New HB install question.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 213
Likes: 5
New HB install question.
Hi Guys n Gals
Iv just had a new OEM harmonic balancer and bolt fitted by a garage but after getting it back i noticed that there is still a very slight wobble, nowhere near the same as before, but i didn't expect to see any wobble at all.
If the the RPM is increased by a few hundred then the wobbling stops.
Is this quite normal or should i be going back to the garage?
Cheers
Iv just had a new OEM harmonic balancer and bolt fitted by a garage but after getting it back i noticed that there is still a very slight wobble, nowhere near the same as before, but i didn't expect to see any wobble at all.
If the the RPM is increased by a few hundred then the wobbling stops.
Is this quite normal or should i be going back to the garage?
Cheers
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
Why would you expect a different result when replacing a known bad part with the same bad part?In all those years GM never corrected the issue with their junk hb's.The issue is no fault of the shop that did the work
Last edited by irok; Sep 27, 2019 at 07:41 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 213
Likes: 5
Mainly because my friend changed his HB for OEM and one year on it is still wobble less. Runs as straight as a die. So just looking for opinions on others who have replaced the HB with OEM and whether they have the wobbles.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 640
Likes: 146
From: Texas
Nobody replaces their HB with OEM around here so I doubt you're going to get any responses from anyone. It's well known here that HB wobble = new non OEM replacement. Not sure why you would replace a known badly manufacturerd part with the same thing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
Because not everyone lives on these forums and knows that all of the balancers are bad. Good lord, get off your horse and cut the guy some slack.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 675
Likes: 195
From: Green Oak Township, Michigan
Keep an eye on it for a year. If nothing changes in that time, you will be alright for a long time. Its just going to wobble. As long as the belt dont chirp, dont worry about it.....
Just a reminder to others......Powerbond/Dayco....PB 1117N--SS--Race....$260 Bucks, from Summit or Jegs.
Just a reminder to others......Powerbond/Dayco....PB 1117N--SS--Race....$260 Bucks, from Summit or Jegs.
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 640
Likes: 146
From: Texas
First thing I do when there's a problem is research a solution. Researching hb wobble will lead most, if not everyone to this forum where it's said over and over to not use an OEM replacement part. 10 seconds of searching would likely have saved this guy guaranteed headache in the future.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 640
Likes: 146
From: Texas
Last edited by Narddog; Sep 27, 2019 at 11:09 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 172
From: Auburn Al
Besides what the forum engineers say IT IS NORMAL. It is not a solid piece it moves side to side forward and back. If you don't want to see it move forward or back put an SFI unit on. Power bond makes a nice one. My car got noticeably smoother
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
So what you did is squared up and kicked someone in the ***** for not knowing something that you demand that he should know.
Good for you. You must be proud of yourself. What does your research tell you about that? Surely you must have some statistic that you can cite for that?
Good for you. You must be proud of yourself. What does your research tell you about that? Surely you must have some statistic that you can cite for that?
Maybe the world you live in. For the most part if you own a corvette you likely have an appreciation for vehicles and will likely do most of your own work given you have the ability to do so. Also not sure why you keep bringing up that I must 'live on car forums'. Some quick research (which I assume you didn't do, probably didn't have a chance to to book an appointment yet) shows you are the one with a higher average daily post count than myself, so technically it is you who lives on the forum more-so than me (0.51 vs 0.49)
Pro
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 640
Likes: 146
From: Texas
So what you did is squared up and kicked someone in the ***** for not knowing something that you demand that he should know.
Good for you. You must be proud of yourself. What does your research tell you about that? Surely you must have some statistic that you can cite for that?
Good for you. You must be proud of yourself. What does your research tell you about that? Surely you must have some statistic that you can cite for that?
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 11
A couple of points:
1. I just had my HB replaced also and it has a slight wobble, nothing like it had before but you can see some movement.
2. The replacement HB was GM, I brought up the option of the other brands and the mechanic recommended I go with the stock HB. This mechanic, by the way, came highly recommended by the local Corvette club. So now the question is: do you go with something you read on the internet or do you go with a mechanic's recommendation. Right or wrong, I choose the mechanic's recommendation. In general I will choose stock parts for replacement on my vehicles.
1. I just had my HB replaced also and it has a slight wobble, nothing like it had before but you can see some movement.
2. The replacement HB was GM, I brought up the option of the other brands and the mechanic recommended I go with the stock HB. This mechanic, by the way, came highly recommended by the local Corvette club. So now the question is: do you go with something you read on the internet or do you go with a mechanic's recommendation. Right or wrong, I choose the mechanic's recommendation. In general I will choose stock parts for replacement on my vehicles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
Hi Guys n Gals
Iv just had a new OEM harmonic balancer and bolt fitted by a garage but after getting it back i noticed that there is still a very slight wobble, nowhere near the same as before, but i didn't expect to see any wobble at all.
If the the RPM is increased by a few hundred then the wobbling stops.
Is this quite normal or should i be going back to the garage?
Cheers
Iv just had a new OEM harmonic balancer and bolt fitted by a garage but after getting it back i noticed that there is still a very slight wobble, nowhere near the same as before, but i didn't expect to see any wobble at all.
If the the RPM is increased by a few hundred then the wobbling stops.
Is this quite normal or should i be going back to the garage?
Cheers
Back when C6s were new, you'd see cars at dealers with slightly wobbly balancers. Yours may get worse, but it probably won't.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 285
My HB was bad and the belt squealed one year ago when I purchased my 2006 with 45,700 miles on it from MacMulkin Chevrolet. The car was a bit over the 30 day warranty. But the dealer supported me and replaced the HB , both serpentine belts and 4 wheel alignment. No cost to me. So of course they used an OEM HB. One year later, it is fine. Should be good for another 13 years and 45,000 miles. Just enjoy the car. No worries. People on this forum quickly condem and throw OEM parts like HBs under the bus.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,150
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
The OEM balancer may last a long time, or it may fail in a short period of time .... it's just a 'crap-shoot' if it fails or not.
In my case, my OEM balancer was ok on my 2011 GS, but I still needed to have it pinned since I was installing a supercharger.
Since installing (or pinning) a balancer is a pretty big job that has a high labor cost, I could not justify pinning my OEM balancer and maybe have it fail sometime in the future ... So I had it replaced with a PowerBond Race Performance Harmonic Balancer (P/N: PB1117SS)
At least, now I have the secure feeling that I won't need to go in there and replace it again any time soon (if ever).
Bottom line .... The OEM harmonic balancer certainly does not have a very good 'track record'. If the OEM balancer ever needs to be replaced, I just can't see installing another failure prone OEM balancer.
In my case, my OEM balancer was ok on my 2011 GS, but I still needed to have it pinned since I was installing a supercharger.
Since installing (or pinning) a balancer is a pretty big job that has a high labor cost, I could not justify pinning my OEM balancer and maybe have it fail sometime in the future ... So I had it replaced with a PowerBond Race Performance Harmonic Balancer (P/N: PB1117SS)
At least, now I have the secure feeling that I won't need to go in there and replace it again any time soon (if ever).
Bottom line .... The OEM harmonic balancer certainly does not have a very good 'track record'. If the OEM balancer ever needs to be replaced, I just can't see installing another failure prone OEM balancer.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 42
Likes: 16
From: Upstate ny
Keep an eye on it for a year. If nothing changes in that time, you will be alright for a long time. Its just going to wobble. As long as the belt dont chirp, dont worry about it..... Just a reminder to others......Powerbond/Dayco....PB 1117N--SS--Race....$260 Bucks, from Summit or Jegs.
Just a reminder to others......Powerbond/Dayco....PB 1117N--SS--Race....$260 Bucks, from Summit or Jegs.