C5 harmonic balancer questions.
Discussion
Hi.
I asked on the CCCUK facebook page but didnt get a great response.
Basically im convinced that i need to replace by harmonic balancer in the spring, due to squealing on startup.
What parts do i need?
And where is easiest to buy them?
Car is tucked up with no battery, in a very tight single garage with no light, so isnt really possible for me to go and have a look
Thank you very much.
I asked on the CCCUK facebook page but didnt get a great response.
Basically im convinced that i need to replace by harmonic balancer in the spring, due to squealing on startup.
What parts do i need?
And where is easiest to buy them?
Car is tucked up with no battery, in a very tight single garage with no light, so isnt really possible for me to go and have a look
Thank you very much.
Ben.
I can't offer any advice of my own, but maybe have a read through these results from the US Corvette forum (obviously wont help with sourcing the bits over here - but you could see if Claremont have any bits left for sale https://corvette.co.uk/engine-99-c.asp !).
Apologies if you've already done a search on the forum.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/search.php?do...
I can't offer any advice of my own, but maybe have a read through these results from the US Corvette forum (obviously wont help with sourcing the bits over here - but you could see if Claremont have any bits left for sale https://corvette.co.uk/engine-99-c.asp !).
Apologies if you've already done a search on the forum.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/search.php?do...
You'll need an internal puller to remove the balancer. Also, the vette balancer has been individually balanced to your engine therefore mark it's orientation relative to the crankshaft before you remove it. Just in case you replace it.
If it's been balanced then ideally you'd want the replacement to be balanced the same way. The fine balancing of the flywheel or flex and balancer contribute to the vette engines revving higher then the camaro engines.
On the other hand there will be plenty of people who fit and forget. :-)
ETA, just reread your thread. Squealing is usually belt slippage on a pulley. Have you tried talcum powder to prove it's slippage and if so either tightening the belt or replacing it. Is your tensioner doing it's job properly. I can't see how it could be a faulty balancer which is also the hardest part to change.
If it's been balanced then ideally you'd want the replacement to be balanced the same way. The fine balancing of the flywheel or flex and balancer contribute to the vette engines revving higher then the camaro engines.
On the other hand there will be plenty of people who fit and forget. :-)
ETA, just reread your thread. Squealing is usually belt slippage on a pulley. Have you tried talcum powder to prove it's slippage and if so either tightening the belt or replacing it. Is your tensioner doing it's job properly. I can't see how it could be a faulty balancer which is also the hardest part to change.
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Monday 13th January 08:49
Hi Ben,
I changed mine on my C6 last year whilst fixing a stuck lifter. I was further in to a strip down than you so I changed other parts such as cam chain, sprockets and tensioner, water pump, oil pump etc. etc.
I would replace both belt tensioners whilst you are changing the belts.
You 'may' want/need to change the front main seal, but am unsure on this with the C5/LS1. A C6 but could be the same as a C5? https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c6-corvette-g...
Options:
-Depending on how you use your car you could change to a slightly cooler thermostat, but that's a personal one. It's easy to change whilst you are doing this job.
-Whilst you're in there it is easy enough to flush and change your power steering fluid, depending on when/if it was ever changed.
-On the C6 you remove a coolant hose, therefore you could flush and replace the dexcool?
-You could pin the crank (I did) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LS-Crank-Pin-Kit-LS-Har...
It's a pain of a job because of the amount of stuff you need to remove or move, including the steering rack.
After research I decided to fit a https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pbb-pb1117ss/ov...
Powerbond 'race' together with an ARP crank bolt (can be reused) which is tightened to a torque setting rather than an angle.
Cheers, Dave
I changed mine on my C6 last year whilst fixing a stuck lifter. I was further in to a strip down than you so I changed other parts such as cam chain, sprockets and tensioner, water pump, oil pump etc. etc.
I would replace both belt tensioners whilst you are changing the belts.
You 'may' want/need to change the front main seal, but am unsure on this with the C5/LS1. A C6 but could be the same as a C5? https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c6-corvette-g...
Options:
-Depending on how you use your car you could change to a slightly cooler thermostat, but that's a personal one. It's easy to change whilst you are doing this job.
-Whilst you're in there it is easy enough to flush and change your power steering fluid, depending on when/if it was ever changed.
-On the C6 you remove a coolant hose, therefore you could flush and replace the dexcool?
-You could pin the crank (I did) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LS-Crank-Pin-Kit-LS-Har...
It's a pain of a job because of the amount of stuff you need to remove or move, including the steering rack.
After research I decided to fit a https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pbb-pb1117ss/ov...
Powerbond 'race' together with an ARP crank bolt (can be reused) which is tightened to a torque setting rather than an angle.
Cheers, Dave
Thanks for the advice.
Was initally suspecting just a belt slipping but the more i read about the common problem with the harmonic balancer the more i thought it was that, the car got put away for winter before i had time to investigate.
When i bring it back to life i will deffo confirm it needs doing before changing.
Anyway..
I bought the parts yesterday.
Was initally suspecting just a belt slipping but the more i read about the common problem with the harmonic balancer the more i thought it was that, the car got put away for winter before i had time to investigate.
When i bring it back to life i will deffo confirm it needs doing before changing.
Anyway..
I bought the parts yesterday.
Boosted LS1 said:
On the other hand there will be plenty of people who fit and forget. :-)
Sounds like me 
Sorry a bit late to the party on this one, had my C5's balancer replaced a few months back though. Obviously you've got the parts now anyway, which can be no bad thing as at some point it'll need doing! I would check again first though, squealing could be a number of things, the balancer can certainly be the culprit - mine was - but then mine was very obviously wobbling and had walked slightly towards the timing case cover. I see you got a new timing cover seal which is a good idea. Have you gone for an AC Delco balancer? The Dayco Powerbond balancer goes down well in the states and aren't very expensive, I would have gone this route but ended up went OE again as got one at a good price. I did go for an ARP bolt though rather than another stretch to yield.
I had CCM Vettes do mine with me supplying the parts, they did a great job.
I had CCM Vettes do mine with me supplying the parts, they did a great job.
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