Has Anyone Replaced Harmonic Balancer
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 298
Likes: 2
From: chicago il
Has Anyone Replaced Harmonic Balancer
I have a 99 that just turned 80,000 miles and have had issuses with a chirpping fan belt. I replaced the belt about 4 months ago and no more chirpping. Now its back and I notice fraying on the outter edge and also my crankshaft pulley, it appears out of alignment (wobbles a little).
Has anyone every replaced there pulley/harmonic balancer, is it one piece or is the pulley removable. Also how big of a job is it (is it a do it yourself job), do you have to drop the rack to get to it ?
If you read this and have wetness on the passenger side carpet get your drain plugs (air condition) clean NOW. I had this problem and it shorted out my steering column relay. Just a little heads up I know this problem has surface in many post.
TTT
Has anyone every replaced there pulley/harmonic balancer, is it one piece or is the pulley removable. Also how big of a job is it (is it a do it yourself job), do you have to drop the rack to get to it ?
If you read this and have wetness on the passenger side carpet get your drain plugs (air condition) clean NOW. I had this problem and it shorted out my steering column relay. Just a little heads up I know this problem has surface in many post.
TTT
Last edited by NCOMNC5; Aug 30, 2006 at 09:24 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 249
Likes: 1
From: Round Rock TX
Originally Posted by vettenuts
Yes, rack must be moved out of the way. Check LS1howto.com on the cam change for a C5, that will show you what is involved.
Some tips I learned.
- Have a big torque wrench (torque to 240 ft lbs) you need leverage
- replace both the harmonic balancer and the bolt
- You need something to hold the harmonic balancer so that you can turn the bolt. I shoved a screw driver in the pulley but that's probably not the best thing to do. The forums said somthing about a tool to hold this, but I was working on this at night and could run to the dealer to pick on up.
- Reserve at least 8 hours. It took me at least that long. I could probably do it half that time now...but I don't want to try.
I was left with one problem. The rack and pinion seemed to go back on fine. I added power steering fluid, but it still steers hard. I've got a big spueal too.
Any body have any ideas? It may help both the originator and me!!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 249
Likes: 1
From: Round Rock TX
Okay, I learned a little more. I got the power steering working. I took the top line off, started it up, and ran some fluid through it. Turns fine now.
Still have the squeal. I sprayed wd40 on the harmonic balancer and the noise stopped...for a short while.
My screwdriver trick to keep the harmonic balancer still may have done more harm than good. We'll see. The noise seems to have softened somewhat with my drive to the store.
I really hope that I don't have to do this again!!!
Still have the squeal. I sprayed wd40 on the harmonic balancer and the noise stopped...for a short while.
My screwdriver trick to keep the harmonic balancer still may have done more harm than good. We'll see. The noise seems to have softened somewhat with my drive to the store.
I really hope that I don't have to do this again!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I bought some vaccum caps from Autozone when I did my cam, and capped each of the two PS lines when I removed them. This minimized the fluid loss. If you hold the harmonic damper with a screwdriver, you are restraining the tightening torque with the rubber material used for dampening. Damage might occur from this method. If you have a stick, put on the brake and put the car in 4th or 5th gear. With an automatic, you need the tool to hold the flywheel. Since you are holding the flywheel at a larger diameter, the force required is reduced quite a bit.
Make sure you follow the GM installation instructions, which is based on a pre-torque of 37 lb-ft followed by a specific bolt rotation.
Make sure you follow the GM installation instructions, which is based on a pre-torque of 37 lb-ft followed by a specific bolt rotation.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 4
From: Santa Fe, NM
Originally Posted by Jharms
[*]replace both the harmonic balancer and the bolt
It looks and sounds like I'll be joining the fun in a few days.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
John
Uneducated autodidact
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 252
From: West of the Sabine, Texas
If anyone posting here is going to replace their damper with a stock one and hasn't bought it yet, I have one for sale. I bought it from Fichtner and didn't use it as I went with an underdrive (a lot more bucks). PM me if you need one, I'll make you a deal.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
My balancer failed back in 2004. The heavy steel outer inertial ring seperated from the rubber material and slid back into the front engine cover. Prior to this I had the belt squeal problem. Anyways it did quite a number to the front of the motor. Killed the front engine cover and damaged the front of the oil pan as well. So get this fixed soon.
If you are going to do this and have some extra money you might as well do a cam swap as well. It is just a few more bolts to remove the front engine cover and unbolt the cam sprocket. Secure the lifters and pull the cam and stick in a new bump stick. Then just change the valve springs ( do the valve seals as well with 80K miles). I did mine at around 108K miles and I have 122K miles now.
If you are going to do this and have some extra money you might as well do a cam swap as well. It is just a few more bolts to remove the front engine cover and unbolt the cam sprocket. Secure the lifters and pull the cam and stick in a new bump stick. Then just change the valve springs ( do the valve seals as well with 80K miles). I did mine at around 108K miles and I have 122K miles now.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Rapid City SD
Typically, you can buy the new bolt from the shop that sells the balancer. Often, they sell the bolt and balancer as a kit. It has been my experience, that the old bolt is used to install the new balancer, then discarded. The new bolt is then installed. Torque is paramont! If you don't have the correct torque wrench, don't even try doing it yourself.
Uneducated autodidact
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 252
From: West of the Sabine, Texas
I wouldn't use the old bolt to install the new balancer...I would either get a piece of threaded rod and make my own install tool or you can buy one for cheap on ls1tech...a guy over there makes them and sells them. Search over there for balancer install problems and you will find many many threads where someone tried to install with the old bolt. Many times the threads in the crank are damaged, which by the way, is a big deal. Anyway, I would use either a new GM bolt (about $5, one time use), or buy an ARP bolt (which is reusable, about $25) if you plan on doing something else later that requires removing the balancer. You can also heat the new balancer in an oven before installing it to make it go on easier.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville NC
Originally Posted by frodo84
I wouldn't use the old bolt to install the new balancer...I would either get a piece of threaded rod and make my own install tool or you can buy one for cheap on ls1tech...a guy over there makes them and sells them. Search over there for balancer install problems and you will find many many threads where someone tried to install with the old bolt. Many times the threads in the crank are damaged, which by the way, is a big deal. Anyway, I would use either a new GM bolt (about $5, one time use), or buy an ARP bolt (which is reusable, about $25) if you plan on doing something else later that requires removing the balancer. You can also heat the new balancer in an oven before installing it to make it go on easier.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Rapid City SD
Originally Posted by frodo84
Search over there for balancer install problems and you will find many many threads where someone tried to install with the old bolt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,252
Likes: 181
From: NE OH
Originally Posted by frodo84
I wouldn't use the old bolt to install the new balancer...
Seems like about once every couple of months someone ends up with jacked up crank threads due to using the crank bolt (either old or new) as an install tool. You can read about the latest guy here:
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums//showthread.php?t=569322
I really feel bad for the guys that this happens to. Putting the balancer on is most often one of the last things that needs to be done after a H/C install and then that sh*t happens....it's gotta hella suck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 298
Likes: 2
From: chicago il
Thanks again guys for the replies and info.
I decided its not a job I wanted to tackle. I did take it into a shop (Pro Trans in Evergreen Park for you local guys) I trust and its being replaced as I speak along with tensioners and a few other pieces.
I'm still confused why it was bent to start with, sure 80,000 miles but no autocross or drags just normal driving..
I decided its not a job I wanted to tackle. I did take it into a shop (Pro Trans in Evergreen Park for you local guys) I trust and its being replaced as I speak along with tensioners and a few other pieces.
I'm still confused why it was bent to start with, sure 80,000 miles but no autocross or drags just normal driving..
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 2
From: Boynton Beach Florida
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
Big Job
$575.00 labor charge at chevy dealer. Well worth the money. This is a big job. I have fixed a lot of things on my '99 but I would leave this one to someone who knows exactly what there doing.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
From: Dover AFB DE
Did mine using the old bolt. I must be one of the lucky ones.
How did you all balance you harmonic balancer? Or, didn't you worry about it. They are balanced at the factory when assembled. Once the HB spins, you can't put weights back in the HB.
How did you all balance you harmonic balancer? Or, didn't you worry about it. They are balanced at the factory when assembled. Once the HB spins, you can't put weights back in the HB.