Harmonic Balancer Replacement
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: London, Ontario, Canada
Harmonic Balancer Replacement
Good evening,
I'm currently in the process of replacing my harmonic balancer and front seal. Everything is removed and I'm waiting for parts.... now my mind is wandering. At 160,000 km (100,000 miles) is there any items I should change while I have the steering rack out?
I was thinking of maybe replacing the timing chain, oil pump and the timing cover gasket. Would prefer to avoid this job again!
I'm currently in the process of replacing my harmonic balancer and front seal. Everything is removed and I'm waiting for parts.... now my mind is wandering. At 160,000 km (100,000 miles) is there any items I should change while I have the steering rack out?
I was thinking of maybe replacing the timing chain, oil pump and the timing cover gasket. Would prefer to avoid this job again!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 897
Likes: 987
From: NW Burbs of Chi-Town
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Is anything leaking?
I'd put a new front seal on it and change everything rubber. Belts, tensioners, pulleys, all hoses (including PS hoses). New coolant recovery tank is not a bad idea. Perhaps a water pump (look at the weep hole for signs of leakage and thermostat.
If you are gonna take the front cover off... You could stuff a cam in it along with chain gears and and an oil pump. I have to say it can lead you down a rabbit hole. I just went down a big rabbit hole with my car. Cam heads and headers along with the above. No regrets.
There is some really good info here:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
I'd put a new front seal on it and change everything rubber. Belts, tensioners, pulleys, all hoses (including PS hoses). New coolant recovery tank is not a bad idea. Perhaps a water pump (look at the weep hole for signs of leakage and thermostat.
If you are gonna take the front cover off... You could stuff a cam in it along with chain gears and and an oil pump. I have to say it can lead you down a rabbit hole. I just went down a big rabbit hole with my car. Cam heads and headers along with the above. No regrets.
There is some really good info here:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 215
Likes: 223
From: Atlanta, GA
I replaced my chain, gears, oil pump, and water pump / thermostat around 160k when I had to replace the balancer and front seal. Belts, tensioners and idler pulleys got done as well. Unfortunately, I had to do it again around 190k when the powerbond balancer started to wobble. Used a Summit balancer this time.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,367
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I replaced my balancer, timing chain, and front seal, several years ago. Did have to lower the front cradle about 3/4", in order to aid steering rack removal. With respect to the oil pickup, it's held to the oil pump with 2 bolts. You can unscrew the 2 bolts, and if you're VERY CAREFUL, remove them without dropping them into the oil pan. Then the pump can be disconnected from the pickup by carefully prying the pump and pickup apart. The pump and pickup seal together with an o-ring, so don't drop that into the pan.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 778
Likes: 382
From: Old Dominion - VA
I replaced my balancer, timing chain, and front seal, several years ago. Did have to lower the front cradle about 3/4", in order to aid steering rack removal. With respect to the oil pickup, it's held to the oil pump with 2 bolts. You can unscrew the 2 bolts, and if you're VERY CAREFUL, remove them without dropping them into the oil pan. Then the pump can be disconnected from the pickup by carefully prying the pump and pickup apart. The pump and pickup seal together with an o-ring, so don't drop that into the pan.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: London, Ontario, Canada
Thank you everyone for your input! I was a afraid of opening the front cover, so I just ended up replacing the harmonic balancer!! Everything seems to be running smoothly and I'll keep my eye out for oil leaks on the front of the car.
A aftermarket cam is very tempting but I'm wary of putting any more power into an engine with 160,000 km on it!
A aftermarket cam is very tempting but I'm wary of putting any more power into an engine with 160,000 km on it!