Took my car into GM yesterday after loud chirping. Was told I need to replace my Harmonic Balancer in my stock '06 manual LS2 with 45K KM. I've read enough about their crappy OEM balancer and bolt, I'm wondering what people would recommend for aftermarket parts? I'd rather just purchase online and have dealer install aftermarket parts (H.Balancer, Serpantine and AC belt)
Also, seems GM Canada and US have 0 inventory on the OEM h. balancer part (#12635652), which would cost me $463.
I'm no mechanic and would appreciate any tips/pointers. Whole experience makes me rethink owning a vehicle outside its manufacturers warranty date/mileage.

 

I'm in the same boat myself. What did the dealer charge the diagnostic fee?

 

A nice replacement is the Powerbond, I went with a 10% underdrive and a new GM bolt when I had mine replaced during a cam install.

 

adrock - They did free inspection / repair quote for me at the GM dealership... however, I just spoke with them and they quoted me $1500 + taxes for repair, here's the breakdown:
$880 + in labour (7.4 hrs)
$445 for OEM harmonic balancer
$11 for new bolt
$65 for new serpentine belt
$35 for new AC belt
Seems a little expensive for the repair. I've also got a call in with GM head office to see what/if they'll do anything to warranty part of this repair.

Thanks neumonic, I'll take a look at Powerbonds, I use this as a daily driver, so I think I'd like to stick with stock size, I'm assuming that would be 0% underdrive?

 

well all of this is very upsetting news Will see what my options are when I get mine looked at on Saturday. If the numbers aren't too far off maybe I will get it done with a cam swap.


On a side note just to be clear we are just talking about the crank pulley here right? I can't believe you have to drop or raise the engine to get to that?

 

I think you have to move the steering rack to have access. More than one bolt off, one bolt on. Critical torque sequence also.

 

Naw, just everything you see in front of it ...

 

wow labor

 

That labour cost is really intense!!
Within that time I install almost a complete supercharger kit INCLUDING pinning the balancer/crank.....
It shouldn´t take more than 2-3 hours to do that job, let it be 4 but for 800 bucks...OMG..
Sorry for being a little OT here though

 

well of'course when I take it somewhere the damn thing is quiet Anwyas...seems that when it is cold is when it is most prevelant. I will just have to wait and see until it gets worse. Does anyone have a diagram and or part numbers of the other pulleys?

 

I purchased my pulley for $179, it is 10% underdriven, my car is also my daily driver and I have absolutely 0 negative effects. You are correct that 0% would be considered the stock dimensions if you go with an aftermarket pulley, I wouldn't try to sway you in any direction but did want you to know what I have and what I use my car for as well.

Good luck with your repair, I agree that you shouldn't have to pay for it!



John

 

Installed the 10% UD myself. Great pulley for the $$.

OP, Powerbond also makes a stock size (7.4" I believe) pulley. It's less than $200 and spins truer than the oem HB.

I've pulled the HB/pulley several times on ramps/jackstands with just handtools. You can borrow a pulley puller from autozone etc. (the Chrysler one works best for oem hb).

It's a pretty big job but not too difficult. You have to R&R: air cleaner bridge, alternator, steering pump/resavior, steering rack (slide over thru pass wheel well), radiator (or at least fan assembly), water pump, and possibly a couple other things I can't recall off the top of my head.

If you wait and continue to run the oem hb (that is giving u warning signs) you risk spinning it on the crank (not good) or the pulley backing out (really not good).

Lastly, pinning the crank will eliminate future problems. I have an ATI crank pinning kit purchased from Lingenfelter a month or so ago, in excellent cond, with pins I'll sell for $85 shipped.

If you have any questions feel free to pm me.

 

I like the ATI balancer. http://www.atiracing.com/products/da...ts/damserp.htm

 

Looks like you could get a cam and tune for same money...........just add price of pulley to below.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...-an-08-c6.html

 

Powerbond 25% Underdrive Pulley, 97-11 C5/C6


http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/p-101...7-11-c5c6.aspx

I use a 25% Underdrive Pulley and have had no issues. Mine came with my cam package from Englandgreen. I did all the work myself.

 

I do believe my service manager/Tech told me the GM parts they install have a one year warranty. Later! Frank

 

7.4 hours to R&R a crank pulley? Wow. We knock that out in less than 3 hours.

 

I have replaced my rusty OEM damper by an ATI damper!

 

If you ever plan on a cam, now is the perfect time as there isn't much more work involved. Replacing the pulley yourself is not difficult, just a bunch of stuff to remove. Run a search for C6 cam install and use that as a guide.

One trick I learned is to have somebody in the car on the brakes when loosening and tightening the crank bolt. This prevents the car from lunging forward as you put torque on the crank. Another person to put their body weight on the fender will help - I lifted the passenger side off the jack stand when removing the stock GM bolt. I would also consider an ARP crank bolt. Always good peace of mind with ARP hardware.

One last thing. Heat the balancer in the oven to 250 F for about 30 min just prior to install. It will slide on much easier this way.

Sean

 

I just had this same thing happen to myself. I have a 2011 with 1100 miles on it, purchased two months ago. It started making a rather loud chirping sound as described, after driving for about 5 miles.

It was a really terrible experience having it replaced. I took the car to Dublin Chevy (east bay area, ca). I took my car in Monday, was told they had a guy who was corvette certified and to bring it back the next day. Took it in Tuesday, was called back two hours later and told it was the crankshaft balancer and the part would be overnighted and done the next morning. Called back Wednesday and was told they missed the overnight shipping cut-off and my service guy, Tom, would call me back the next morning when it was done. I called back in Thursday and was told that Tom was no longer with the dealership. Spoke to a new-to-the-service-department woman named Catherine, who told me it would be done Friday or first thing on Saturday. I called in at 1pm Saturday and no one had any idea where the car was (Catherine was off). They said the GM, owner and service manager were all not in. I spoke to another service guy, Kenny, who said the car would be done at 3:30. I came in at 3:30 after Kenny called me to say it was ready. I was told to go into the cashier’s office, paid, came out and the car was there. No one was available to tell me a single thing about the car, and I simply drove off.

The yellow repair paper said it required a balancer (12635649), bolt (12557840), and belt (12636226). The notes say "1103 excessive runout in crankshaft balancer checked runout for balancer—has 4mm runout – replaced crankshaft balancer with new belt and test drove ok labor op J0720 4.6”. Tom originally told me there was a bulletin out for this repair. I have no idea what they charge labor/parts wise (it all says N/C, I was told the bolt was a one-time use bolt), but the actual work was done in under 2-2.5 hours total.

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to get corvettes serviced in the east bay?