Harmonic Balancer Replacement
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Oviedo Florida
Harmonic Balancer Replacement
Has any of you ever replaced the harmonic balancer? If so, can you do it at home without any special tools or removing a bunch of parts? I'm a novice at best. Any help will be appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
You will need a three arm pulley puller, high capacity torque wrench, breaker bar, jack, jack stands, several wrenchs, either make or buy a special tool to mount the new balancer etc....
You will have to remove the throttle body, water pump, hoses and belts, and move the steering rack. Might have to move power steering pump and the ABS block.
One thing ABSOLUTELY DO NOT USE AN OEM PULLEY buy an aftermarket pulley from ASP, Powerbond or ATI. You can go underdriven or stock. The stock pulley's are crap.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
Yes. I did my own and went ahead and switched out the cam while I was at it. So what is your point? 
You don't have to remove the waterpump if you have high enough capacity air tools to remove the bolt. You should not use an impact wrench to install the new balancer. Use the tool from LS1tech.com or make it yourself. It is easier to use these with the water pump off.
If you use a breaker bar and an extension you can get a better angle on it with the throttle body and waterpump off.
You may have to move or disconnect the power steering pump depending upon how much you have to move the rack to get the puller on.
You don't have to remove the waterpump if you have high enough capacity air tools to remove the bolt. You should not use an impact wrench to install the new balancer. Use the tool from LS1tech.com or make it yourself. It is easier to use these with the water pump off.
If you use a breaker bar and an extension you can get a better angle on it with the throttle body and waterpump off.
You may have to move or disconnect the power steering pump depending upon how much you have to move the rack to get the puller on.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 688
Likes: 58
From: Freeburg IL
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Don’t try to kidd yourself on this one; it is a lot of work to do by yourself. Anyone can do it but it is a JOB!
The hardest part of the process for me was getting the rack out of the way. I did mine within a few months of owning the car so it was certainly a learning experience. It requires some patience and a lot of attention to detail. You can rent a torque wrench and puller from most auto part stores but you will need an install tool (just buy one off ls1 tech). Aside from a long breaker bar it is all hand tools other than that. Make sure you buy a quality pulley to replace it with and pin it while you in there.
If you do a search this has been posted quite a few times
The hardest part of the process for me was getting the rack out of the way. I did mine within a few months of owning the car so it was certainly a learning experience. It requires some patience and a lot of attention to detail. You can rent a torque wrench and puller from most auto part stores but you will need an install tool (just buy one off ls1 tech). Aside from a long breaker bar it is all hand tools other than that. Make sure you buy a quality pulley to replace it with and pin it while you in there.
If you do a search this has been posted quite a few times
Last edited by JCSZ51; Oct 22, 2008 at 01:07 PM.
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