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Harmonic balancer recommendations

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Old Apr 13, 2018 | 09:11 PM
  #21  
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Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!
I have been having this chirp noise for weeks/months now, sometimes for only a few minutes, but now nearly continuous.
I had replaced the idler and tensioner bearings (x3) as was told this could be the problem, but NO.
Then after taking it in a our WOF (Warrant of Fitness) here in New Zealand, and mentioning the chirp, my tech looked at it, and said the Harmonic Balancer was wobbling. A bit of research and all was pointing to the HB.
Reading everyone comments, I am now ready to order a replacement HB and bolt, and might as well also order the seal.
Now, as I am not in the US, and we have limited access to local suppliers for these parts, could someone recommend the best (or better) place to order the parts, and the recommendation on what to get?
I do intend to do some work on the motor at some stage to bring the HP up, so I don't mind spending a little more if needed. I see that some do recommend the Powerbond HB.

Any further suggestions, would be most grateful, need to do this right first time.
Thanks Kevin
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Old Apr 14, 2018 | 03:03 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by sparcnz
Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!
I have been having this chirp noise for weeks/months now, sometimes for only a few minutes, but now nearly continuous.
I had replaced the idler and tensioner bearings (x3) as was told this could be the problem, but NO.
Then after taking it in a our WOF (Warrant of Fitness) here in New Zealand, and mentioning the chirp, my tech looked at it, and said the Harmonic Balancer was wobbling. A bit of research and all was pointing to the HB.
Reading everyone comments, I am now ready to order a replacement HB and bolt, and might as well also order the seal.
Now, as I am not in the US, and we have limited access to local suppliers for these parts, could someone recommend the best (or better) place to order the parts, and the recommendation on what to get?
I do intend to do some work on the motor at some stage to bring the HP up, so I don't mind spending a little more if needed. I see that some do recommend the Powerbond HB.

Any further suggestions, would be most grateful, need to do this right first time.
Thanks Kevin
ATI. It's also fully rebuildable. Has a keyway so if you want to use the ATI pin kit it also works well.
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Old Apr 14, 2018 | 05:24 PM
  #23  
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Fwiw.. I had my GM world class tech install the summit racing harmonic balancer yesterday. I think it was around six or seven hours labor with removing the steering rack.

I have to say I think the car is running smoother than before as I go up through the rev range.

He didn't use the ARP bolt and he said stock was fine.

Mines a 2008 c6 z51 manual. I'm glad I changed the harmonic balancer. I know it sounds nuts but the engine revs smoother ...and I believe since having this installed the knock sensors might have been pulling some timing before the swap yesterday.

I could be wrong and it could all be in my imagination but that's my initial impression fwiw...

Just a heads up. I think swapping out the harmonic balancer for the summit racing one was a good move on my part. I enjoy driving my car just a little bit more since it seems to be running smoother as I hammer the throttle..

(Edit) I put 119546 miles since new on this car. Still on the original clutch too...lol

What a great car!

Last edited by JerriVette; Apr 14, 2018 at 05:25 PM.
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Old Apr 19, 2018 | 10:33 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by JerriVette
Fwiw.. I had my GM world class tech install the summit racing harmonic balancer yesterday. I think it was around six or seven hours labor with removing the steering rack.

I have to say I think the car is running smoother than before as I go up through the rev range.

He didn't use the ARP bolt and he said stock was fine.

Mines a 2008 c6 z51 manual. I'm glad I changed the harmonic balancer. I know it sounds nuts but the engine revs smoother ...and I believe since having this installed the knock sensors might have been pulling some timing before the swap yesterday.

I could be wrong and it could all be in my imagination but that's my initial impression fwiw...

Just a heads up. I think swapping out the harmonic balancer for the summit racing one was a good move on my part. I enjoy driving my car just a little bit more since it seems to be running smoother as I hammer the throttle..

(Edit) I put 119546 miles since new on this car. Still on the original clutch too...lol

What a great car!
I would check make sure the harmonic balancer is not tty on your C6 (torque to yield-one time use because it stretches out the bolt threads). C5 oem harmonic bolt is tty one time use even though bolt looks fine when you take it out.
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Old Apr 19, 2018 | 11:08 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by emptnest


Powerbond is said to be better quality, longer life, more reliable than oem.

it hits the sweet spot in value, providing great service at lower cost than other options. Others might be marginally better, but for 2x or 3x the $$. The extra costs, in my mind, are justified only if you are building for huge HP.

I went with upgraded ARP bolt. Going from memory, it was $10-$15.
Is there a washer behind the harmonic balancer that keeps the balancer from rubbing on the timing cover I need to replace along with HB ? I read some where on this forum one guy mentioning something about that washer.
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Old Apr 19, 2018 | 10:57 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by 1997 C5
Is there a washer behind the harmonic balancer that keeps the balancer from rubbing on the timing cover I need to replace along with HB ? I read some where on this forum one guy mentioning something about that washer.
There's no washer behind the HB. I would, however, but careful to make sure the spacing is correct. Here is what it should look like:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1595734488
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Old Apr 19, 2018 | 11:03 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by sparcnz
Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!
I have been having this chirp noise for weeks/months now, sometimes for only a few minutes, but now nearly continuous.
I had replaced the idler and tensioner bearings (x3) as was told this could be the problem, but NO.
Then after taking it in a our WOF (Warrant of Fitness) here in New Zealand, and mentioning the chirp, my tech looked at it, and said the Harmonic Balancer was wobbling. A bit of research and all was pointing to the HB.
Reading everyone comments, I am now ready to order a replacement HB and bolt, and might as well also order the seal.
Now, as I am not in the US, and we have limited access to local suppliers for these parts, could someone recommend the best (or better) place to order the parts, and the recommendation on what to get?
I do intend to do some work on the motor at some stage to bring the HP up, so I don't mind spending a little more if needed. I see that some do recommend the Powerbond HB.

Any further suggestions, would be most grateful, need to do this right first time.
Thanks Kevin
Kevin, the Powerbond is all you need. Here are the part numbers:

- DAYCO Harmonic Balancer Part number PB1117N premium
- ARP 2342503 Stud Kit (includes the ARP bolt lubricator)
- National 100470 Oil Seal

As far as the chirping, I thought it was my HB, too, but it wasn't. The chirping was coming from my a/c idler and tensioner pulleys. Get two of these:

Amazon Amazon
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Old Apr 24, 2018 | 03:55 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by scottunger
Kevin, the Powerbond is all you need. Here are the part numbers:

- DAYCO Harmonic Balancer Part number PB1117N premium
- ARP 2342503 Stud Kit (includes the ARP bolt lubricator)
- National 100470 Oil Seal

As far as the chirping, I thought it was my HB, too, but it wasn't. The chirping was coming from my a/c idler and tensioner pulleys. Get two of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thank you for all for your input Scottunger. Questions I'm still trying to track down my chirping noise and I know it's not from serpentine belt idler pulley or serpentine belt tensioner pulley. If i need to replace the ac belt tensioner pulley, can i buy the ac idler pulley and just use the ac idler pulley mount on the ac belt tensior pulley? so I don't have to buy the ac belt tensioer pulley as assembly w/pulley to save cost?
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Old Apr 26, 2018 | 03:03 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by 1997 C5
Thank you for all for your input Scottunger. Questions I'm still trying to track down my chirping noise and I know it's not from serpentine belt idler pulley or serpentine belt tensioner pulley. If i need to replace the ac belt tensioner pulley, can i buy the ac idler pulley and just use the ac idler pulley mount on the ac belt tensior pulley? so I don't have to buy the ac belt tensioer pulley as assembly w/pulley to save cost?
Yes, the ac idler pulley and the ac belt tensioner pulleys are the same part number. You likely don't need to replace the entire assembly. Just the pulleys.
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Old Apr 26, 2018 | 04:04 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by scottunger
Kevin, the Powerbond is all you need. Here are the part numbers:

- DAYCO Harmonic Balancer Part number PB1117N premium
- ARP 2342503 Stud Kit (includes the ARP bolt lubricator)
- National 100470 Oil Seal

As far as the chirping, I thought it was my HB, too, but it wasn't. The chirping was coming from my a/c idler and tensioner pulleys. Get two of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the info, I have already changed the idler and tensioner bearings, and the chirp is still there, so that's why I was pointing to the HB. I am happy to change it, my next option is whether to go for a more performance HB, should I go smaller or stick with the factory size, but I would like to keep it under US$200 as I need to ship it down to NZ. Regards
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