Harmonic balancer question.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 203
From: Edmonton Alberta, Canada
Harmonic balancer question.
Started my '03 Corvette with 35k miles on it. Checked out harmonic balancer while idling, it has a slight wobble. There are no belt noises. My question is a slight wobble normal? Should I be concerned and prepared for a replacement in the near future. Thank you in advance. Rob
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 343
From: Long Island New York
I had a slight wobble when I purchased my car, I never felt easy taking the car out until it was replaced. People may say otherwise, but no wobble is acceptable.
Save for a future replacement or do what I did, wait for the "Winter project" to do
Save for a future replacement or do what I did, wait for the "Winter project" to do
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Started my '03 Corvette with 35k miles on it. Checked out harmonic balancer while idling, it has a slight wobble. There are no belt noises. My question is a slight wobble normal? Should I be concerned and prepared for a replacement in the near future. Thank you in advance. Rob
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,080
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Life is too short to be paranoid about these kinds of things. I've have like many others taken stock LS balancers off and intentionally put them back on during projects. Yes they fail but until they fail they're still good.
Enjoy your car and keep a mindful eye on it while you have your hood open during normal visual checks.
Enjoy your car and keep a mindful eye on it while you have your hood open during normal visual checks.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
what if the engineers at gm designed these things to purposely fail so the owners would feel compelled to do a cam swap
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,024
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From: Port Charlotte Florida
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 275
From: Wichita Falls Texas
Put a white indicator mark inside to outside and check it every now and then to see if the HB has moved. Check it once a week or so.
If the mark does not stay in line you probably need to replace the HB.
I had it replaced on my 03 vert. Cost me around $500 parts and labor. I used the Powerbond HB with the ARP bolt.
I also changed out tensioners, idlers and belts. That cost extra.
Good luck!
If the mark does not stay in line you probably need to replace the HB.
I had it replaced on my 03 vert. Cost me around $500 parts and labor. I used the Powerbond HB with the ARP bolt.
I also changed out tensioners, idlers and belts. That cost extra.
Good luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
Something to check, place a ratchet with a long handle or extension of the HB bolt, if that turns at all, then it needs to be replaced immediately. If not, and you are not into HPDE or autocrossing keep a good eye in it to see if it is moving more than before. When it starts to wobble more is the time to replace.
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 113
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Because I prefer to fix a (potential) problem when it's an $800 problem vs a $8K+ problem. It was a no-brainer to swap out the balancer for an ATI immediately upon purchase, no different than adding the LMC module, or changing fluids, belts, and hoses. Balancers are a known problem on the (mostly bulletproof) LS motors. I've always been a preventative maintenance (vs fix upon breakage) guy. YMMV
Last edited by STRMLNE; Apr 2, 2019 at 12:25 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 113
Likes: 21
From: Phoenix, AZ
A friend threw a balancer through the hood on a Trans Am years ago. Trashed the motor, the hood, and a bunch of steering components as I recall. With the ATI balancer on the car now, one less thing I need to worry about with a 15 year old car that is driven hard. Anyway, to each his own...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
A friend threw a balancer through the hood on a Trans Am years ago. Trashed the motor, the hood, and a bunch of steering components as I recall. With the ATI balancer on the car now, one less thing I need to worry about with a 15 year old car that is driven hard. Anyway, to each his own...
Last edited by STRMLNE; Apr 2, 2019 at 03:35 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 113
Likes: 21
From: Phoenix, AZ
LS engine is an LS engine. No need to be snarky, I was just passing along a data point in answer to your question on why would anyone want to do this preemptively. I chose to spend the money for peace of mind. Tons of guys choose otherwise and fix after it breaks. As I stated, to each his own. Peace.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 275
From: Wichita Falls Texas
I don't have any friend story's. I don't have any friends. Would you be my friend? if so, could I borrow some money?
However, I do know of one guy whose HB came apart and tore the hell out of the front of his engine and damaged the hood.
Not a Corvette but a Plymouth Road Runner..
He wasn'r a friend though. I just knew him. I also saw the damage.
It could happen.
Just sayin'.
However, I do know of one guy whose HB came apart and tore the hell out of the front of his engine and damaged the hood.
Not a Corvette but a Plymouth Road Runner..
He wasn'r a friend though. I just knew him. I also saw the damage.
It could happen.
Just sayin'.
Last edited by Grandpa1; Apr 2, 2019 at 06:36 PM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 698
Likes: 20
From: Md
I don't have any friend story's. I don't have any friends. Would you be my friend? if so, could I borrow some money?
However, I do know of one guy whose HB came apart and tore the hell out of the front of his engine and damaged the hood.
Not a Corvette but a Plymouth Road Runner..
He wasn'r a friend though. I just knew him. I also saw the damage.
It could happen.
Just sayin'.
However, I do know of one guy whose HB came apart and tore the hell out of the front of his engine and damaged the hood.
Not a Corvette but a Plymouth Road Runner..
He wasn'r a friend though. I just knew him. I also saw the damage.
It could happen.
Just sayin'.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 113
Likes: 21
From: Phoenix, AZ
Jesus you are a DICK. Not sure exactly what your problem is. Hope I never run into your sorry *** here in the E Valley...you are EXACTLY the sort of guy that gives Corvette owners a bad name. Now...GFY. Don't bother responding, I won't see it, you're the first jackass to hit the ignore list.
Last edited by Bushman66; Apr 2, 2019 at 08:08 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 717
Likes: 80
From: Michigan
i marked mine three years ago. Has a slight wobble, and it always has since I bought it with 84k on the clock five years ago.. I keep an eye on it, and the marks haven’t moved yet.