Is this the wobble?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 28
Likes: 10
From: Riverside County, California
Is this the wobble?
Hello everyone, just picked up my long time dream car, a C5 Corvette, and I was inspecting the harmonic balancer and having some doubts about wether I see a little wobble.
I did record a video so I could get some opinions
Thank you all in advance
https://youtube.com/shorts/Mtd5wlbibhQ?feature=share
I did record a video so I could get some opinions
Thank you all in advance
https://youtube.com/shorts/Mtd5wlbibhQ?feature=share
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 78
From: Norfolk, UK
Hi, welcome to the forum 
I’d say yes; the wobble is when the inner and outer parts of the balancer start to separate (that’s why one test is marking across both, driving for a bit and seeing if the markings no longer line up). I’ve seen videos of worse but I suspect most here would say you need to start thinking about changing or at the least monitoring it regularly. Lots of useful guides on this forum about balancers, it comes up every few days
I’d say yes; the wobble is when the inner and outer parts of the balancer start to separate (that’s why one test is marking across both, driving for a bit and seeing if the markings no longer line up). I’ve seen videos of worse but I suspect most here would say you need to start thinking about changing or at the least monitoring it regularly. Lots of useful guides on this forum about balancers, it comes up every few days
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 243
Likes: 93
From: Ashburn, VA
Kind of looks like the rubber part is starting to malform, which means its going. Mine wobbles worse then this and I'm about to replace it. Keep the RPMs low for now and order up a summit balancer, ARP balancer bolt and get it slapped on so you can sleep at night, Racks gotta come out to access balancer but after that...old balancer off...new balancer on...torqure...reinstall rack...enjoy the car. A new timing cover with an new seal wouldn't be a bad idea as well as it would suck to install the new balancer then discover the front crank seal start leaking.
Joe
Joe
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 28
Likes: 10
From: Riverside County, California
Thanks everyone! I suspected a bit but wasnt entirely sure. I will start getting ready for this. I plan to keep this car forever, so I want to do everything needed.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 78
From: Norfolk, UK
I’m having mine done on Wednesday. There are some tasks I can do/have done myself but that job is beyond my skills/confidence/tools, etc! Agreed with the post above about the front seal. There are plenty of “while you’re in there” tasks that you could do but that one is by far the most important in terms of how much you’d have to recover the same ground if it were to need doing (the balancer would have to come off again).
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 28
Likes: 10
From: Riverside County, California
Kind of looks like the rubber part is starting to malform, which means its going. Mine wobbles worse then this and I'm about to replace it. Keep the RPMs low for now and order up a summit balancer, ARP balancer bolt and get it slapped on so you can sleep at night, Racks gotta come out to access balancer but after that...old balancer off...new balancer on...torqure...reinstall rack...enjoy the car. A new timing cover with an new seal wouldn't be a bad idea as well as it would suck to install the new balancer then discover the front crank seal start leaking.
Joe
Joe
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 243
Likes: 93
From: Ashburn, VA
Joe
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 28
Likes: 10
From: Riverside County, California
Technically, the cover doesn't have to come off. However, the seal that is in the cover that the balancer slips into can be changed with the cover on, but is much simpler to do with it off the vehicle. From a technician standpoint, just replacing with a new timing cover alleviates installing a new seal as the new one is already installed. It can be be done either way. The main goal here is not to develop a leak and have to do the job all over again to replace the seal.
Joe
Joe
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 78
From: Norfolk, UK
Quick question on that actually, please… there’s different parts listed on RockAuto for crankshaft seal (29602) and timing cover seal (for example, Enginetech part code S5673). Are they the same thing? If not, am I correct in thinking the crankshaft seal is the one which is the one to do while the balancer is off cos it’s right behind it, please?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 28
Likes: 10
From: Riverside County, California
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 114
Likes: 15
I agree on the wobble not bad enough to concern yourself with. watch it when you raise the RPM just a little and it will disappear. I would mark the balancer with paint and just check on it now and again. My last 02 I had for three years and it looked a little worse than yours. It never got any worse nor did the balancer ever show signs of slippage. Not worth the work or expense until its needed and it will tell you when its time if ever.