Replaced Harmonic wobbling Balancer
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Barrington RI
Replaced Harmonic wobbling Balancer
Well, I finally got around to replacing the wobbling balancer on my 99 and to my suprise. In stead of having one chirping bird I now have a flock. Think I should have changed the belt as well. Took it back to the place where I had it done. They spray some type of Belt Replenisher on it and the flock flew away. I have been told that they will return and should replace the belt.
Any thoughts.
Any thoughts.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Well, I finally got around to replacing the wobbling balancer on my 99 and to my suprise. In stead of having one chirping bird I now have a flock. Think I should have changed the belt as well. Took it back to the place where I had it done. They spray some type of Belt Replenisher on it and the flock flew away. I have been told that they will return and should replace the belt.
Any thoughts.
Any thoughts.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Barrington RI
ok, when I came home today, I took soap and applied it to the belt. as soon as i touched the belt with the soap, the squeak went away. an hour later and it back. All other pullies have been replace with in the past 3 months.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Myth Buster
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 211
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From: In the lead Tx
dam your hard core, OP you should replace the belt anytime you have issues with a balancer. The design of the belt is not forgiving when it encounters runout issues. Once the runout problem is corrected then the belt must be changed as well.
The ac will torate some misalignment but the serp will not.
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Le Mans Master
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From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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St. Jude Donor '17
If the noise comes back after you replace it then it appears the issues is with your ac tensioner assembly bracket. This was the same problem on my car. The tensioner assembly hardware's mounting point moved due to vibration. The issue was not the pulley in my case however I had to replace the entire assembly and pulley.
Good luck
Last edited by Got uid0; Jun 6, 2011 at 12:33 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Barrington RI
Ok, just for the record. Prior to me buyiny the Vett, The owner had a problem with a squeaking noise. He brought it the dealer and they started to change pullies. Unfortunately, they changed all puulies before realizing it was a delaminated balancer. They finally replaced the balancer and all was fine. That is for 3 months. I have now owed the car for about 2 months and noticed a chirping coming from under the hood. Turned out a had the same delaminating problem. I brought it back (Under warranty) and they replaced the Balancer one more time. Now the belt is sqealing. All in all, I have spent nothing on the repiar with the exception of a bar of Ivory. Gatorback it is.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Barrington RI
dam your hard core, OP you should replace the belt anytime you have issues with a balancer. The design of the belt is not forgiving when it encounters runout issues. Once the runout problem is corrected then the belt must be changed as well. The ac will torate some misalignment but the serp will not.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Barrington RI
Thanks to those who posted inteligent feedback It is greatly appreciated. To those who just get off on foolish comments. I guess they feel like they need to be a part of something.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I'd just go Gatorback as I mentioned...however there is an old trick>> put some toothpaste on the inner side of the belt in several places with your finger (with the motor OFF * don't ask* ) Philosophy is the slight grit in nearly all toothpaste will tend to clean the pulleys and they could also be the problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I still dont get it
I cant imagine that any credible mechanic would replace a crank pulley.. a 700 dollar job and a five hour labor investment and not insist on replacing both belts. Some one other than the dealership had to say use the old belts over... like I said, the belts should have been replaced when the pulleys were changed.... and crank pulleys do not delaminate in a few months.. it takes 6 to ten years and about 60,000 miles to cook the rubber laminate between the balancer and the pulley. A new balancer does not go bad in a few months or a few years, when they do delaminate, they become extremely hot and cook the belts...thus the necessity to replace them.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 21
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From: Barrington RI
Not so, I have been to the dealer and have seen where they have replace the balancer twice in the same year. And as I stated, All belts and pullies were changed several months back. After installing the New balancer, there was no squeal or squeak until a few day later. So, I just put a new gaterback on and guess what, no change. Seems the pully is wobbling again. The place that performed the work spoke to a GM rep and the rep stated that this is not so un-common. Third times a charm.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,490
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From: Lake Tapps WA.
Not so, I have been to the dealer and have seen where they have replace the balancer twice in the same year. And as I stated, All belts and pullies were changed several months back. After installing the New balancer, there was no squeal or squeak until a few day later. So, I just put a new gaterback on and guess what, no change. Seems the pully is wobbling again. The place that performed the work spoke to a GM rep and the rep stated that this is not so un-common. Third times a charm.
By the way I bought my Gatorbacks at O'Reillys, I assume they still carry them?