Harmonic balancer bolt
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
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Harmonic balancer bolt
During an A/C repair the technician advised replacing the harmonic balancer on my 2006 Corvette,103K miles. The harmonic balancer was replaced before at @30kmiles. When I went to pick up the car, I asked if the bolt was replaced with a new bolt and was told no that the bolt could be reused according to the shop manual. I pitched a "Corvette Forum fit"so the service manager agreed to change the bolt at no cost to me. Is the bolt replacement part of the shop manual?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Pearland / Houston Tx
The OE bolt is termed a "torque to yield" bolt and is one-time use.
from the shop manual:
"The used crankshaft balancer bolt is used only during the first pass of the balancer installation procedure. Install a NEW crankshaft balancer bolt and tighten as described in the second, third and fourth passes of the balancer bolt tightening procedure.
from the shop manual:
"The used crankshaft balancer bolt is used only during the first pass of the balancer installation procedure. Install a NEW crankshaft balancer bolt and tighten as described in the second, third and fourth passes of the balancer bolt tightening procedure.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
While they do have a coating on the underside of the head to help with friction, and they are noted to be a torque to yield, I have serious doubts about tty bolts and reuse. When I did the rebuild on my LT1 I reused the head bolts and torqued to ... I don't honestly recall what spec, but whatever torque they used to call for on alum heads or whatever. I looked something up. They worked just fine for 80K miles and are still fine. I'd love to see the reasoning behind those things. I think it's a great way to sell bolts...
When I did my LS1 I put an ARP bolt on it and while it's a nice bolt, it's not $30 nice.
When I did my LS1 I put an ARP bolt on it and while it's a nice bolt, it's not $30 nice.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,592
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From: Pearland / Houston Tx
It is not rocket science to torque a bolt to spec then turn another 135 degress or whatever it is.
ARP bolt solves a problem that doesn't exist. Nothing wrong with a GM bolt installed properly.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 650
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From: Lake Worth FL
That's why a $4 OE GM bolt works fine, certainly better than reusing the old one.
It is not rocket science to torque a bolt to spec then turn another 135 degress or whatever it is.
ARP bolt solves a problem that doesn't exist. Nothing wrong with a GM bolt installed properly.
It is not rocket science to torque a bolt to spec then turn another 135 degress or whatever it is.
ARP bolt solves a problem that doesn't exist. Nothing wrong with a GM bolt installed properly.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2018
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From: Lake Worth FL
You have to keep track of how many degrees you have gone during each stroke. How do you want to do this? If you put a mark on the bolt, then you have to remove the socket after each stroke to check your progress. If using ARP bolt, just keep stroking until the wrench clicks. I have done this on engine stands and in the car. On the stand, I don't care since I can go in one stroke, but in the car, I prefer the ARP solution.
Last edited by RogerRamjet21; Apr 4, 2019 at 11:22 AM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 647
Likes: 103
From: Aurora IL
My balancer was redone in the past. Bolt came loose this past summer. Problem is not so much the bolt, but the crank/balancer that's not keyed or pinned. If the balancer starts to slip on the crank it will turn the bolt and then its just a matter of time. I used a powerbond balancer with a Earls/ARP bolt torqued to 240 foot lbs, with blue loctite, also pinned it, good luck!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 897
From: CONCORD CA.
or you can do what I did. when doing an engine replacement ( 1973 Camaro early '90's ), after I installed
the H/B, I could not locate the installation bolt. told myself, I'll get a new one later.
yea...fast forward a week or so, when traveling down the freeway, after losing my power steering & watching the
temp rise to about 250°, pulled over to find the H/B had backed off. in doing so ( never did replace that bolt. ), it also took part of the crank snout with it. that did not leave much for my 'new" bolt to thread into. after that bolt backed twice more, I used some red lok-tite and sold the car!
don't worry, I graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. I've plenty of these stories to toss around.
good thing is, I finally I have a decent ability to sort day to day stuff.
like steven wright said. " experience is something that you only get, just after you need it".
the H/B, I could not locate the installation bolt. told myself, I'll get a new one later.
yea...fast forward a week or so, when traveling down the freeway, after losing my power steering & watching the
temp rise to about 250°, pulled over to find the H/B had backed off. in doing so ( never did replace that bolt. ), it also took part of the crank snout with it. that did not leave much for my 'new" bolt to thread into. after that bolt backed twice more, I used some red lok-tite and sold the car!
don't worry, I graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. I've plenty of these stories to toss around.
good thing is, I finally I have a decent ability to sort day to day stuff.
like steven wright said. " experience is something that you only get, just after you need it".
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
You have to keep track of how many degrees you have gone during each stroke. How do you want to do this? If you put a mark on the bolt, then you have to remove the socket after each stroke to check your progress. If using ARP bolt, just keep stroking until the wrench clicks. I have done this on engine stands and in the car. On the stand, I don't care since I can go in one stroke, but in the car, I prefer the ARP solution.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,592
Likes: 1,671
From: Pearland / Houston Tx
The "can re-use an ARP bolt" is meaningless unless you plan to re-use it 7 or more times.
How hard is it to mark the bolt at 12 o'clock then turn it till it approaches 5 o'clock? Wasn't hard for me.
How hard is it to mark the bolt at 12 o'clock then turn it till it approaches 5 o'clock? Wasn't hard for me.
Last edited by C6ToGo; Apr 6, 2019 at 08:01 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 650
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From: Lake Worth FL
You seem to just confirm my thoughts. It seems that either way one will have to "stroke" the stick a certain amount to reach specs. Your description seems to suggest that one would actually need less space if they are re positioning the stick every 1/8 turn or so. I dunno.....being able to do it all in one stroke is somewhat of an advantage......but not sure how many people are gonna lose sleep over having to re position the stick a few times.......:
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
