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!

 

O yeah, mine is getting replaced with an ATI and not another OEM one.

 

You should also consider pinning it.

 

Wish I lived close to Missouri City, Texas... at this price I'd be tempted to trailer it out there, I'd probably still save some money.


Link <<---


Replies like this tell me that someone must know a better way.




D

 

That is what I did & it works great!

 

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

 

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.

 

Are these issues for LS2 only or is LS3 and LS7 involved as well ?

 

I thougt it was pretty much all LS engines. Sure hope the LS9 doesn't have it. lol

 

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!

 

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.

 

Well, you need to read the specific question again..."I've had or currently have issues-replaced or will replace balancer". This could have been for a number of reasons like modding, etc where problems wouldn't have been the real motivator.

 

There is HUGE bias for positive reporting here.

And the OP left out a choice:

Who has prophylactically redone their HB to avoid future failure?

ME!

 

Had to have mine replaced on my 07, came apart at 56,000 miles was covered under 5yr./100,000 mile warranty.

 

I'm on my second balancer and currently in the shop again for a possible third. Time to hit the aftermarket.

 

Really only needed for boosted applications

 

While this is most likely the case, if I go to replace mine (and it will NOT be with a stock unit), I will pin it while I'm up in there and on my back.

 

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

 

I can tell you these new serpentine flat belts cannot stand much misalignment or wobble.

 

i replace mine with a powerbond race one happy i did too i have a wobble and belt slip/noise