Easier harmonic balancer replacement
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 31
From: Ft. Myers Fl
Easier harmonic balancer replacement
Good news!
I replaced my balancer without dropping the sub-frame or removing the steering rack. I wanted to share it with anyone who is dreading the job.
I found this video on YouTube, it is brief and lacks some details but it looked like a much easier alternative to the 2 common methods.
So I replaced mine yesterday, took me about 6 hours including 2 trips to the store to pick up some deep sockets I didn’t own.
Here is the process:
Turn wheels to the right and remove the boot and passenger side tie rod.
Remove fan assembly.
I removed the air intake parts to replace my belts.
Remove passenger side rack mounting bolt and loosen driver side bolt.
I laid a 2x4 across the engine bay and used a ratchet strap to hold the rack up just enough to get to the crank bolt. There is enough room to remove it and pull the crank pulley.
I installed the crank seal, new pulley and pinned the crank.
I’m pretty sure with access to a lift instead of jack stands this is doable in 3-4 hours.
I replaced my balancer without dropping the sub-frame or removing the steering rack. I wanted to share it with anyone who is dreading the job.
I found this video on YouTube, it is brief and lacks some details but it looked like a much easier alternative to the 2 common methods.
So I replaced mine yesterday, took me about 6 hours including 2 trips to the store to pick up some deep sockets I didn’t own.
Here is the process:
Turn wheels to the right and remove the boot and passenger side tie rod.
Remove fan assembly.
I removed the air intake parts to replace my belts.
Remove passenger side rack mounting bolt and loosen driver side bolt.
I laid a 2x4 across the engine bay and used a ratchet strap to hold the rack up just enough to get to the crank bolt. There is enough room to remove it and pull the crank pulley.
I installed the crank seal, new pulley and pinned the crank.
I’m pretty sure with access to a lift instead of jack stands this is doable in 3-4 hours.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 498
From: NJ
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 669
Interesting, I wonder why this hasn't been done before this way? I always thought it was just two options: drop sub-frame or remove steering rack
If one has an A&A supercharger setup, would this method still work?
If one has an A&A supercharger setup, would this method still work?
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 669
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14,163
Likes: 7,439
From: Pittsburgh
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Any procedure that saves some labor time while doing this replacement is certainly worth looking at 
Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 627
Likes: 20
From: Ann Arbor MI
Very Timely & Appreciated
Good news!
I replaced my balancer without dropping the sub-frame or removing the steering rack. I wanted to share it with anyone who is dreading the job.
I found this video on YouTube, it is brief and lacks some details but it looked like a much easier alternative to the 2 common methods.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq-e462nrEI
So I replaced mine yesterday, took me about 6 hours including 2 trips to the store to pick up some deep sockets I didn’t own.
Here is the process:
Turn wheels to the right and remove the boot and passenger side tie rod.
Remove fan assembly.
I removed the air intake parts to replace my belts.
Remove passenger side rack mounting bolt and loosen driver side bolt.
I laid a 2x4 across the engine bay and used a ratchet strap to hold the rack up just enough to get to the crank bolt. There is enough room to remove it and pull the crank pulley.
I installed the crank seal, new pulley and pinned the crank.
I’m pretty sure with access to a lift instead of jack stands this is doable in 3-4 hours.
I replaced my balancer without dropping the sub-frame or removing the steering rack. I wanted to share it with anyone who is dreading the job.
I found this video on YouTube, it is brief and lacks some details but it looked like a much easier alternative to the 2 common methods.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq-e462nrEI
So I replaced mine yesterday, took me about 6 hours including 2 trips to the store to pick up some deep sockets I didn’t own.
Here is the process:
Turn wheels to the right and remove the boot and passenger side tie rod.
Remove fan assembly.
I removed the air intake parts to replace my belts.
Remove passenger side rack mounting bolt and loosen driver side bolt.
I laid a 2x4 across the engine bay and used a ratchet strap to hold the rack up just enough to get to the crank bolt. There is enough room to remove it and pull the crank pulley.
I installed the crank seal, new pulley and pinned the crank.
I’m pretty sure with access to a lift instead of jack stands this is doable in 3-4 hours.
