C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

harmonic balancer replacement

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 11, 2007 | 06:27 PM
  #1  
bet1227's Avatar
bet1227
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville Tennessee
Default harmonic balancer replacement

My harmonic balancer is wobbling and I want to replace it. After reading the posts on the problems of installing\removing and all, I've decided to outsource my labor.
Can someone give me a cost estimate to have it done at the Chevy dealer? Minus parts. Thanks
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 09:32 AM
  #2  
95BlueBomber's Avatar
95BlueBomber
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 2
From: Bardstown Kentucky
Default

Originally Posted by bet1227
My harmonic balancer is wobbling and I want to replace it. After reading the posts on the problems of installing\removing and all, I've decided to outsource my labor.
Can someone give me a cost estimate to have it done at the Chevy dealer? Minus parts. Thanks
PM Sent
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 11:09 AM
  #3  
DidntSettle's Avatar
DidntSettle
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 26
From: Manchester - Political correctness is tyranny with manners.
Default

Labor $633
Balancer and weights about $160

My Chev dealer did a very good job....not all dealers are equal though.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 12:41 PM
  #4  
bet1227's Avatar
bet1227
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville Tennessee
Default

yikes! i was afraid of that. Thanks for the info.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 04:21 PM
  #5  
dougbfresh's Avatar
dougbfresh
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Default

Originally Posted by DidntSettle
Labor $633
Balancer and weights about $160

My Chev dealer did a very good job....not all dealers are equal though.
WOW-almost a GRAND to replace a harmonic balancer-must be PROGRESS!
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 05:12 PM
  #6  
euro@EFIAlchemy.com's Avatar
0euro@EFIAlchemy.com
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 4
From: Jacksonville Florida
Default

Originally Posted by DidntSettle
Labor $633
Balancer and weights about $160

My Chev dealer did a very good job....not all dealers are equal though.
Holy crap, how can it cost that much when it only takes a me hacking it up in my garage on jack stands 2 hours to do?
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 05:20 PM
  #7  
newgene's Avatar
newgene
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
Default

Originally Posted by eurospec1
Holy crap, how can it cost that much when it only takes a me hacking it up in my garage on jack stands 2 hours to do?
Dang, you are the man. It took me a while. By the time you piddle with the Power Steering nuts and fish the steering rack out, you can eat up two hours alone.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 05:32 PM
  #8  
DidntSettle's Avatar
DidntSettle
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 26
From: Manchester - Political correctness is tyranny with manners.
Default

Originally Posted by eurospec1
Holy crap, how can it cost that much when it only takes a me hacking it up in my garage on jack stands 2 hours to do?
I reached a point in life where I decided to save the knuckles, blood, and a days worth of work, and just let them fix it. I wrote a check. Do a search and read a couple stories where the fix didn't go too well. I figured if somehow it got screwed up later, THEY could fix it again, and not me. I just don't wanna do that stuff anymore.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 06:17 PM
  #9  
mrm1149's Avatar
mrm1149
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 4
From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Default

I've been told more than once that a slight wobble is normal.....May be true cause that was at a dealer and I'm sure they'd be delighted to have the service work........
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 06:24 PM
  #10  
DidntSettle's Avatar
DidntSettle
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 26
From: Manchester - Political correctness is tyranny with manners.
Default

Originally Posted by mrm1149
I've been told more than once that a slight wobble is normal.....May be true cause that was at a dealer and I'm sure they'd be delighted to have the service work........
Wobbling means that the pully has started to work off the balancer hub. The more you romp on it, the sooner it will depart, most likely taking out your steering rack. Watch it closely...maybe weekly, to see where it is. But it's not going to get better. I decided that the $800 was cheaper than a steering rack, radiator, or both and whatever else might happen if it parted company with the hub. JMHO.

By the way, the new one does NOT wobble....I consider that normal.

Last edited by DidntSettle; Jul 12, 2007 at 06:26 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 10:03 PM
  #11  
newgene's Avatar
newgene
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
Default

Originally Posted by DidntSettle
Wobbling means that the pully has started to work off the balancer hub. The more you romp on it, the sooner it will depart, most likely taking out your steering rack. Watch it closely...maybe weekly, to see where it is. But it's not going to get better. I decided that the $800 was cheaper than a steering rack, radiator, or both and whatever else might happen if it parted company with the hub. JMHO.

By the way, the new one does NOT wobble....I consider that normal.
BTW, I changed mine because my balancer walked off the rubber hub. Thus, the only thing that held it on was my A&A braket on the SC. Without it, it would have done some serious damage.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 11:46 PM
  #12  
NocarbutaVetteforme's Avatar
NocarbutaVetteforme
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 41
From: Corinth TX
Default

Originally Posted by DidntSettle
Wobbling means that the pully has started to work off the balancer hub. The more you romp on it, the sooner it will depart, most likely taking out your steering rack. Watch it closely...maybe weekly, to see where it is. But it's not going to get better. I decided that the $800 was cheaper than a steering rack, radiator, or both and whatever else might happen if it parted company with the hub. JMHO.

By the way, the new one does NOT wobble....I consider that normal.
I agree 100%. If you are a member of a local Corvette club you might be able to cut some of the cost in labor. Our local one saved me 15% on labor. They only charged $400 initially and then with the discount it came out to $340. Plus I got a free loaner car to boot. Good luck on the change and finding a good dealership.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 01:41 AM
  #13  
euro@EFIAlchemy.com's Avatar
0euro@EFIAlchemy.com
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 4
From: Jacksonville Florida
Default

Originally Posted by DidntSettle
Wobbling means that the pully has started to work off the balancer hub. The more you romp on it, the sooner it will depart, most likely taking out your steering rack. Watch it closely...maybe weekly, to see where it is. But it's not going to get better. I decided that the $800 was cheaper than a steering rack, radiator, or both and whatever else might happen if it parted company with the hub. JMHO.

By the way, the new one does NOT wobble....I consider that normal.
actually, ive installed about 4 new ones that do wobble, it is normal
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 10:17 AM
  #14  
newgene's Avatar
newgene
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
Default

Originally Posted by NocarbutaVetteforme
I agree 100%. If you are a member of a local Corvette club you might be able to cut some of the cost in labor. Our local one saved me 15% on labor. They only charged $400 initially and then with the discount it came out to $340. Plus I got a free loaner car to boot. Good luck on the change and finding a good dealership.
That is a steal. I actually have to remove the whole darn supercharger, blow-off valve, hoses/couplings, etc., so it gets to be even more of a pain on FI. Thus shops want more. If I get mine done for $340, I wouldn't hesitate to let them do it. It's kind of a bear to do. I still have bad nightmares about when I did mine...just kidding.

BTW, if you are going to let a shop do it, and you have a cam swap planned in the future, then is a great time to do it. The cost of the balancer change should subtract directly out of the cost of the cam swap labor. You have to do that part exactly to get to it. Just food for thought.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 11:50 AM
  #15  
DidntSettle's Avatar
DidntSettle
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 26
From: Manchester - Political correctness is tyranny with manners.
Default

Originally Posted by eurospec1
actually, ive installed about 4 new ones that do wobble, it is normal
I'm not trying to be argumenative here, but if I paid my $800 to the dealer and they installed a pulley that wobbled like the one they took out, they'd be doing the job again until they got one that didn't wobble.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 02:17 PM
  #16  
euro@EFIAlchemy.com's Avatar
0euro@EFIAlchemy.com
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 4
From: Jacksonville Florida
Default

Originally Posted by DidntSettle
I'm not trying to be argumenative here, but if I paid my $800 to the dealer and they installed a pulley that wobbled like the one they took out, they'd be doing the job again until they got one that didn't wobble.
do a search on here bro, the wobbling pulley is a common thing with our cars, it is normal and not a problem
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 06:01 PM
  #17  
DidntSettle's Avatar
DidntSettle
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 26
From: Manchester - Political correctness is tyranny with manners.
Default

Originally Posted by eurospec1
do a search on here bro, the wobbling pulley is a common thing with our cars, it is normal and not a problem
Suit yourself.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To harmonic balancer replacement

Old Jul 13, 2007 | 06:16 PM
  #18  
Old Rotor Head's Avatar
Old Rotor Head
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 0
From: Nokomis FL
Default

Is there any noticable difference in the car when it starts going? In the old days your timing advance went to HE.. when you accelerated. The engine started missing. For us daily drivers who look under the hood a couple times a month, and I never look at the balance that may or may not wobble and still be ok, any other signs?

Last edited by Old Rotor Head; Jul 15, 2007 at 12:31 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 06:57 PM
  #19  
mrm1149's Avatar
mrm1149
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 4
From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Default

Originally Posted by eurospec1
do a search on here bro, the wobbling pulley is a common thing with our cars, it is normal and not a problem
As posted above, I've been told the same thing. I suppose the amount of wobbling is subjective but my thinking is that the dealer would have an install job (which is the reason they are in business) if mine were'nt acceptable. I'd call it "not much at all" but noticeable if you watch it...........
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 07:13 PM
  #20  
tj37_2's Avatar
tj37_2
Instructor
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Fl
Default

If you are going to go to that expense why not put an after market pulley on so you won't have that problem any more ?
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:49 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE