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Harmonic balancer questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
Harmonic balancer questions
Hello all.
When I bought my car back in January, I noticed the harmonic balancer was wobbling. After joining the forum I discovered this is somewhat common, but should be fixed.
The balancer that is on the car is fairly new, I found paperwork from the previous owner that said it had been replaced within the last 10k miles.
Right now it is wobbling about .050", is this enough to warrant concern?
Also, if I am going to fix it, I would prefer to do it right and use a good pulley, such as an ATI. But, they are around $400. I can get the NAPA part, it is only $100 but I do not want to have to do this again in a year or so.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!
When I bought my car back in January, I noticed the harmonic balancer was wobbling. After joining the forum I discovered this is somewhat common, but should be fixed.
The balancer that is on the car is fairly new, I found paperwork from the previous owner that said it had been replaced within the last 10k miles.
Right now it is wobbling about .050", is this enough to warrant concern?
Also, if I am going to fix it, I would prefer to do it right and use a good pulley, such as an ATI. But, they are around $400. I can get the NAPA part, it is only $100 but I do not want to have to do this again in a year or so.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 82
From: New Market AL
You need to fix it NOW. It will only get worse and can lead to damage on the crankshaft snout, front cover, or even the steering rack.
Get an ARP balancer bolt to go back in it, and make sure it's tightened this time.
Get an ARP balancer bolt to go back in it, and make sure it's tightened this time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
The other issue is when a balancer is replaced it should be pinned to the crank, another poor design!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
How did you come up with the .050" figure? Unless there is a visible installation problem, I would not recommend replacing a harmonic balancer with only 10,000 miles of use, waste of time and money in my opinion.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,471
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
Actually according to the paperwork it was replaced 3k miles ago. New pulley, seal, and bolt. I have no idea why it would be wobbling after such a short time, or why it was replaced in the first place.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
That's what I was thinking as well.
Last edited by vettenuts; Mar 25, 2011 at 08:54 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
Just make a mark across the inner and outer rings and keep an eye on it. Just because the thing has a slight wobble doesn't mean it wasn't installed correctly, or that the bolt has loosened.
If the marks move, then you have a problem.
If the marks move, then you have a problem.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: southeast AZ
That sounds like a good idea for now, wish I would have done it before I took it for a drive tonight.
thanks
