Replacing balancer, what else?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Replacing balancer, what else?
My balancer separated this morning and I'm consideri g doing heads and cam at the same time. Car is primarily street driven, I drive it harder than most, but not like a race car. I would like to maintain drivability without putting a stall on it. I have a set of 243 heads that need cleaned up that I plan to install with the cam.
What all should I do? trunnion upgrade? Valve springs? Cam suggestions?
Also plan to replace oil pump and timing chain.
2002 C5
A4
Shorty headers
Axle back exhaust
What all should I do? trunnion upgrade? Valve springs? Cam suggestions?
Also plan to replace oil pump and timing chain.
2002 C5
A4
Shorty headers
Axle back exhaust
Last edited by Eb02; Jun 20, 2026 at 11:51 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,566
Likes: 1,209
From: Dyer, IN
My balancer separated this morning and I'm consideri g doing heads and cam at the same time. Car is primarily street driven, I drive it harder than most, but not like a race car. I would like to maintain drivability without putting a stall on it. I have a set of 243 heads that need cleaned up that I plan to install with the cam.
What all should I do? trunnion upgrade? Valve springs? Cam suggestions?
Also plan to replace oil pump and timing chain.
2002 C5
A4
Shorty headers
Axle back exhaust
What all should I do? trunnion upgrade? Valve springs? Cam suggestions?
Also plan to replace oil pump and timing chain.
2002 C5
A4
Shorty headers
Axle back exhaust
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Looking At those now! Not sure if I want to do speed engineering and deal with the X pipe or pony up for something more expensive and direct bolt in. I'm leaning towards skipping the cam for now and just swapping in a 2 piece timing cover for access at a later date without pulling the damper again.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,566
Likes: 1,209
From: Dyer, IN
Looking At those now! Not sure if I want to do speed engineering and deal with the X pipe or pony up for something more expensive and direct bolt in. I'm leaning towards skipping the cam for now and just swapping in a 2 piece timing cover for access at a later date without pulling the damper again.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
mainly concerned about driveability after the cam not really looking to pull the whole drivetrain right now as most cams are recommending replacing the stall to a 2800-3200 stall.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 271
Likes: 35
From: Central Texas
The problem my A4 car has. Big cam, no stall converter. All of that points out basically an unfinished project - that I’m finishing. OP is concerned about drivability, but a good custom grind cam made to his setup (stock a4), is what I’d recommend when he installs the 243 heads. Mine is "stage 3" (subjective due to sheer amount of grind specs in just the "stage 3" cam world.) Without a cam change, I’d just save those 243’s for a different project, go with exhaust, tune, and cruise the boulevard.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 271
Likes: 35
From: Central Texas
My balancer separated this morning and I'm consideri g doing heads and cam at the same time. Car is primarily street driven, I drive it harder than most, but not like a race car. I would like to maintain drivability without putting a stall on it. I have a set of 243 heads that need cleaned up that I plan to install with the cam.
What all should I do? trunnion upgrade? Valve springs? Cam suggestions?
Also plan to replace oil pump and timing chain.
2002 C5
A4
Shorty headers
Axle back exhaust
What all should I do? trunnion upgrade? Valve springs? Cam suggestions?
Also plan to replace oil pump and timing chain.
2002 C5
A4
Shorty headers
Axle back exhaust
Last edited by LegionnaireCM; Yesterday at 08:41 PM.