View Poll Results: Harmonic Balancer Issues...
I've had or currently have issues-replaced or will replace balancer
268
51.15%
No issues what so ever-still have stock balancer
242
46.18%
Don't care... I drive it like I stole it
14
2.67%
Voters: 524. You may not vote on this poll
Harmonic Balancer Issues... whose got'em
#21
I'm the Corvette tech at my GM dealership and have seen a good handful of these balancers that wobble. I just replaced one on an 06 along with the tensioner and water pump and alternator. She waited too long to figure out what the noise was and by the time she brought the vette in, the vibration had killed the tensioner leading to the bearing failing on the waterpump which killed her alternator.
If you replace it yourself, it will take a while on your back. The best way is to fish the steering rack out and renmove the ABS pump bracket, (not the pump!!). Some of the balancers may have an occasional weight on the inside of the hub and will require the weight in the exact same spot on the new one. Make sure to note by marking your crank and hub how you took off the old one. THIS IS CRUCIAL per GM!!!
Last but not least, make sure to use a new crank bolt!
If you replace it yourself, it will take a while on your back. The best way is to fish the steering rack out and renmove the ABS pump bracket, (not the pump!!). Some of the balancers may have an occasional weight on the inside of the hub and will require the weight in the exact same spot on the new one. Make sure to note by marking your crank and hub how you took off the old one. THIS IS CRUCIAL per GM!!!
Last but not least, make sure to use a new crank bolt!
The following 3 users liked this post by Pistons-n-Pearls:
#26
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Simply amazing. Out of 45 owners that have voted, just under 50% of them have had issues... that's absolutely rediculous!!!
$22,000 worth of repairs for just the ones that have actually voted... nice!
Thanks GM... I've got 4 Chevrolets in my driveway/garage, some of the times I really have to wonder why.
D
$22,000 worth of repairs for just the ones that have actually voted... nice!
Thanks GM... I've got 4 Chevrolets in my driveway/garage, some of the times I really have to wonder why.
D
#27
Safety Car
I did. It was repaired under 100,000 mile powertrain warranty at no cost to me. Sounded like someone had let loose a chirpy canary under the hood.
#29
Racer
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#30
CF Senior Member
Member Since: Feb 2006
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GM must have made 100 million engines without this problem. Why GM ever abandoned using a key I'll never know but all of the Gen III and Gen IV V8 engines use a press-fit damper with no keyway. This has been the case since the LS1 was introduced in 1997. The diamond embedded washer (DEW) became a production part with the 2006 LS2 and LS7 engines and I suspect in the later model '05's as well. As noted, the problem isn't limited to 2005 models...it can happen across all model years. I doubt the problem is all that widespread (considering the press-fit damper has been in widespread use for many years) but whatever the number of problems its too much.
Its not ideal but a slight amount of pulley wobble can be considered within normal parameters so long as the bolt is tight and you're not chewing or fraying the belts. You can always change to a better crank-pulley...something like the ATI racing pulley or a surefire solution would be to pin the crank. Pinning the crank is virtually mandatory with forced induction applications. It's not considered mandatory with naturally aspirated applications but if you're putting-down high power IMO its not a bad idea to do. You will have to drop the entire front rack to replace the harmonic balancer and as I'm sure you know you have to use new torque-to-yield bolts. Never reuse these bolts.
Good luck whichever route you take!
Its not ideal but a slight amount of pulley wobble can be considered within normal parameters so long as the bolt is tight and you're not chewing or fraying the belts. You can always change to a better crank-pulley...something like the ATI racing pulley or a surefire solution would be to pin the crank. Pinning the crank is virtually mandatory with forced induction applications. It's not considered mandatory with naturally aspirated applications but if you're putting-down high power IMO its not a bad idea to do. You will have to drop the entire front rack to replace the harmonic balancer and as I'm sure you know you have to use new torque-to-yield bolts. Never reuse these bolts.
Good luck whichever route you take!
The following users liked this post:
DickieDoo (02-23-2021)
#31
Race Director
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
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I don't know why you keep harping on the press fit pulley when that has absolutely nothing to do with the problems that people are having with a failed flexible coupling in the harmonic balancer.
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DickieDoo (02-23-2021)
#32
Le Mans Master
Simply amazing. Out of 45 owners that have voted, just under 50% of them have had issues... that's absolutely rediculous!!!
$22,000 worth of repairs for just the ones that have actually voted... nice!
Thanks GM... I've got 4 Chevrolets in my driveway/garage, some of the times I really have to wonder why.
D
$22,000 worth of repairs for just the ones that have actually voted... nice!
Thanks GM... I've got 4 Chevrolets in my driveway/garage, some of the times I really have to wonder why.
D
#33
Team Owner
Simply amazing. Out of 45 owners that have voted, just under 50% of them have had issues... that's absolutely rediculous!!! *****:
$22,000 worth of repairs for just the ones that have actually voted... nice! eek:
Thanks GM... I've got 4 Chevrolets in my driveway/garage, some of the times I really have to wonder why. rolleyes:
D
$22,000 worth of repairs for just the ones that have actually voted... nice! eek:
Thanks GM... I've got 4 Chevrolets in my driveway/garage, some of the times I really have to wonder why. rolleyes:
D
And the OP left out a choice:
Who has prophylactically redone their HB to avoid future failure?
ME!
The following users liked this post:
rpiechowski (03-13-2021)
#37
Team Owner
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Coloring within the lines
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#38
Intermediate
I just bought an '07 Vette w/ 66k miles at Carmax. I have the balancer wobble issue & Carmax said it's normal. I have the belt chirp at cold idle & the power steering pulley wobble is very bad. I'm going to get other opinions at a dealer, Ivan Leonard, & at SportsSouth in Pelham, AL. I'll post my results.
Don Fievet
Hoover, AL
donfievet@charter.net
Don Fievet
Hoover, AL
donfievet@charter.net
#39
Race Director
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
Posts: 10,421
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I just bought an '07 Vette w/ 66k miles at Carmax. I have the balancer wobble issue & Carmax said it's normal. I have the belt chirp at cold idle & the power steering pulley wobble is very bad. I'm going to get other opinions at a dealer, Ivan Leonard, & at SportsSouth in Pelham, AL. I'll post my results.
Don Fievet
Hoover, AL
donfievet@charter.net
Don Fievet
Hoover, AL
donfievet@charter.net