Harmonic Balancer
#1
Harmonic Balancer
I purchased a 2006 Corvette in Feb. 2016 with 16,000 miles. 9 Days later I had to have the harmonic balancer replaced. 18 months later at 27,000 miles I had to have it replaced again both times by authorized mechanics at two different dealers (2nd time the car was flat bedded to the nearest dealer). I love the car but am now considering selling it as this seems to be a recurring problem. Anybody else have suggestions or comments?
#2
Le Mans Master
Comments anyone??
#3
I purchased a 2006 Corvette in Feb. 2016 with 16,000 miles. 9 Days later I had to have the harmonic balancer replaced. 18 months later at 27,000 miles I had to have it replaced again both times by authorized mechanics at two different dealers (2nd time the car was flat bedded to the nearest dealer). I love the car but am now considering selling it as this seems to be a recurring problem. Anybody else have suggestions or comments?
(I opted for an ATI part.)
#4
Le Mans Master
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Yeah, stop using the GM balancer.
Edit: beat me by a minute with the obvious answer.
Edit: beat me by a minute with the obvious answer.
Last edited by 919cw313; 09-20-2017 at 12:31 PM.
#5
Racer
Other guys gave you the answer. Which one to get will vary - usually between the more expensive ATI balancer and the cheaper Summit Racing alternative. There's also a few others, but in my search those seem to be the most commonly referenced.
OP, I'm right there with you. I also have a 2006, but bought it with 60,000 miles. I've had the car since March and the balancer went out about a month ago. Fortunately, this is a common problem, if not THE MOST common problem, and I browse the forum enough to have avoided the mistake of trying to reinstall a stock replacement.
My new balancer arrived yesterday. Now, I just have to overcome my trepidation of performing the DIY install.
Side note: having a general understanding of what a HB does, I probably shouldn't have been, but I was a little surprised at how heavy it was. This does lead me to the following question though: if the balancer is weighted to counter harmonic vibration from the crank, wouldn't changing it out for a underdrive pulley ie., LIGHTER PULLEY, run the risk of reintroducing harmful vibrations?
OP, I'm right there with you. I also have a 2006, but bought it with 60,000 miles. I've had the car since March and the balancer went out about a month ago. Fortunately, this is a common problem, if not THE MOST common problem, and I browse the forum enough to have avoided the mistake of trying to reinstall a stock replacement.
My new balancer arrived yesterday. Now, I just have to overcome my trepidation of performing the DIY install.
Side note: having a general understanding of what a HB does, I probably shouldn't have been, but I was a little surprised at how heavy it was. This does lead me to the following question though: if the balancer is weighted to counter harmonic vibration from the crank, wouldn't changing it out for a underdrive pulley ie., LIGHTER PULLEY, run the risk of reintroducing harmful vibrations?
Last edited by drew_c6; 09-20-2017 at 12:58 PM.
#6
Le Mans Master
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“There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.”
― George W. Bush
― George W. Bush
#7
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NOWUCME (09-25-2017)
#8
Melting Slicks
Other guys gave you the answer. Which one to get will vary - usually between the more expensive ATI balancer and the cheaper Summit Racing alternative. There's also a few others, but in my search those seem to be the most commonly referenced.
OP, I'm right there with you. I also have a 2006, but bought it with 60,000 miles. I've had the car since March and the balancer went out about a month ago. Fortunately, this is a common problem, if not THE MOST common problem, and I browse the forum enough to have avoided the mistake of trying to reinstall a stock replacement.
My new balancer arrived yesterday. Now, I just have to overcome my trepidation of performing the DIY install.
Side note: having a general understanding of what a HB does, I probably shouldn't have been, but I was a little surprised at how heavy it was. This does lead me to the following question though: if the balancer is weighted to counter harmonic vibration from the crank, wouldn't changing it out for a underdrive pulley ie., LIGHTER PULLEY, run the risk of reintroducing harmful vibrations?
OP, I'm right there with you. I also have a 2006, but bought it with 60,000 miles. I've had the car since March and the balancer went out about a month ago. Fortunately, this is a common problem, if not THE MOST common problem, and I browse the forum enough to have avoided the mistake of trying to reinstall a stock replacement.
My new balancer arrived yesterday. Now, I just have to overcome my trepidation of performing the DIY install.
Side note: having a general understanding of what a HB does, I probably shouldn't have been, but I was a little surprised at how heavy it was. This does lead me to the following question though: if the balancer is weighted to counter harmonic vibration from the crank, wouldn't changing it out for a underdrive pulley ie., LIGHTER PULLEY, run the risk of reintroducing harmful vibrations?
The damper is working to reduce the torsional loads on the crankshaft as the engine is running and the diameter of it isn't as big of an influence of it as is its ability to work as you might think. The damper that fails on our cars is due to the rubber that is between the two cast iron pieces letting the two pieces come out of alignment and then you can visually see the run out or hear it when the belt chirps. Obviously when this is happening the damper isn't doing its job as well but is still working.
Most of the aftermarket ones have a much better design in both the rubber quality and construction of the damper itself. I put the Summit/Trick flow one on my car and it is indeed a heavier piece than the factory one but it is a better part. You won't be hurting a thing if you want the under drive unit over the stock diameter one.
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drew_c6 (09-20-2017)
#9
Melting Slicks
Other guys gave you the answer. Which one to get will vary - usually between the more expensive ATI balancer and the cheaper Summit Racing alternative. There's also a few others, but in my search those seem to be the most commonly referenced.
OP, I'm right there with you. I also have a 2006, but bought it with 60,000 miles. I've had the car since March and the balancer went out about a month ago. Fortunately, this is a common problem, if not THE MOST common problem, and I browse the forum enough to have avoided the mistake of trying to reinstall a stock replacement.
My new balancer arrived yesterday. Now, I just have to overcome my trepidation of performing the DIY install.
Side note: having a general understanding of what a HB does, I probably shouldn't have been, but I was a little surprised at how heavy it was. This does lead me to the following question though: if the balancer is weighted to counter harmonic vibration from the crank, wouldn't changing it out for a underdrive pulley ie., LIGHTER PULLEY, run the risk of reintroducing harmful vibrations?
OP, I'm right there with you. I also have a 2006, but bought it with 60,000 miles. I've had the car since March and the balancer went out about a month ago. Fortunately, this is a common problem, if not THE MOST common problem, and I browse the forum enough to have avoided the mistake of trying to reinstall a stock replacement.
My new balancer arrived yesterday. Now, I just have to overcome my trepidation of performing the DIY install.
Side note: having a general understanding of what a HB does, I probably shouldn't have been, but I was a little surprised at how heavy it was. This does lead me to the following question though: if the balancer is weighted to counter harmonic vibration from the crank, wouldn't changing it out for a underdrive pulley ie., LIGHTER PULLEY, run the risk of reintroducing harmful vibrations?
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drew_c6 (09-20-2017)
#11
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Mine is going in next week for HB replacement, using a Power Bond PB1117SS.
Shop owner looked at mine and said yes its wobbling but if we replace it with a GM unit I cannot guarantee it wont still wobble
The I told him I wanted to use the Power Bond, he said it will be fine.
Had to get it at Rock Auto as Summit inventory was damaged, after getting 2 they told me they could find none in any of their warehouses that weren't damaged
The HB called for with ATI was priced at $435 and wasn't necessary for my use, so PB it was
Good luck
NSF
Shop owner looked at mine and said yes its wobbling but if we replace it with a GM unit I cannot guarantee it wont still wobble
The I told him I wanted to use the Power Bond, he said it will be fine.
Had to get it at Rock Auto as Summit inventory was damaged, after getting 2 they told me they could find none in any of their warehouses that weren't damaged
The HB called for with ATI was priced at $435 and wasn't necessary for my use, so PB it was
Good luck
NSF
#12
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Bobby ....
How the heck could a brand new / big ol' heavy steel harmonic balancer be damaged right out of the box?
Did it get run over by a locomotive while it was in the Summit warehouse?
How the heck could a brand new / big ol' heavy steel harmonic balancer be damaged right out of the box?
Did it get run over by a locomotive while it was in the Summit warehouse?
#13
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BTW ... If my HB starts to wobble, I am also going to replace it with the Dayco PowerBond PB1117SS.
Knock on wood it don't need replacing for a long time ... car now has 17,000 miles
Knock on wood it don't need replacing for a long time ... car now has 17,000 miles
#14
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Balancer looked as if it were dropped on concrete, had really rough edges on the outer track, AGAIN.
So when they said they would ship another I said please have it looked at before shipping, next day they called and said our entire inventory at all warehouses were damaged in the same way, go figure.
Maybe they or someone dropped a pallet I don't know but that's the story Ron, believe it or not.
They did offer an ATI at 20% discount but still pretty pricey so I declined and went with R-A.
Not a good start
Bobby
Last edited by Not So Fast; 09-20-2017 at 02:32 PM.
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Turbo6TA (09-20-2017)
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Turbo6TA (09-20-2017)
#17
Le Mans Master
#19
Le Mans Master
On the HB, wait long enough and you'll know....trust me...you'll know...
#20
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Bad crank pulley...
Mine started to squeak at about 48K, I couldn't isolate the source of the noise. kept driving, the noise went away. Kept a close eye on it and noticed one day that my belt had started to shred, even had a piece of belt stuck in the clamp for the air intake. Took it too the dealer and had the GM pulley installed, plus I had the oil pan dropped to fix an oil leak. My thought, don't wait until its too late as it could take out either the front of the motor or the radiator...