Biggie G

that %25 gives a few HP's? or whats the deal ?

thanks

jaybee924

Slows down accessories and frees up power.

HBsurfer

Dan, you may be looking at something else. You saying it is at 8:00 o'clock also makes me think you are not seeing the balancer. It is attached to your crankshaft right in the middle of the engine.
Next time you are out my way, stop over and I'll show you what to look for.
I can also show you my ATI balancer.

Biggie G

oh, no way for me...i need my alternator and air conditioning

cam1969

Did it myself for ~ $308 with very high quality parts.

Harmonic Damper PBB-PB1117SS $215
ARP Balancer Bolt Kit 234-2503 $34
Crankshaft seal ACDELCO 29602 $15
Belts CONTINENTAL 4040410 CONTINENTAL 4060798 $29
Power steering fluid $14.5

Borrowed some tools - torque wrench, puller - from local autoparts "loan-a-tool" program. Was a pain in the A, but doable. Took about 10hrs (probably longer than most) and needed a second pair of hands to take the rack in and out. Make sure you seal the keyway and bolt to prevent oil leak. Plenty of videos on youtube to walk you through it.

ErikR

I had mine replaced by a local, trusted, mechanic with corvette experience. Went with the ATI in std size. It came to $900 for all.

If you're wondering what a wobbly HB on a LS2 looks like, here's a video of mine...

danzio56

Hey Tony, thank you for the offer! The pulley I'm seeing that's wobbling can only be seen from the driver's side, unless you are removing a shroud to see it from the passenger side. I shot a video of it last night just before we were leaving for our monthly club meeting. I'll see if I can post it up after work today.

I should come by and get your eyes on it. Also you can probably tell me from your experience, assuming it is the HB, whether or not it needs to be done soon. I'll give you a shout out, maybe after the holidays and scoot on over. And Merry Christmas to you and Dee.

simplegto

The LS3 has a box on the air intake that blocks the view from the passenger side. You can clearly see it from under the car.

buckmeister2

I want to hear from somebody, anybody, who has personally had an HB actually fail on a stock LS2/LS3. We are all out there replacing our HB's like *****'s, and more than half the people who own C6's don't even know what it is, where it is, or what it does. They just drive on, miles upon miles, and we never here of a single incident from anyone it personally happened to.

I'm not being contrary, but I have yet to read of one, single, failure on a stock LS2/3. Have we unnecessarily created a cottage industry of HB replacement???

buckmeister2

Why are you asking me that???? It has absolutely ZERO bearing on my post.

HBsurfer

I have read about 3, maybe 4 failures on here in the last year or so. I go between C6 General and C6 Tech and don't recall exactly where I read the posts, but there are a few on this forum. If I recall, the balancer jams into the steering rack and shreds the belt. A lot of noise but surprisingly not any major damage on the posts I saw.

buckmeister2

Did I ask if "balancers" fail? NO. Did I ask if Ford balancers fail? NO.

I feel like Ice-T at the lemonade stand..."Can't you read? It says "LEMONADE!!"

Regards,
Tough Guy

buckmeister2

I have heard that, too, but did not read it. I have tried everything I can think of to find those posts, and have not been able to. the only I actually found concerned a failure on a supercharged motor HB, which does not impact most of us. I realize what the likely outcome of the failure is, but I am looking for proof that a significant threat exists on base, non-modified LS2/3 engines.

I don't necessarily doubt that a failure could happen, but would like to know if there is much evidence that it does.

Thanks for your post,

buckmeister2

Not So Fast

For me it was like this, I looked and saw a wobble, it had gotten worse over a short course of time, then I thought about my car when it was on the dyno with that pulley spinnin at around 6000 RPM's, that was enough for me
Maybe it would have never failed, maybe, but I didn't want to take the chance so it was replaced and now running straight and true
Take it for what its worth, its your car
NSF

NOWUCME

Thanks for your post.......

jaredtxrx

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-balancer.html

Also. If the balancer is wobbling and the belts are chirping then the part has FAILED. Just because the pullies aren't flying out of the hoods doesn't mean they haven't failed. If the part is no longer working to spec it has failed. Wobbling too much is failing.

Catastrophic failures are very rare. Probably because then the belts start chirping the part is getting replaced before it does fail catastrophically.

cadyshac

What is strange to me is we have two SS Camaro's (5th gen) and we have been fairly active active in the show car world with one of them attending several national "Camaro only" shows. I have never heard of this problem with the Camaro crowd or experienced it myself.

My Vette is '05 and I see from the VIS report that the HB was replaced at 37,000 miles under an extended warranty purchased by the original owner. The car only has about 45,000 on it now and all is well.

irok

Not at all.like you said lots don't know what it is or where its located.they drive cars till they stop.I've replaced a dozen of them including 2 in my own car.new GM balancer lasted 4,000 miles.very disappointing at the time.replaced with ATI and no issues since

simplegto

My totally stock 2011 LS3 failed at 80k miles. The chirping was so bad other drivers could hear it in traffic.