C6 harmonic balancer issues?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Kalispell Montana
C6 harmonic balancer issues?
Just bought a 2007 C6 today with 17k miles on it. (Joins my 69 427 in the garage!) The harmonic balancer just barely wobbles. I understand it's a common issue for them needing replacement. Anyone know how difficult of a job it is for a pretty good home mechanic? Or, what it costs to have a professional mechanic do it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 5,910
Likes: 49
From: CA
St. Jude Donor '17
06 with 77K on it and no problems so far. Use the search function as there must be a hundred threads on the subject including videos of good ones and bad ones. BTW I usually stay in Kalispell when I tour thru Glacier. Nice area!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 509
Likes: 62
I have a 2013 and had the same issue. I was pretty surprised, because I haven't heard of many LS3s with this problem.
At any rate, I decided that if I was going to change it out, I may as well go with something that wouldn't ever need to be replaced, so I had an ATI super damper installed. More expensive, yeah, but worth it to ensure that it never breaks again. I'm sure I COULD'VE gotten my warranty to cover it, but I have headers and a couple other mods that are obviously visible to anyone working on the car, so I didn't want to end up paying a dealership the same price to put on a crap factory damper as I could pay a GOOD shop to put on a decent product. That, and the dealers in my area pretty much won't touch your car if you've EVER tracked the car.
I also had the crank pinned at the same time, just cause. The shop threw that in for free, since they had to pull everything anyway. The car will (hopefully) see a blower one of these days, so it's one less step for them when that time comes.
From what I know, you have to pull the steering rack and a few other things, which makes it a pretty involved/expensive job. I'm fine doing suspension/brake work on my own, but I just don't have the tools or experience to start tearing the engine bay apart on my own.
At any rate, I decided that if I was going to change it out, I may as well go with something that wouldn't ever need to be replaced, so I had an ATI super damper installed. More expensive, yeah, but worth it to ensure that it never breaks again. I'm sure I COULD'VE gotten my warranty to cover it, but I have headers and a couple other mods that are obviously visible to anyone working on the car, so I didn't want to end up paying a dealership the same price to put on a crap factory damper as I could pay a GOOD shop to put on a decent product. That, and the dealers in my area pretty much won't touch your car if you've EVER tracked the car.
I also had the crank pinned at the same time, just cause. The shop threw that in for free, since they had to pull everything anyway. The car will (hopefully) see a blower one of these days, so it's one less step for them when that time comes.
From what I know, you have to pull the steering rack and a few other things, which makes it a pretty involved/expensive job. I'm fine doing suspension/brake work on my own, but I just don't have the tools or experience to start tearing the engine bay apart on my own.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
I had an ATI installed by a Corvette specialist for $1200. The ATI balancer was a little over $400 and they charged me 8 hours labor. Steering rack has to be moved out of the way.
Like others said, don't install another GM unit. They never did redesign it so you could have the same problem again in a few years. The additional cost of a good aftermarket unit is probably less than $100.
Like others said, don't install another GM unit. They never did redesign it so you could have the same problem again in a few years. The additional cost of a good aftermarket unit is probably less than $100.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 4
From: Chesterfield VA
hahaha. Funny how this thread just pop up. I'm getting my done now. Told them no rush I pick it up on Monday. The only reason why it getting done because I ask them to look to see if it was wobble. They said yes and the warranty is taking care of the rest. My warranty runs out in September. If there anything else that I need them to look at please feel free to chime in.
BTW 06 Z51 M6 coupe. Has about 23k on it.
BTW 06 Z51 M6 coupe. Has about 23k on it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 244
From: carlisle pa
hahaha. Funny how this thread just pop up. I'm getting my done now. Told them no rush I pick it up on Monday. The only reason why it getting done because I ask them to look to see if it was wobble. They said yes and the warranty is taking care of the rest. My warranty runs out in September. If there anything else that I need them to look at please feel free to chime in.
BTW 06 Z51 M6 coupe. Has about 23k on it.
BTW 06 Z51 M6 coupe. Has about 23k on it.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 4
From: Chesterfield VA
Service manager said they can only replace it with GM part. Which looks like a GM balancer will be going back in it. She then informs me that is only covered to the end of my GMPP warranty which is September. So that mean it only covered for the next 3 months.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 3
From: Camarillo California
Just bought a 2007 C6 today with 17k miles on it. (Joins my 69 427 in the garage!) The harmonic balancer just barely wobbles. I understand it's a common issue for them needing replacement. Anyone know how difficult of a job it is for a pretty good home mechanic? Or, what it costs to have a professional mechanic do it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 104
From: Texas
Check out froggy on youtube....he does all kinds of stuff on his vette...including removing and replacing the harmonic balancer....its a pain but do it yourself the mechanics I have met are stupid at GM.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Audubon Iowa
I have an 07 62000 miles that the belts had a squeek and the a-c belt was moving off the pully. I checked the balancer and it was out about 1/2 inch. I installed a new one myself. It took about 3 hours with no help. You will need a balancer puller and installer, make sure the installer will work on an LS motor.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,352
Likes: 8
From: Jupiter Florida
I have an 07 62000 miles that the belts had a squeek and the a-c belt was moving off the pully. I checked the balancer and it was out about 1/2 inch. I installed a new one myself. It took about 3 hours with no help. You will need a balancer puller and installer, make sure the installer will work on an LS motor.
That's about what it took the Corvette shop where I had my ATI installed.
I actually waited for it, they did a great job, I didn't ask them but I have a feeling they did it without removing steering rack, did you?
I bought a "blem" ATI directly from them (don't ask me what the blemish thing was, cause I couldn't find it on close inspection) for about $275 IIRC, and had it mounted by the Corvette Shop for $550.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 509
Likes: 62
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 417
Likes: 10
From: Orlando Florida
TSB for harmonic balancer wobble
Just bought a 2007 C6 today with 17k miles on it. (Joins my 69 427 in the garage!) The harmonic balancer just barely wobbles. I understand it's a common issue for them needing replacement. Anyone know how difficult of a job it is for a pretty good home mechanic? Or, what it costs to have a professional mechanic do it?
Have your dealer check your S/N against the TSB. Details abound in the forum's search.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
I have a 2005 with 81k+ miles on it and my balancer has no detectable wobble. I checked with my master corvette mechanic and he told me that my car's S/N was after the TSB that repaired that problem. Just the same I check it frequently (every time I change the clutch fluid in the reservoir.
Have your dealer check your S/N against the TSB. Details abound in the forum's search.
Have your dealer check your S/N against the TSB. Details abound in the forum's search.
Last edited by EVRose; Jun 13, 2015 at 09:29 AM.