Balancer bolt backed out ?
Thread Starter
Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,479
Likes: 1,137
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
Balancer bolt backed out ?
My wife's C5 is sitting in a parking lot. The belts are off and the balancer is rubbing right against the stearing rack. What would be the causes?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I doubt that the bolt backed out but, it is possible. A more probabale cause is the OUTER RING on the dampener seperated from the hub and slid forward and the outer ring is just contacting the rack.
The hub and the outer ring are attached together with a elastic rubber compound. Time/heat/vibrations eventually cause the rubber to lose its ability to bond the ring to the hub and you get what you have.
You may be able to pry the ring back to the center BUT, it will most likely come off again OR if it rides rearward and contacts the front cover, it will destroy it in short order.
Best to have it flat bedded to where ever you plan on replacing the dampener.
Its an involved job but something a seasoned wrencher can undertake.
Bill
The hub and the outer ring are attached together with a elastic rubber compound. Time/heat/vibrations eventually cause the rubber to lose its ability to bond the ring to the hub and you get what you have.
You may be able to pry the ring back to the center BUT, it will most likely come off again OR if it rides rearward and contacts the front cover, it will destroy it in short order.
Best to have it flat bedded to where ever you plan on replacing the dampener.
Its an involved job but something a seasoned wrencher can undertake.
Bill
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: ames ia
Was just about to say, I've never seen a balancer bolt that was correctly torqued back out. Those things are torqued so hard, they are almost impossible to get out when you WANT to... GM didn't screw around with that bolt... lol
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I've lost track on how many bad harmonic balancer threads I've seen here over the years.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
If the balancer has never been off, it proably didn't back out. If it has and was not installed properly, the bolt WILL back out (and throw the belts and hit the rack.
)
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
Several years ago, I had my bolt back out, but that was after several years of HPDE/time trials on Hoosiers. One track in particular had about a one mile stretch where you were between 5000 rpm and redline in third gear. The result of too much stress on the bolt.
What ever you do, pin the new Balancer and that will keep it in place.
What ever you do, pin the new Balancer and that will keep it in place.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
When I got to the 250 ft.lb mark on the torque wrench I found I was still 20+ deg. short of the 140. Got a 3 ft breaker extension and slowly worked the the last 20+deg. On the next one I did I found a 30 to 1 tool used for large trucks and did it one handed with no effort. However, every time I have had to lock the flywheel to keep it from turning. If you dont have a method to do that often 6th gear will hold it from turning.
Thread Starter
Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,479
Likes: 1,137
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
Installed a stock one yesterday. Took 2 hours with a friend from start to finish with 2 jack stands. Hardest part was removing the bolt. Had to heat up the bolt a little and it loosened right up. The stearing rack was a little pain taking it out the drivers side wheel opening. My wife is happy so I am too