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Hi everyone! I just bought a nice '04 base coupe with 35k miles and thought I'd let everyone have a look at my harmonic balancer. I think I'm all right here for now. What say y'all?
[edit] On the other hand, I slowed it down and do see a tiny wobble. Have a look!
[2nd edit] If you scroll down you will see what else I've learned so far. Check back here after June 9th, 2026 and I'll have the results of a post-purchase inspection by a top-notch Albuquerque Corvette guy.
Last edited by jhfarr; Yesterday at 09:16 PM.
Reason: correcting mistake
Hi everyone! I just bought a nice '04 base coupe with 35k miles and thought I'd let everyone have a look at my harmonic balancer. I think I'm all right here for now. What say y'all?
Ain't it though? Very much appreciate your observation, thank you.
Northern New Mexico is a fabulous place to drive something like this. Taos County population density is only 14 people per square mile. So happy to have a car that doesn't slow down on the hills, too. You might like this: https://jhfarr.substack.com/p/red-knife
All this research we new owners do consume our time and minds and causes worry! I saw a video from @Toys4Life C5 and he marks the balancer from inner hub the the edge with a stripe of white shoe polish (or paint marker, tire grease marker…) so you can keep an eye on it. Theory is that if it starts truly wobbling, the two halves will slip and the marked line will no longer line up. Pretty smart, and an easy monitor trick.
All this research we new owners do consume our time and minds and causes worry! I saw a video from @Toys4Life C5 and he marks the balancer from inner hub the the edge with a stripe of white shoe polish (or paint marker, tire grease marker…) so you can keep an eye on it. Theory is that if it starts truly wobbling, the two halves will slip and the marked line will no longer line up. Pretty smart, and an easy monitor trick.
Take a light colored ink pen (Sharpie), Like silver and mark the balancer. Turn on the AC and a few high load electrical items while running, then shut off and look to see if the marks are still aligned. If the marks are still aligned, drive it.
Last edited by Prop Joe; Yesterday at 11:21 AM.
Reason: added link to Ken's video
Edit: Here s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrXbaPC797k
Take a light colored ink pen (Sharpie), Like silver and mark the balancer. Turn on the AC and a few high load electrical items while running, then shut off and look to see if the marks are still aligned. If the marks are still aligned, drive it.
Got it. Did as you suggest, noted no change in the markings. Could be of interest to some that a very smart longtime Corvette specialist in Albuquerque told me these things rarely slip. He also said a number of C5 harmonic balancers came from the factory with the rubber protruding so that's nothing to go on. He doesn't pin harmonic balancer replacements unless a supercharger is involved but does use a very pricey 3rd party racing balancer, the brand of which I've temporarily forgotten. He also had a hilarious (?) story about a guy who tried to change his harmonic balancer himself and used a pry bar. Didn't get the balancer off the crankshaft but did break some other VERY EXPENSIVE things. Yeesh. He's also giving me a free post-purchase inspection at his shop next week (June 9th) and will certainly opine on the balancer. He did think there was no reason for the people on here who've watched my short video telling me the balancer is fine to mislead me, which I thought was intelligent and rational. Thank you all.
I do appreciate any and all comments. I also really and truly love this machine. Ask me anything. I will post here after June 9th and let everyone know how the inspection went.
Oboy another harmonic balancer thread!
