Harmonic balancer question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Harmonic balancer question
I know this has been asked but couldn't really get a difinitve answer from searching. What exact years were affected from the bad balancers? I just bought a 09 ls3 base model. If theres a chance of it being bad I just want to go ahead and replace it now. I have read some of the installs and doesn't seem to invasive just some time. when reinstalling since youre not disturbing the front cover and you install a new front cover seal, im assuming you would not need to realign the cover gasket to the balancer with a aligning tool. secondly are there any locating marks anywhere that need to be lined up when reinstalling?
thankyou
thankyou
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
All the LS engines ever built suffer from crappy HB's. If it's not an issue I wouldn't bother replacing it. They give you plenty of warning before failure and many never have an issue.
YMMV
YMMV
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 928
Likes: 379
I just had the harmonic damper replaced on my '09 coupe with 44,000 miles on the clock. It was fine and showed no indication of wobbling or of the rubber separating when it was taken out and I would have left it in place had I not been doing engine mods that required the damper to be pinned to the crank. If you want to replace it for peace of mind, go ahead so you don't have to worry about it. Yes replace the crank seal and there are no timing marks that need to be realigned. The torquing procedure is a bit different depending on the replacement damper brand you choose.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,641
Likes: 1,826
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,641
Likes: 1,826
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
There is a spec to how far the balancer gets pressed on to make sure that it lines up with the other accessory pulleys but in my experience torquing the bolt gets it right on money or close enough.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Awesome
well that makes it easy
outside an IW balancer what has been the other good options for replacement?
an under drive unit even worth it as with the tuning needed to compensate for it?
thanks
well that makes it easy
outside an IW balancer what has been the other good options for replacement?
an under drive unit even worth it as with the tuning needed to compensate for it?
thanks
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On a stock LS engine the balancer is just pressed on in no particular orientation.
There is no key or key way. You do need a balancer installation tool and a new balancer bolt (either a new GM bolt or an ARP bolt). I personally prefer the ARP bolt as it is re-usable and only has a single torque spec to hit (245 lb-ft).