Harmonic Balancer Replacement
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 814
From: Virginia
Harmonic Balancer Replacement
Hey guys,
I was just quoted $1,700 to have the HB replaced on my 2007 Z06. This includes $381.59 for parts (ATI HB). Seems steep to me. Anyone have a good shop in the Raleigh/Durham or Greensboro NC area that might give me a fair price? Maybe this is a fair price......but I seem to have read of people getting this done at a shop for about half of my quote.........
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. BTW. Preventative maintenance for a car with 55,000 miles. Car drives/runs fine.
Thank you in advance.
I was just quoted $1,700 to have the HB replaced on my 2007 Z06. This includes $381.59 for parts (ATI HB). Seems steep to me. Anyone have a good shop in the Raleigh/Durham or Greensboro NC area that might give me a fair price? Maybe this is a fair price......but I seem to have read of people getting this done at a shop for about half of my quote.........
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. BTW. Preventative maintenance for a car with 55,000 miles. Car drives/runs fine.
Thank you in advance.
Popular Reply
Feb 18, 2021, 02:52 PM
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2011
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2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
2019 C6 of Year Winner (track prepared)
Here are the steps in case anybody was curious:
- jack up the car and remove the front wheels
- remove the two 13mm lower shock bolts on both sides
- remove the four 15mm upper control arm bolts on both sides
- remove the 11mm bolt holding the steering shaft to the steering box
- support the engine either from up top with an engine hoist connected to the heads or with a floor jack down below with a block of wood under the oil pan
- remove the two 18mm nuts at the bottom of the engine mounts
- position a transmission jack under the front cradle
- remove the four 21mm bolts holding the cradle to the frame
- slowly lower the cradle all the way to the ground, adjusting the angle of the jack as necessary to make sure it comes down smoothly without binding up anywhere
At this point the balancer will be staring you in the face but in order to get it off you'll need to lock it somehow. I use the flywheel locking tool shown below. Alternatively, if the car has a manual transmission you can put it in 5th gear and have somebody apply the brakes and parking brake while you attempt to loosen the bolt. Something I don't recommend (although I've done it once before) is placing a large prybar in the teeth of the flywheel to keep it from moving.
After the bolt is out you'll need a balancer puller tool to get it off the crank. I use the same one that the dealership uses as the three arms sit in the slots of the pulley without slipping off. I've had mixed results with the ones you can borrow or rent from parts stores.
If you don't anticipate having to replace it again anytime soon then a stock balancer bolt is fine, otherwise an ARP bolt works well and is reusable.
A lot of people don't like the stock balancer but honestly I've had less trouble with those compared to the crappy ATI one that I have to run due to NHRA rules for my car. On three separate occasions several of the Torx bolts holding the two halves of the balancer together have sheared off.
To install the new balancer you'll need an installation tool to get it on since the new bolt isn't quite long enough. For that I just went to Fastenal and bought a threaded rod (can't remember the thread pitch) along with a couple of large nuts and washers and cut it down to the length I needed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,020
Likes: 791
From: Tollesboro Kentucky
Don't know if this helps but I paid $1000 for the labor on a cam swap a few months ago.That price does seem a little high to me.I would definitely check around.You may find a local member on here to help with the swap if you are just doing the balancer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,483
Likes: 713
From: Sausalito CA
OP, what is the labor per hour rate in your quote and in the area in general?
From my memory this is a 10 hour job with about $500 in parts.
(And may or may not include a 4 wheel alignment.)
Other co-members will know the facts.
Good luck.
From my memory this is a 10 hour job with about $500 in parts.
(And may or may not include a 4 wheel alignment.)
Other co-members will know the facts.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 814
From: Virginia
Just a question.......is it easier to change the HB on a C5 vs a C6? I researched old threads trying to find my answers before posting this thread. Most of the threads I found were C5 related and some of those guys said they could have the old HB out in a couple hours......4 hr job.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,197
Likes: 35
From: wylie texas
have to undo rack and slide it half way out of car to passenger side.
I've done it 3 times. lots of stuff to take off and put back together.
I could do a balancer in about 6 hours. if that helps you quote the price.
I've done it 3 times. lots of stuff to take off and put back together.
I could do a balancer in about 6 hours. if that helps you quote the price.
Last edited by chevyjeff; Feb 15, 2021 at 10:42 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
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From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
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A dealership uses book, for labor rate, and that's what they will charge, you might ask for discounts on parts and labor. We use to give good customers from 15 to 20% off parts and labor, to keep the job.
Don't want to loose $$$$.
Don't want to loose $$$$.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 306
From: Shelbyville Kentucky
It's a lot of f---ing work I've done/doing it. Currently doing a HB, heads, cam upgrade on my C6. The amount of stuff that must come out to do the jobs is staggering...
Don't think I'd do it again for less than $1k labor.
Don't think I'd do it again for less than $1k labor.
Last edited by Orion2011; Feb 15, 2021 at 01:27 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 306
From: Shelbyville Kentucky
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 26,512
Likes: 351
From: ST. CHARLES IL
That rate seems a bit excessive. We can do a full cam swap for less then that. That being said it isn't a cake walk of a job. Getting the rack out is a pain but any good mechanic can dispatch it pretty quickly.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 814
From: Virginia
So......I just had this car up to RPM in Delaware and had their stage 3 package done. I’m a newbie, and it never dawned on me to have them change the HB while they were in there. Ironically, they changed the HB bolt, but never offered to change the HB. I’m not sure why? I’m a little sad that they didn’t bring up the HB and offer to change it. I’m sure I would have done it.
Lesson learned.
I only wish you were closer.
Last edited by Jason71; Feb 15, 2021 at 03:35 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 1,133
From: North Myrtle Beach SC
Thanks for that. Agreed. Going to get the water pump swapped and MAYBE the radiator.
So......I just had this car up to RPM in Delaware and had their stage 3 package done. I’m a newbie, and it never dawned on me to have them change the HB while they were in there. Ironically, they changed the HB bolt, but never offered to change the HB. I’m not sure why? I’m a little sad that they didn’t bring up the HB and offer to change it. I’m sure I would have done it.
Lesson learned.
I only wish you were closer.
So......I just had this car up to RPM in Delaware and had their stage 3 package done. I’m a newbie, and it never dawned on me to have them change the HB while they were in there. Ironically, they changed the HB bolt, but never offered to change the HB. I’m not sure why? I’m a little sad that they didn’t bring up the HB and offer to change it. I’m sure I would have done it.
Lesson learned.
I only wish you were closer.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 814
From: Virginia
Should have.......could have......but unfortunately didn’t.
Last edited by Jason71; Feb 15, 2021 at 04:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 814
From: Virginia
Supporting Vendor
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2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
2019 C6 of Year Winner (track prepared)
Hey guys,
I was just quoted $1,700 to have the HB replaced on my 2007 Z06. This includes $381.59 for parts (ATI HB). Seems steep to me. Anyone have a good shop in the Raleigh/Durham or Greensboro NC area that might give me a fair price? Maybe this is a fair price......but I seem to have read of people getting this done at a shop for about half of my quote.........
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. BTW. Preventative maintenance for a car with 55,000 miles. Car drives/runs fine.
Thank you in advance.
I was just quoted $1,700 to have the HB replaced on my 2007 Z06. This includes $381.59 for parts (ATI HB). Seems steep to me. Anyone have a good shop in the Raleigh/Durham or Greensboro NC area that might give me a fair price? Maybe this is a fair price......but I seem to have read of people getting this done at a shop for about half of my quote.........
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. BTW. Preventative maintenance for a car with 55,000 miles. Car drives/runs fine.
Thank you in advance.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 461
Likes: 32
From: Azusa Ca
I have a question regarding this process? I see allot of people say you need to pin your crank if you run boost.
Allot of the aftermarket balancers talk about key-ways on the hub. Does pinning the crank and using the key-way the same thing?
Allot of the aftermarket balancers talk about key-ways on the hub. Does pinning the crank and using the key-way the same thing?