Harmonic Balancer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
I got a quote for labor only with me supplying Power Bond part. It was 6hrs labor which would be $750.00 in my area.
For parts from them add: GM HB $132.53 any fluids needed and alignment would be extra. F/C Seal $29.26
I ended up doing it myself. Parts were $125.00 for PB and seal. Hope this helps.
For parts from them add: GM HB $132.53 any fluids needed and alignment would be extra. F/C Seal $29.26
I ended up doing it myself. Parts were $125.00 for PB and seal. Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I got a quote for labor only with me supplying Power Bond part. It was 6hrs labor which would be $750.00 in my area.
For parts from them add: GM HB $132.53 any fluids needed and alignment would be extra. F/C Seal $29.26
I ended up doing it myself. Parts were $125.00 for PB and seal. Hope this helps.
For parts from them add: GM HB $132.53 any fluids needed and alignment would be extra. F/C Seal $29.26
I ended up doing it myself. Parts were $125.00 for PB and seal. Hope this helps.
Last edited by JR-01; Oct 17, 2016 at 03:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
OK thanks. I will make sure the dealer will use my balancer before I take it in. They have used my parts before on my C3 without a problem.. What is a good brand at a good price for my driving style? I use my C5 for road trips and weekend cruises and rarely do I get on it. I certainly don't need the very best.
Last edited by JR-01; Oct 17, 2016 at 04:32 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 34
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio Texas
ATI vs GM
I had to have this done recently, and not one single dealer in San Antonio would use an aftermarket pulley. GM only, sourced by them only. I took the Z06 to three different Chevy dealers (owned by three different ownership groups) and one Cadillac dealer who has a Vette specialist. All did a full inspection and gave me written estimates, but none would agree to use any part that was not oem GM. I went with the ATI Super Damper installed by Henderson Performance Tech. The dealer estimates above sound about right, because the insist on removing the steering rack and picking the engine up off the cradle. This job can actually be done by just wiggling the rack out of the way through the wheelwells and saving a couple of hours. I was having other work done, including replacing the steering rack, so all those labor hours are baked in to the whole job. The HB I went with costs almost 4 times as much as the oem GM replacement, but why would you replace a part with a known design defect with the same part, destined to fail in the same way . . . G'luck whichever way you go!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I had to have this done recently, and not one single dealer in San Antonio would use an aftermarket pulley. GM only, sourced by them only. I took the Z06 to three different Chevy dealers (owned by three different ownership groups) and one Cadillac dealer who has a Vette specialist. All did a full inspection and gave me written estimates, but none would agree to use any part that was not oem GM. I went with the ATI Super Damper installed by Henderson Performance Tech. The dealer estimates above sound about right, because the insist on removing the steering rack and picking the engine up off the cradle. This job can actually be done by just wiggling the rack out of the way through the wheelwells and saving a couple of hours. I was having other work done, including replacing the steering rack, so all those labor hours are baked in to the whole job. The HB I went with costs almost 4 times as much as the oem GM replacement, but why would you replace a part with a known design defect with the same part, destined to fail in the same way . . . G'luck whichever way you go!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I might change my mind by then and decide to sell.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 501
From: Rio Rancho NM
Whats up JR-01 how you been? Good choice on fixing it before selling. As far as dealers cost you are gonna be looking around 1k..I have the regular Power Bond and it has help up nicely to 700+hp. I got mine off ebay for about 75 shipped I think autozone and oreily carries them.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
It failed in less than 1,000 miles.
Since it was under the 12 mo/12k mil warranty, labor was no charge, but instead of an OEM balancer, I had them install a Powerbond - which I picked up at O'Reileys for sub 100$.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 181
Likes: 24
From: San Diego Kalifornistan
I don't think anything Dorman makes anymore is very good, but I can't comment specifically on their balancers. I've had a lot of bad luck selling Dorman parts due to fitment/quality issues.
Powerbond is generally recommended to be an excellent replacement brand on these forums. I bought a Powerforce balancer from Professional Products and it's working great for 10,000 miles. I was lucky enough to have a local Vette shop nearby that installed it for $400.
Powerbond is generally recommended to be an excellent replacement brand on these forums. I bought a Powerforce balancer from Professional Products and it's working great for 10,000 miles. I was lucky enough to have a local Vette shop nearby that installed it for $400.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I don't think anything Dorman makes anymore is very good, but I can't comment specifically on their balancers. I've had a lot of bad luck selling Dorman parts due to fitment/quality issues.
Powerbond is generally recommended to be an excellent replacement brand on these forums. I bought a Powerforce balancer from Professional Products and it's working great for 10,000 miles. I was lucky enough to have a local Vette shop nearby that installed it for $400.
Powerbond is generally recommended to be an excellent replacement brand on these forums. I bought a Powerforce balancer from Professional Products and it's working great for 10,000 miles. I was lucky enough to have a local Vette shop nearby that installed it for $400.
I will go with Powerbond if I can talk them into putting it on.
Last edited by JR-01; Oct 18, 2016 at 09:46 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 11
From: Portland Maine
A couple of years ago I drove mine to a well known LS shop in Foxboro Mass. 3 hours away from me. SlowHawk performance I believe. He installed a 1 piece balancer to prevent the wobble from ever happening again. Even replaced an oil seal behind it, and gave me an oil change, Parts and labor was $750. They even did the job while I waited in his waiting room. They did the job in less than 3 hours, stating he had fabricated a special tool to help him with the install since they had done so many of them. I gave him $800 and said pizza was on me! 
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 17
Likes: 5
I would really check to make sure the balancer is going bad. I bought an 02 Vert with 39,000 on it last year. A friend noticed the wobble and said it might become a problem. After hours of research and speaking with a friend who's a retired GM service department manager, I found out that a noticeable amount of wobble is normal and considered to be within GM spec. I've put an additional 12,000 miles on the car in the past 14 months. Still has that slight wobble.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I would really check to make sure the balancer is going bad. I bought an 02 Vert with 39,000 on it last year. A friend noticed the wobble and said it might become a problem. After hours of research and speaking with a friend who's a retired GM service department manager, I found out that a noticeable amount of wobble is normal and considered to be within GM spec. I've put an additional 12,000 miles on the car in the past 14 months. Still has that slight wobble.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 17
Likes: 5
Poll
I'm sure it's been done before. But how about a poll of current C5 owners that have replaced the harmonic balancer? Year of the car with the year and mileage that it was replaced. If there's a recent poll, a link would be greatly appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
Had mine replaced under warranty at about 32k miles after 7 years on the road. It was not causing any problems, but it was wobbling. New factory one still has some wobble, but not as bad.
Last edited by Choreo; Oct 18, 2016 at 05:36 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,359
Likes: 262
Here's my history with this; got the dreaded chirp and replaced both belts and it seemed fine for a while then came back. So I ordered every pulley I could get a replacement for and replaced them with new belts, which fixed the chirp....temporarily yet again. Just a couple months ago she started chirping again but not exactly on start up, like 5min into warm up and really gets pronounced in higher rpm while driving, and it's driving me nuts.
Each time I thought I fixed it I would stare at my HB looking for this wobble that's so prominent, but I don't see a wobble. I even had a buddy who works in LS's and had seen the wobble and he can't detect a wobble either. I've turned off the AC, still present, I've sprayed water on specific pullies to eliminate the possiblity of another bad pulley and the chirp is still there.
I don't know what to do. Also I've developed a tiny coolant leak which I'm certain is coming from the water pump. I'm thinking of having the water pump and HB replaced.
Any thoughts?
Each time I thought I fixed it I would stare at my HB looking for this wobble that's so prominent, but I don't see a wobble. I even had a buddy who works in LS's and had seen the wobble and he can't detect a wobble either. I've turned off the AC, still present, I've sprayed water on specific pullies to eliminate the possiblity of another bad pulley and the chirp is still there.
I don't know what to do. Also I've developed a tiny coolant leak which I'm certain is coming from the water pump. I'm thinking of having the water pump and HB replaced.
Any thoughts?
Last edited by nvusgt; Oct 18, 2016 at 07:51 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
In May of 2015 I removed the engine from my 2001 to repair a major oil leak and a rebuild on the motor. I was having no belt chirp or wobble from the balancer at all.
I replaced the balancer with a new A/C Delco part just as preventative measure. In about 5000 miles and a little over a year I had the belt chirp start. I had replaced all pulleys, idlers and new Gatorback belt.
Upon examining the balancer the wobble was evident. Needless to say I had to replace the balancer. It was just out of the 12 month warranty period. I went with a Power Bond OEM replacment unit.
So far no problem.
I replaced the balancer with a new A/C Delco part just as preventative measure. In about 5000 miles and a little over a year I had the belt chirp start. I had replaced all pulleys, idlers and new Gatorback belt.
Upon examining the balancer the wobble was evident. Needless to say I had to replace the balancer. It was just out of the 12 month warranty period. I went with a Power Bond OEM replacment unit.
So far no problem.