When there is slight wobble and the belt is fluttering how long do you usually have before an actual failure? Probably no way to tell I would imagine but just wondering if it's something that is a right now thing or if people drive like that for a while? The car has 45k miles. (Seems too soon for a part like that to fail)

 

Nobody can tell you how long it has, you just have to understand that you are running a risk of failure at anytime.

 

Mileage has little to do with it, more age as the C5 platform gets older. I have a 2004 so its 21 years old already.

 

If it is wobbling it has already failed.

age is the killer.

 

Mine has a slight wiggle. 2002 with 53k miles. It's on my "round to it list" to address but drive it locally every week.

 

Do these generally turn into a catastrophic failure if left to wobble? It's about a 60 mile drive to get the car home if I buy it.

 

Moved to C5 Tech.

 

Here is the deal. You might drive it 5 years with out total failure, you might get 5 miles as no one can really say.

the rubber is failing and depending on the condition of the rubber is how fast it will completely fail.

Once it goes it will hit the steering rack or timing cover and can damage one or both. Or it could fail totally and not turn the belts and leave you stranded.

If it is a significant wobble I would make plans on changing it now vs later. Change the front deal and belt too.

Use the 2501 Summit Racing Balancer. It is the standard of the market. Same with the ARP bolt. You may want yo pin it to the crank to make a better fit as GM failed to do this. It is just a small added job you can easily do while installing the new balancer.

These issues are becoming very common on the C5 C6 and most any LS engine. Age and climate make them fail at different rates.

Odds are good you may make the 60 miles as no drive. I would just drive smooth and easy till you can get it home and check it out. Or have it looked at before you leave may be the smart thing to do. Get it in the air and really get a good look befor you go.

Most times these go slow street driving. But if you hear it hitting something shut it down.

 

It's a ticking time bomb. Drive at your own risk. But I wouldn't take a chance.

 

No one can tell you that.

 

All good, thank you guys!