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Harmonic Balancer replacement without removing steering rack
So yesterday I tackled the job and changed out my harmonic balancer on my base 2006 Z51. I was told by the previous owner it was changed not long ago but they used an OEM replacement design which you want to avoid. Needless to say after a track day, I started hearing a belt chirp with the balancer wobbling so I ordered a DAYCO SFI PB1117SS and ARP bolt. As I started doing the job, the balancer was fine, the crank bolt was completely loose and I removed it by hand, clearly the last installer probably just ran it down with an impact and failed to follow the torqueing procedure so be careful when doing this job.
Now for the install, many people remove the rack but I have spoken to many shops and they all just support the engine and drop the subframe making this job much easier. The video below shows what needs to be done:
If you have 2 jacks and 4 stands, you can do this job very easily. It took me about 5 hours with a little extra work since I have a Z51 package, without that you wont have a power steering cooler in your way or oil cooler lines to disconnect.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
2019 C6 of Year Winner (track prepared)
Originally Posted by ltwargssf
So yesterday I tackled the job and changed out my harmonic balancer on my base 2006 Z51. I was told by the previous owner it was changed not long ago but they used an OEM replacement design which you want to avoid. Needless to say after a track day, I started hearing a belt chirp with the balancer wobbling so I ordered a DAYCO SFI PB1117SS and ARP bolt. As I started doing the job, the balancer was fine, the crank bolt was completely loose and I removed it by hand, clearly the last installer probably just ran it down with an impact and failed to follow the torqueing procedure so be careful when doing this job.
Now for the install, many people remove the rack but I have spoken to many shops and they all just support the engine and drop the subframe making this job much easier. The video below shows what needs to be done:
If you have 2 jacks and 4 stands, you can do this job very easily. It took me about 5 hours with a little extra work since I have a Z51 package, without that you wont have a power steering cooler in your way or oil cooler lines to disconnect.
Yep, nobody ever listens to me that both this and a cam swap are WAY easier without removing the PS rack.
So yesterday I tackled the job and changed out my harmonic balancer on my base 2006 Z51. I was told by the previous owner it was changed not long ago but they used an OEM replacement design which you want to avoid. Needless to say after a track day, I started hearing a belt chirp with the balancer wobbling so I ordered a DAYCO SFI PB1117SS and ARP bolt. As I started doing the job, the balancer was fine, the crank bolt was completely loose and I removed it by hand, clearly the last installer probably just ran it down with an impact and failed to follow the torqueing procedure so be careful when doing this job.
Now for the install, many people remove the rack but I have spoken to many shops and they all just support the engine and drop the subframe making this job much easier. The video below shows what needs to be done:
If you have 2 jacks and 4 stands, you can do this job very easily. It took me about 5 hours with a little extra work since I have a Z51 package, without that you wont have a power steering cooler in your way or oil cooler lines to disconnect.
Harmonic Balancer replacement without removing steering rack
