Balancer...again
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
Balancer...again
So beginning of February I bought an 07 Z51. Noticed belt squeak and balancer wobbling. Dealer was nice enough to put on a new balancer, bolt and belts free of charge. Now, less than 800 miles later the bolt came out, balancer fell off and it shredded the AC belt. Looks like it took out the front main seal because there's oil everywhere. Looks like the balancer is grinding on the front of the crank since the bolt is jammed against the rack. SO, I'm going to send it back to the dealer. What are some unseen problems this can cause. I've read about timing chain bolts coming loose. Is it possible the crank wobbled and caused some bearing wear? What about stripped threads in the crank? Also, does the GM bolt have thread lock on it already? Doesn't seem to have any on it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
That could be. I've also read that sometimes the right pulling/putting back on tool isn't used. It is possible to do it without the tool but it can make it go in slightly askew. This could do in the crank as well. I take it this is a Chev dealer?????
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
the dealer would have the proper tools to do the job just not the proper people in this instance
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 411
From: WV
It seems like we're telling people to stay away from dealerships at least a couple times a week on this forum, but no one seems to listen... You would think they would listen after all the horror storys that have been told on this and other car sites , but they just keep going to the dealerships and getting screwed. I realize a few people claim to have a good dealership they use , but from all the storys I've read on the screw ups at dealerships, there must be one hell of a lot of bad ones . One time their trying to charge you to fix things that don't need to be fixed, the next time their incompetent mechanics screw up the job and damage your car....
.. I guess warning people just doesn't work..
What we really need is for "all of us" to assemble a database of shops that do excellent work for each state.. That way a person that needs repair work done to their car can look at the list of shops near them, then pick one knowing that shop will do excellent work, at a fair price.... Wouldn't that be nice....
...WW
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.. I guess warning people just doesn't work.. What we really need is for "all of us" to assemble a database of shops that do excellent work for each state.. That way a person that needs repair work done to their car can look at the list of shops near them, then pick one knowing that shop will do excellent work, at a fair price.... Wouldn't that be nice....
...WW.
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Last edited by WW7; Mar 18, 2017 at 09:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
It seems like we're telling people to stay away from dealerships at least a couple times a week on this forum, but no one seems to listen... You would think they would listen after all the horror storys that have been told on this and other car sites , but they just keep going to the dealerships and getting screwed. I realize a few people claim to have a good dealership they use , but from all the storys I've read on the screw ups at dealerships, there must be one hell of a lot of bad ones . One time their trying to charge you to fix things that don't need to be fixed, the next time their incompetent mechanics screw up the job and damage your car...... I guess warning people just doesn't work..
What we really need is for "all of us" to assemble a database of shops that do excellent work for each state.. That way a person that needs repair work done to their car can look at the list of shops near them, then pick one knowing that shop will do excellent work, at a fair price.... Wouldn't that be nice.......WW
.
.
.
.. I guess warning people just doesn't work.. What we really need is for "all of us" to assemble a database of shops that do excellent work for each state.. That way a person that needs repair work done to their car can look at the list of shops near them, then pick one knowing that shop will do excellent work, at a fair price.... Wouldn't that be nice....
...WW.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 411
From: WV
Thanks? I guess. The dealer has been pretty good, worked on a car with no warranty, gave me a brand new car off their lot to drive and kept my car inside, didn't cost me a penny. This particular dealer is pretty active with local corvette clubs and treats corvettes pretty well. They're always parked inside and only driven when necessary. I see no reason to not give them a chance to make it right, won't cost me anything. I'm certainly not going to pay another shop $1000 to fix what they broke or spend any of my time under it. Will I take it to the dealer when something else breaks? Nope. Maybe I'll take a lawn chair up there this time and watch the tech do it.
....WW
Last edited by WW7; Mar 20, 2017 at 05:27 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
You would think the above is true, but that isn't always correct. Besides the fact that all techs bring their own tools with them, there are things/special tools that dealers don't always have, even those that are allegedly required to service Corvettes. That also includes parts---for instance, gas pedal position sensors---first-hand knowledge.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 266
Likes: 24
From: san antonio texas
do it yourself... use a good damper.. do it once ..do it right.. no bs later...
i got to the point where i wouldnt even let dealerships touch my vehicles fr recalls or warranty work...it seems every time i did they made things worse
if you dont want to tackle a job like that ...ask around find a shop that others trust...if they are good..pay them whatever they want.and keep going back to them
dealerships suck ***....i have had many many many experiences with dealership..bmw,chevrolet,ford,acura,hon da,mitsubishi,subaru,mercedes, dodge.,jeep, and volkswagen,
and not one of my experiences was i not kick somebody in the face and rip their nuts off mad when leaving those places.. my motto is...i can **** up my car free of charge
i got to the point where i wouldnt even let dealerships touch my vehicles fr recalls or warranty work...it seems every time i did they made things worse
if you dont want to tackle a job like that ...ask around find a shop that others trust...if they are good..pay them whatever they want.and keep going back to them
dealerships suck ***....i have had many many many experiences with dealership..bmw,chevrolet,ford,acura,hon da,mitsubishi,subaru,mercedes, dodge.,jeep, and volkswagen,
and not one of my experiences was i not kick somebody in the face and rip their nuts off mad when leaving those places.. my motto is...i can **** up my car free of charge
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
You would think the above is true, but that isn't always correct. Besides the fact that all techs bring their own tools with them, there are things/special tools that dealers don't always have, even those that are allegedly required to service Corvettes. That also includes parts---for instance, gas pedal position sensors---first-hand knowledge.
Last edited by irok; Mar 22, 2017 at 09:21 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
the dealership supplies the factory Kent Moore LS specialty tool kits for their staff to use.not one mechanic in the business on his own could afford all the specialty tool kits for all makes and models.lots of dealerships share the tool kits between several dealerships.I work on my own and bought the factory Kent Moore LS tool kit.there are several kits and tools and I certainly don't have them all
My dealer doesn't have the J 42854 and obviously has no experience in using it. Does anyone know of a dealer in the Chicago area who actually has this gage and knows how to use it?"
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...im-height.html
We can go back and forth on this and I could find more, but in my experience, all dealers do not have all equipment OR parts on hand. Your experience may vary but I've been to far more than one dealer.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
I realize you will believe what you believe but here is post #1 from a long-time member on here: "...The official method involves installing the "J 42854 Trim Height Measuring Gage" on part of the suspension, then measuring the gap between the gage and some other part.
My dealer doesn't have the J 42854 and obviously has no experience in using it. Does anyone know of a dealer in the Chicago area who actually has this gage and knows how to use it?"
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...im-height.html
We can go back and forth on this and I could find more, but in my experience, all dealers do not have all equipment OR parts on hand. Your experience may vary but I've been to far more than one dealer.
My dealer doesn't have the J 42854 and obviously has no experience in using it. Does anyone know of a dealer in the Chicago area who actually has this gage and knows how to use it?"
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...im-height.html
We can go back and forth on this and I could find more, but in my experience, all dealers do not have all equipment OR parts on hand. Your experience may vary but I've been to far more than one dealer.
Last edited by irok; Mar 22, 2017 at 12:24 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
Picked the car up today. They replaced the front seal, balancer, bolt and both belts. Plus I had them change the oil. As much as I tried to explain the steps in the tsb and the friction washer, they didn't listen. I talked to the tech he said he put the balancer on with the tool, then tq'd to 250 ftlbs. With lock tite. At least the car is drivable until I get a chance to put a cam in it.
Tech claimed that last time he didn't follow the tq spec for some reason and didn't use locktite on the bolt.
Tech claimed that last time he didn't follow the tq spec for some reason and didn't use locktite on the bolt.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 102
Picked the car up today. They replaced the front seal, balancer, bolt and both belts. Plus I had them change the oil. As much as I tried to explain the steps in the tsb and the friction washer, they didn't listen. I talked to the tech he said he put the balancer on with the tool, then tq'd to 250 ftlbs. With lock tite. At least the car is drivable until I get a chance to put a cam in it.
Tech claimed that last time he didn't follow the tq spec for some reason and didn't use locktite on the bolt.
Tech claimed that last time he didn't follow the tq spec for some reason and didn't use locktite on the bolt.
You install the balancer then use the OLD bolt and torque to 250 ft lb to ensure the balancer has seated. Then you REMOVE that bolt and install a new GM bolt since they are 1 time use. That bolt gets torqued to 37ft lb and then turned 140 degrees to stretch it.
There is no locktite needed as the bolts come with already on them.
Honestly sounds like the dealer messed up yet again
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
Yeah, I explained the process and gave them the tsb number. Got a bunch of explanations and them telling me their way is the way to do it. Yada Yada. I just let them do it their way, I'll fix it later.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
37# plus 140 degrees is the correct way to tighten that bolt if it is the GM bolt. If it is an ARP, 250# may be correct, but I really doubt that a dealer is using an aftermarket bolt.
Either way, you are probably fine with 250# and Loctite
Either way, you are probably fine with 250# and Loctite