancer is fine.
My concern is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere USA with a failed balancer.
Perhaps I'm being a bit paranoid?
Any thoughts or opinions on my plan would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Silverbird
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
ARP # 234-2503
From the ARP site:
http://arp-bolts.com/kits/ARPkit-det...?RecordID=1367
The best price I found was a local shop that had one in stock. Beat all the online places.
I had my balancer fail at 30k miles. The way it failed was the outer pulleys moved in relation to the hub.
The hub did not move or cause any leakage problems.
The outer separating from the hub at the rubber between them is the common failure type and can occur at any time. Some happen rather quickly. This separation is what happened on mine and caused a wobble that made the belt chirp. I replaced mine before the separation was bad enough to contact the steering rack or the front cover.
Take a look a some of the threads on changing the balancer. There is some good advice that helped me.
Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 104
From: Springfield Ohio
For most - this is a one time repair if you use a quality replacement balancer. There is no need to buy an expensive ARP bolt. The $5.00 OEM bolt will do fine for the life of the car. If you do many engine mods and tear downs, then the ARP bolt makes sense. Otherwise it's a waste of money.
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I have a feeling you'll have some notice before it completely fails.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
$800 to change a balancer?, sounds a little extreme to me. How much have others paid to have it replaced? Where are good places to look to buy one, I've done this job on my street rod so I'm sure I could get it done on my Vette, if I had to.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 1,716
From: Everywhere and Nowhere at all
Terrell TX...
I would not want to get caught there w my Vette breaking down...
You must have been running on I20.... Sure you hit a place right off the interstate... Had you traveled into town you would know what I am talking about... Glad it worked out for ya.
Wise choice ! On a recent trip from Atlanta Ga. to Dallas Tx. my H B came loose. Pulled off in Terrell Tx. with a shade tree Mech who was able to retighten the H B to the crank using some very unorthodox techniques. It got me back to Atl. where I had my Vette Mech install a new one .
I would not want to get caught there w my Vette breaking down...You must have been running on I20.... Sure you hit a place right off the interstate... Had you traveled into town you would know what I am talking about... Glad it worked out for ya.
Wise choice ! On a recent trip from Atlanta Ga. to Dallas Tx. my H B came loose. Pulled off in Terrell Tx. with a shade tree Mech who was able to retighten the H B to the crank using some very unorthodox techniques. It got me back to Atl. where I had my Vette Mech install a new one .
the consensus was around 4 or 5h labor to replace it.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 38
From: Midwest
St. Jude Donor '08
Guys,
Thanks for all the great responses.
Next week, I'm taking my daily driver to the Chevy dealer for a complimentary oil change. I'll ask for a quote on the Balancer job.
Will post the Number$$$$$$.....Any guesses?
Silverbird
I realize you can't cover all the bases as far as mechanical things going wrong. IMHO, belts, tensioners, hoses, alternators, water pumps and flat tires would be much easier to deal with by a shade tree mechanic in The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, USA than say a big labor intensive job like a C5 harmonic balancer. I think if you "try" to eliminate the big stuff, it could be advantageous as far as a long road trip is concerned.
Thanks for all the great responses.
Next week, I'm taking my daily driver to the Chevy dealer for a complimentary oil change. I'll ask for a quote on the Balancer job.
Will post the Number$$$$$$.....Any guesses?
Silverbird
I realize you can't cover all the bases as far as mechanical things going wrong. IMHO, belts, tensioners, hoses, alternators, water pumps and flat tires would be much easier to deal with by a shade tree mechanic in The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, USA than say a big labor intensive job like a C5 harmonic balancer. I think if you "try" to eliminate the big stuff, it could be advantageous as far as a long road trip is concerned.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 3
Called AAA. Took car to the dealer and picked it up the next day. Without looking for the invoice, I believe it was:
$140 for parts (OEM)
$800+ for labor (Clearwater, FL)
If my numbers are anything, they may be a little low.
PITA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 481
From: OK
