Harmonic balancer failure
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
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From: Opelika Alabama
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 472
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From: St. Louis Missouri
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 392
From: Atlanta - - - - - Save the manuals
Just ordered the Summit unit, installation tool and bolt. My car has 152000 miles which sounds like a lot on the original h-balancer. I noticed the slight wobble, but Chevrolet says "don't worry about it". Wished I had fixed it before it rubbed a hole in my timing chain cover.
On my '98 I had the same failure. The HB hit the timing cover, scored it and the oil pan about 1/16+ inch deep, and (on impact ?) opened the timing cover and oil pan which caused the oil pan gasket to be pinched and leak.
Not wanting to replace the oil pan gasket (its the batwing pan) I used two ribs of Permatex Ultra Black on the Timing Cover/Oil pan mating surface. I added a new GM Timing Cover gasket and seal with a Summit Racing HB.
I should be finished this weekend ...
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
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From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
It was just over $1K for parts, labor and taxes since the dealership sponsors our club and we get a discount. GM calls for 7.5 hours labor so depending on the dealership's hourly labor rate plus the cost of the part(s). If you don't get a discount through your dealer, contact Cultrag Performance Parts who are a CF vendor.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Houston Tx
I hope this helps you in some way ...
On my '98 I had the same failure. The HB hit the timing cover, scored it and the oil pan about 1/16+ inch deep, and (on impact ?) opened the timing cover and oil pan which caused the oil pan gasket to be pinched and leak.
Not wanting to replace the oil pan gasket (its the batwing pan) I used two ribs of Permatex Ultra Black on the Timing Cover/Oil pan mating surface. I added a new GM Timing Cover gasket and seal with a Summit Racing HB.
I should be finished this weekend ...
On my '98 I had the same failure. The HB hit the timing cover, scored it and the oil pan about 1/16+ inch deep, and (on impact ?) opened the timing cover and oil pan which caused the oil pan gasket to be pinched and leak.
Not wanting to replace the oil pan gasket (its the batwing pan) I used two ribs of Permatex Ultra Black on the Timing Cover/Oil pan mating surface. I added a new GM Timing Cover gasket and seal with a Summit Racing HB.
I should be finished this weekend ...
I haven't pulled my HB yet so I don't know the extent of the damage. My comment about the timing cover is just speculation at this point.
Tolero Apto Victum
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 9,669
Likes: 37
From: Woodlands TX
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Houston Tx
I had to put this on hold due to some other priorities, but am back on it. Got the steering rack out and what a PITA! The low pressure fitting on the rack rounded even with the flair nut wrench. I had to use a very small pipe wrench on it, but it did come loose and the rack is out. My problem now is sourcing the balancer bolt. Summit keeps deferring shipping of their bolt and the ARP has a long delivery too.
Do you guys have a source for the ARP that can ship immediately? There is USPartsoutlet on eBay that claims to have one in stock. Any thoughts on USPartsoutlet?
Thanks
Do you guys have a source for the ARP that can ship immediately? There is USPartsoutlet on eBay that claims to have one in stock. Any thoughts on USPartsoutlet?
Thanks
Last edited by Never9Fast3Enough; Jun 9, 2016 at 04:17 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
I had to put this on hold due to some other priorities, but am back on it. Got the steering rack out and what a PITA! The low pressure fitting on the rack rounded even with the flair nut wrench. I had to use a very small pipe wrench on it, but it did come loose and the rack is out. My problem now is sourcing the balancer bolt. Summit keeps deferring shipping of their bolt and the APR has a long delivery too.
Do you guys have a source for the APR that can ship immediately? There is USPartsoutlet on eBay that claims to have one in stock. Any thoughts on USPartsoutlet?
Thanks
Do you guys have a source for the APR that can ship immediately? There is USPartsoutlet on eBay that claims to have one in stock. Any thoughts on USPartsoutlet?
Thanks
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Houston Tx
Summit had the balancer and installation tool delivered very quickly, but the bolt has been a sourcing problem for them. Not bashing Summit...well maybe I did a little bit. All is good now that the parts are on the way.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
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From: Oshawa, Ontario
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,924
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From: Atlanta - - - - - Save the manuals
FYI ... The "two ribs of Permatex Ultra Black on the Timing Cover/Oil pan mating surface" seems to be working great.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Houston Tx
I got the bolt out last night and should have the balancer off tonight or tomorrow. Hopefully there will not be too much damage.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Houston Tx
Got the balancer off this evening. Can some of you experts look at these photos and confirm what I see as minor damage from the balancer on the block and timing chain cover. Looks to me like the oil was coming from the seal. Don't know if the balancer pulley slipping back caused the seal to start leaking or if they are unrelated. Thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 392
From: Atlanta - - - - - Save the manuals
Got the balancer off this evening. Can some of you experts look at these photos and confirm what I see as minor damage from the balancer on the block and timing chain cover. Looks to me like the oil was coming from the seal. Don't know if the balancer pulley slipping back caused the seal to start leaking or if they are unrelated. Thoughts?
Good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Always replace the timing cover seal for the HB!!!
Each HB has a slightly different taper to it mating surface to the seal, and between wear from the old HB, and how the old HB mated to the seal, not replacing replacing the seal when replacing the HB is just asking for a leak.
As for your timing chain cover, take close look at the wear surface from when the old HB tagged/scrapped it, but the oil leak you have just looks like from the seal when the HB tagged the cover to cause the seal to leak instead.
Each HB has a slightly different taper to it mating surface to the seal, and between wear from the old HB, and how the old HB mated to the seal, not replacing replacing the seal when replacing the HB is just asking for a leak.
As for your timing chain cover, take close look at the wear surface from when the old HB tagged/scrapped it, but the oil leak you have just looks like from the seal when the HB tagged the cover to cause the seal to leak instead.