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Please see post #5. It doesn't make any difference where the balancer is indexed!!! It is a balanced assembly! The same as your wheel/tire assembly. Clocking a balancer is like clocking your balanced wheel/tire assembly. If you remove a wheel for any reason, do you mark it so it goes back on EXACTLY where it was before, and not "off" a stud??!!! Of course not, would be the answer for 99% of us!!
HOWEVER, I seem to recall that either in the shop manual, or in a detailed discussion on this forum, it was mentioned that the "stick shift cars" were given an additional "hot balance" (the factory's term), in which the harmonic balancer may have received a few additional weights, which were inserted into the holes that are around the face of the balancer. These weights are quite small, so the factory was doing a real "fine balance" with these weights.
NO, an LS balancer is not "indexed" with a keyway, like other Chevrolet engines were, so there isn't really a "correct" spot for it to be installed in. However, by using the small weights, the factory was "fine tuning" the engine's balance, and in reality, if you remove this balancer, then reinstall it, if it's not in the exact same spot, you might even create an imbalance.....
HOWEVER, I seem to recall that either in the shop manual, or in a detailed discussion on this forum, it was mentioned that the "stick shift cars" were given an additional "hot balance" (the factory's term), in which the harmonic balancer may have received a few additional weights, which were inserted into the holes that are around the face of the balancer. These weights are quite small, so the factory was doing a real "fine balance" with these weights.
NO, an LS balancer is not "indexed" with a keyway, like other Chevrolet engines were, so there isn't really a "correct" spot for it to be installed in. However, by using the small weights, the factory was "fine tuning" the engine's balance, and in reality, if you remove this balancer, then reinstall it, if it's not in the exact same spot, you might even create an imbalance.....
The procedure is spelled out in the service manual. Clearly explains how to index original dampers location and match weights new one. Does it make any difference I don't know the GM powertrain engineers thought it was important.
I read once those weights contributed to why the LS1 could rev higher in the Corvette than when it was fitted in the Camaro (which presumably wasn’t fitted with them then) but fully admit to being out of my depth on the subject!
I read once those weights contributed to why the LS1 could rev higher in the Corvette than when it was fitted in the Camaro (which presumably wasn’t fitted with them then) but fully admit to being out of my depth on the subject!
Thought it was something about bearings in the torque tube being damaged due to vibration? I don't know.
For the sake of illustration, for those unfamiliar with the LS balancer.....
Picture #1 shows all of the holes in the face of the balancer, that can be used for the weights to be inserted. Picture #2 focuses on the one weight that was inserted in the balancer that came on my car. Note how small it actually is....
For the sake of illustration, for those unfamiliar with the LS balancer.....
Picture #1 shows all of the holes in the face of the balancer, that can be used for the weights to be inserted. Picture #2 focuses on the one weight that was inserted in the balancer that came on my car. Note how small it actually is....
Those holes were not drilled soley for attaching weights. They are there to help balance the assembly as perfect as it can be. You may also find they are drilled to different depths, though I am not certain of that. I have an A4, so perhaps the 6 speeds are supposed to be indexed. But I seriously doubt it. Doing what amounts to a dynamic balancing to every 6 speed drivetrain would increase production costs for GM dramatically. I realize the factory service manuals are the best, and I have them. But I also have found several errors in it. That said, I have never heard of one vibration complaint from any owner after installing an aftermarket balancer, whether in a 6 speed, or A4. But, if it is clearly advised in the factory manual to do so, then I guess I'd try to do it, if reinstalling the factory balancer. My thinking is that metal plug weight was required to perfectly balance the unit itself....My .02, YMMV....
Last edited by grinder11; Apr 27, 2023 at 09:42 AM.
Those holes were not drilled soley for attaching weights. They are there to help balance the assembly as perfect as it can be. You may also find they are drilled to different depths, though I am not certain of that. I have an A4, so perhaps the 6 speeds are supposed to be indexed. But I seriously doubt it. Doing what amounts to a dynamic balancing to every 6 speed drivetrain would increase production costs for GM dramatically. I realize the factory service manuals are the best, and I have them. But I also have found several errors in it. That said, I have never heard of one vibration complaint from any owner after installing an aftermarket balancer, whether in a 6 speed, or A4. But, if it is clearly advised in the factory manual to do so, then I guess I'd try to do it, if reinstalling the factory balancer. My thinking is that metal plug weight was required to perfectly balance the unit itself....My .02, YMMV....
"If it is clearly advised in the manual to do so" GM Service Manual Corvette volume 2 of 3 section 6 page 448-449.
For the sake of illustration, for those unfamiliar with the LS balancer.....
Picture #1 shows all of the holes in the face of the balancer, that can be used for the weights to be inserted. Picture #2 focuses on the one weight that was inserted in the balancer that came on my car. Note how small it actually is....
But with the way those holes are biased toward one side, that thing is already out of balance
But with the way those holes are biased toward one side, that thing is already out of balance
You have no way of knowing if something is out of balance just because there are more holes in one area than another. A piece of metal can be be way out of balance with no holes drilled into it anywhere. A wheel has no weights on it anywhere when you purchase it. But they can end up with a considerable amount of weight in one area on its circumference. If it were possible on a wheel, you could drill lightening holes into the heaviest area, instead of adding weight to the lightest spot. Then you would have several holes drilled into only one side of the wheel. But the wheel would be balanced just fine with holes in just one spot. But we can't do that on a wheel, so we add weight in the lightest spot, instead.
