C5 C6 Corvette Harmonic Balancer Problems
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- Lyle from C&S Corvettes talks about common C5 C6 Harmonic balancer problems.
Questions? post your question in the comments or email Lyle@corvettepartscenter.com
www.CorvettePartsCenter.com
I've seen a lot of C5 and 6 engines running and I think I can tell when a HB is wobbling, but if you could provide a video closeup of the actual thing, doing the wobble, or perhaps an example of an early stage wobble, and a "bad", about to fail wobble, that would be enormously helpful. As always, you are the go to guy for these cars and I appreciate everything you do.
This is a good point.
Maybe they’ll make a video describing this.
I just wanted to thank you for taking my call today regarding my harmonic balancer questions. I know you are busy, but as a subscriber to your channel it really says a lot about you when you take the time to field questions from people across the country. Please keep these videos coming; I really appreciate your knowledge, expertise, and kindness.
Invaluable advice for us vette owners. Mine wasn't wobbling last summer, it is now. 99 c5 vert 50k miles. Time to get crackin.
Hope mine doesn't. 2000 convertible 60k miles
@@mjphoto45 Oh, it will.
@@mjphoto45 mine just did yesterday … 65k miles 05 C6
I've had my 06 for about 18 months and only put 1000 miles on it (it has 40 k miles on it). I noticed a couple of weeks back I was hearing a slight chirp from the engine. Yesterday I looked and saw the "death wobble" as you described. Luckily I only drove it 60 miles since I heard the first chirp. I already have my mechanic notified so he can replace it. Thank God for this video.
Instablaster.
The death wobble. Saw it on mind today. Didn't known what this was. Good thing I caught this on time. Thanks for the info. Appreciate.
I dont own a c5 or C6 yet, but will in about 4-5 years as i get closer to retirement. Saved this video and will definitely keep this in mind when i get my Vette ! Thanks for posting !!!
You got the vette yet?
Paying attention to these videos more and more,since I'm purchasing my 1st C5 , a red 2000 FRC in two days.
Once again!! another eye opener video, after seeing this i just remembered it's been a long time since i checked my Harmonic Balancer!
Thanks for posting the video on what to look for when buying a C6 corvette. I just bought a C6 and the first thing I looked for was a wobble in the harmonic balancer. Sure enough there was a slight wobble so I pointed this out to the sales person and the car dealer had it checked out. It was wobbling and they agreed to fix it before I pick up the car. You saved me a BIG repair bill and headache. Thank you!!!
The example shown in this video was my father’s car! Silver 98 convertible. Awesome. The cars still running great Lyle thanks again
Thank you so much Lyle for the info!!! Have a 2002 convertible with 39000 miles, and I eyeball the balancer occasionally when it’s running.
I have had my 2000 roadster for 8 years now and have 125000 on her and no problems. But I will start checking that now for sure! Thanks!
I replaced mine, a 2005 c 6 with 48k miles....cost parts and labor $1300
Thank you for these videos! I live in Ruskin and have a c6. You have a new customer if anything goes wrong on my Vette.
What a coincidence, I looked at some Corvette forums recently and there's quite a few issues with this part. I changed mine almost immediately although my C5 Z has only 64K miles. The bolt broke while taking it off which made me thankful and upset. It took hours to drill it out. I replaced the balancer with an ATI 10% under drive. Thanks for the Vid!!
Have you had any issues with the underdrive? I was wondering about cooling system issues
@@joshuaborem7063 No problems at all. This one gave me a little more torque over the OEM. The only thing you got to keep in mind is the belt sizes change. Keep a copy in the glove box in case.
@@tonywestbrook6436 i’ve had my 2008 Corvette for exactly 2 1/2 days now. And I can’t even fathom the idea of wanting more power or torque :-) but hey, good on ya
@@joshuaborem7063 My C5 Z is now equivalent to a C6 Z, so I'm very happy and like you, I don't need anything else now.
@@tonywestbrook6436 you said you had no problems with cooling with your underdrive pulleys. Sorry but I also meant to ask what state you’re in. Because I’m in Florida and it gets *real* hot here.
Lyle,
Thanks for the videos. Recently became the owner of a 98 C5 convertible and a 59 C1 from the passing of my Dad. Been performing minor fixes on the C5 and the first thing I checked was for the wobble. Didn’t see that but now can see the serpentine belt has jumped two grooves due to the balancer moving backwards into the oil pan like you show in this video. Hope to see you at Carlisle this year so I can buy you a beer!! Thanks for all you do for the Corvette community.
Just bought a 2004 C5 with 27k miles last week. Been watching a lot of your videos so I can keep it in tip top shape! Thanks for all the info!
Hello Lyle....I thought I had seen all your videos, this one is a year or more old, great content, and the comments by the followers are valuable as well. Thanks again murray/vancouver/99 vert.
outstanding video! thank you. I'll be watching.
01 Z ... 80K miles. Owned it for 4 months. Loving it so far!
Liked and supported! Thanks Lyle
Cool to have someone that has been diving deep into this for years and shares the knowledge. Way easier than learning the hard way.
Such great knowledge and very well explained. Thanks again. Just adding to the list of things to do when I get my C6Z back.
You're an amazing person. Thank you Sir!
Lyle your Amazing, your really helping make my decision on my upgrade
Thank you, Louis! It is a team effort here are C & S, and we very much appreciate your support. Let us know if we can help in any way. Lyle
I have a 2006 Z51 convertible, and I heard some chirping. I took it to a chevy dealer, and they said it was the harmonic balancer, and I needed to do something about it soon. The estimated cost was $1200, although the part itself was around $200 bucks. However, I saw a video on replacing this, and I think MY age would stop me from getting in there and taking apart the front suspension!
That price isn't crazy. Especially if they are going to replace the belts, tensioners and idler pulley at the same time. Lyle
Definitely going to check my 05. Thanks for sharing and saving us from a potential disaster!
My brand new C6 Corvette developed the "death wobble" he is talking about with 4K miles on the odometer. I noticed that by strange sound (not scraping) from the front. It was replaced under warranty. So far (it happened 10 years ago) it is good.
I was thinking of buying a C6.... I must say thank you for this video!
I will definitely be replacing mine. It’s not my daily driver so I’m completely fine with knowing I need to do it. Once it hits my garage. It will not leave until it’s perfect. 😊
Man thanks for that video. Gonna check mine tomorrow
C6 Mileage: 77k - replacement scheduled. Thanks for helpful video.
Thanks Lyle. I've checked mine and so far all is well.
I have a 2008 C6. Mine is being replaced today. I noticed a very slight wobble a few days ago. It was very minor but I still went ahead and had it changed. The tech told me that it was not bad at all but he understood why I as doing it!
How big a job..... How much to replace one Thank u
Thanks Lyle, I really enjoy your videos.
Outstanding video.
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to start looking for the wobble at least monthly.
Thanks once again I'll take your advice what you know saves us money 🙏🏾👍🏾 nosale
I own a C5 Thanks for the heads up 🙂
thanks lyle... your my go to guy when it comes to things you need to know about a corvette. this is jon in washington state. loving my morimotto head and taillights.. happy thanksgiving to you and yours..
the video is great and provides great information.i would not be afraid to change it using this video. however with having to take the steering rack out i will take mine in to have it changed.
Thanks for all your helpful information.
Great video. Took my "new" 2000 C5 in for a dyno pull and the tech showed me the wobble. Will get this fixed soon to avoid further problems ($)
Yup. I got my C6 crankshaft pinned with an ATI balancer. Mine was beginning to wobble.
recently sold my beautiful C5 before dealing with this expense. got nearly all my cash back out of it. Will be upgrading to a 2008 model at some point in the future.
I had exactly what you are describing as far as the front engine leak and the "blow back" of oil. My mechanic was worried that I might have a fire as it was landing on the exhaust system. So, 4k later, new oil pan gasket - new harmonic balancer and new belts and pulleys as well. 4k well spent I guess. Did not see you wandering around Corvettes at Carlisle this year (2022). Hope you had a good time there. I was busy with our club-run NCCC-sanctioned car show. Cheers from central PA.
WE walked about 27 miles in three days and had a great time! Sorry to have missed you as well! Lyle
@@csvette Yeah, I did keep and eye out for you but on Fri and Sat I have a lot to accomplish putting on our club's NCCC-sanctioned show. Went very well this year - so we're happy about that. Keep up with the GREAT content. Excellent job.
this guy has a good voice for doing videos like this
I wish I would have watched this before my recent purchase. My balancer has a slight wobble. Although the car is so nice I would have bought it either way.
The appointment is set for a replacement next week.
Wow, I've heard of this problem from a few people. I'm going to have to get on this. Thanks for the advice.
Appreciate the info.
Looking at a 2004 corvette with a bad HUD. Have you ever done a video on repairing it? Great videos. Thank you
Make sure you adjust the height of the display. Maybe it has been adjusted too high or low....just a thought
You guys are fantastic. Lyle what a great service you do for the Corvette family. Thanks! Would you please do a video for the problems with a 2000 C5 fob. I can get only one fob to sinc up. I have bought the correct one for a back up (and boy they are expensive) but the second one will not sinc in position #2. At first, I thought it was the new fob so I bought another one. Both (original GM) do not sinc. And yes they are the correct on and new batteries and the battery in the car is new. Please help for now I have close to $200.00 in extra non working fobs.
Thank you so much I never heard of this problem
Helped me save my son from buying a car that was perfect in every way, except this one.
For those reading I’ll share that the car we test drove would make a random chirp during our test drive. Sounded a lot like a belt squeaking. Dealer shared this car had a brand new tensioner and belt so of course when I heard the chirp I started looking closer. Sure enough the balancer was wobbling around.
If it weren’t such a bear to get to on a C5 I wouldn’t hesitate to change it myself but this is no easy job on a C5 unfortunately.
That's why I had it done at Ray's Auto center in Lakewood Washington. The best Corvette people in town. It needs to be done.
@@genej501 how much did it cost? I'm not sure I want to do this on my own
@@Jv615 600.00
@@genej501 I'd be happy if I find someone to do it for 1000 😅 ,damn So Cal
@@Jv615 I'm the state of Washington. My local auto repair center it's very good with corvettes
This 🎥 cause me to replace my balance and cam and headers 😂❤👍👍thanks
Had my mechanic check. Sure enough the balancer was a starting to wobble. We talked about when to replace it. Then all of a sudden I got a leak of coolant out of the water pump. Guess what happened? Decided to go all out and have the water pump and the balancer replaced at the same time. A lot of money went into it. But now I'm happy with the vehicle.
Excellent 👍
What harmonic balancer do you recommend for a replacement and roughly how much does it cost to replace it ?
Exellent thats why my belts mis alignment and why the crank pully looks like it has been hot
I've been lucky with my HB. It failed under warranty at 28,000 miles back in 2009. I now have 91,000 on my 2007 C6, I think it is beginning to fail I heard the same chirping noise for a moment.
Thanks for this video!
Good stuff! Thanks for the Info!
Thanks!
Thanks for the content
Can you do a video on the Z06 C5 and C6 generation as far as which ones to buy and how they are as a daily driver?
Great info
Been watching most of your videos and wanna say thanks for sharing all the knowledge !
I just bought an 06 corvette with 30k miles and super clean. I never owned a corvette so this is my first
I looked at the harmonic balancer it seemed to wobble so I bought an ATI harmonic balancer I believe for almost 490 dollars but all the reviews were good. Also got the AARP bolt with it . Should I purchase anything else or do you think I should be good?
Also my other question is how worried should I be about this ?
The Summit Racing 2501 costs less than $200 and is excellent. The only time I recommend an ATI is for legitimate competition purposes. I wouldn't waste the extra cash on the ATI for a street-driven car. hope this helps! Lyle
I wish I could send my C5 from Atlanta down to you.
late to the party but i have a 02 with 130k miles, white mark still lines up. i wonder how many of these that fail are in colder climates, im in a vacation spot, winter is usually in the 40's.
Chris,
Awesome info and always top notch vids, thank you! Found the wobble before I made the purchase so the dealer is replacing the wobbly HB. Do you recommend pinning the new HB?
2002-C5 with 39,000 miles
If the shop is familiar with pinning balancers, then yes. If they have to learn on your car, then no. Lyle
I know this is a old video but it would be nice if we could see a video of the problem in action
Wish you had a shop in Knoxville, TN.
Lyle, thank you for making these awesome videos! Is the LS3 still prone to having the harmonic balancer issue like the other LS engines? If I buy a 2008 or newer that has no wobble, what can I do to prevent it from happening? I saw the video about Pinning the balancer. Should I do that with a stock HB or aftermarket? What else do you suggest? I'd rather not spend any money if it's fine, but at the same time I don't want to feel the need to check it all the time for peace of mind.
Hey Kirk! The balancer issue runs all the way through 2013, but it isn't a deal breaker. Pinning the balancer will keep it from rotating on the crank, which is important, but it won't stop the breakdown of the rubber ring that holds the outer ring to the inner hub. These things don't go bad overnight, so checking them once a month is sufficient. The Power Bond unit that Summit racing sells is a good choice when replacement becomes necessary.. Lyle
@@lyleaulwurm9486 Thanks again for your valuable information!
Would you replace with gm balancer
all LS engines. my 2007 35K LS Monte Carlo.
Got my vette in the shop getting this done right now. Costing me $1250
You’re scaring me lol. I’m looking to trade in my 05 mustang gt for a base c6 with a manual. My mustang has treated me so well with only the alternator going bad and a leaky differential pinion seal. I don’t want to get a c6 if they have problems all the time.
I have a '06 Saleen supercharged Mustang and a base '08 C6. If I was going to sell one of them, it wouldn't be the Mustang.
I’ve never even changed the serpentine belt on my mustang let alone the damn harmonic balancer. Maybe I’ll start looking at some coyote mustangs instead
They really don't have very many problems at all. I highlight the things to look for when buying or maintaining a Corvette, so it may seem like I'm always talking about problems...but these cars are pretty bulletproof. Show me any other GM cars from the late 90's/early 00's that are still on the road with 250-350K miles? These cars are a fantastic value, no matter which lens one looks through. :)
C&S Corvettes thanks for the response. A C6 corvette is my dream car. I live near Tampa so if I get one and it has a problem. I’ll take it down to you guys.
@@Kevinb1821 , just make sure to have us look it over BEFORE you buy it to avoid any scary hidden issues! :)
Very helpful. If the HB is replaced after the wobble is discovered, should I be concerned that any of the accessories (alternator, water pump, AC, etc.) or any other items were affected or their lifespan shortened? Since I am not sure how long the wobble was occurring before being discovered.
WE always replace the tensioners, idlers and belts at the same time. Water pump and alternator bearings are checked, too, but rarely require attention. Lyle
@@csvette Thank you. Much appreciated.
Excellent video Lyle! I own a 05 C6 with 70K miles on it. The car runs great, and always has since I’ve owned it for six years. Bought it used with 39K miles on it. I have to replace my radiator since it has a leak on the side of it, plastic part of it has a small crack in it. I’m concerned about the harmonic balancer being in good health. Everything seems ok, just concerned! I’ll be moving in a couple weeks to Kanab Utah from Illinois. I will be trailering my car however. Do you know of any good mechanics in that area? It’s a small town, but maybe in St. George? Any recommendations would be most appreciated!
Hi Chris! The radiators ALWAYS fail at that same point--weakness in the injection molding process, I guess. If your balancer isn't visibly wobbling, don't worry about it yet--just check it every time you check your oil. Corvette Forum will be your best guide to locating someone in UT that knows these cars well. Safe travels! Lyle
@@csvette
Thank you Lyle, most appreciated!
My first one went out at 35,000 miles on my 2001 C5. The big question is, this was a known issue even back in 2003 when they replaced mine under warranty, so why did GM continue to keep using these for so many years???
Because the General Mayhem doesn’t give a hoot.
Remember , the Corvette is a low production unit and many parts are out of their parts bin , writ cheap !
Still love my C6 Convertible though .
Hi! love your channel! Would the C6 Z06 have the same Harmonic Balancer Issues?
Yes, my 2007 Z06 now has the issue. Just short of 100k miles.
Question: Do these harmonic balancers ever last as intended? Say maybe 100,000 miles before it is expected to replace it worn or not? Or is it just simply a recommendation from GM to replace these at specific mileage? Also, I have been reading about replacement Harmonic Balancers that are of better quality. If these are used as a replacement, is it reasonable to assume they will last longer? Forever? Forever being relative of course. During a rebuild, I would imagine changing it anyway.
It is an age issue, not a mileage issue. The rubber bonding strip between the weighted outer ring and the center hub dries out and allows the outer ring to begin wobbling/walking backwards. The PowerBond and Summit Racing replacements are solid,one-piece units that should never have to be replaced again. Lyle
Thank you Lyle. Strange that didn’t become a recall early on. Will definitely replace it with the part you recommended. Don’t know where you folks are located, but I want to be sure and have someone who knows what there doing replace it. Use to do all of my own work on cars from model T’s through many chevys. Condo life and age starting to get in the way. But thank you
mine has a wobble to it I'm already looking at aftermarket replacements.
So is this a easy fix if you catch it on time? And how long would a new wheel last for till you have to do it again?
I had three Corvettes 68 convertible 69 & 91 brand new from the Chevy dealer money pits 😂 91 was the best one out of all of them!!!! Let me help you out here save your money don’t buy ☝️
Your badass .thank you
I will be moving to the area, I have the poor mans Vett a 1987 Iroc-Z 5.7L Iroc-Z all orignal, I have had it for 25 years. It needs the AC converted to 134a, can you this on my Camaro. I am the 2nd owner and the car has been my baby all these years. Thanks great channel!! Anthony
Hi Anthony! I only work on Corvettes, so we can't work on the Camaro (awesome car, tho!). Hitchcock Automotive nearby our shop is very reliable and would be happy to address your car. Call them at 941-306-1000. Lyle
A big thank you for all your help and education
What would you say is a fair price range for the Balancer change?
I have a c6 when the car heats up and air-conditioning running
The care heats up to almost 220 degrees and the amps drop to 11.9 that is with the foot on the brake
Any ideas?
I would not blame the gasket failure totally on heat.....my 2000 LS1 had multiple failures in the pan gasket like that...rubber separation from the metal frame....pretty much all the rubber was off the metal frame....leaked more oil than the exxon Valdez
I am impressed with fluidampners....quality one piece damper.....no separation ever !!
Hey Jon! I agree that these gaskets aren't infallible by any means, but this one had precisely ONE leak and it was right where the balancer had been grinding on it so I am confident of causation on this one. :)
Jon, I also was a fan of fluidampners. recently I had one on my 6.2 split into two pieces. It wasn't that old either. Had been spun up over 8000 a few times but that shouldn't have hurt it!!!
@@dannywilsher4165 i have heard many people be down on FD....but never a reason....how does a one piece split in 2 ?
@@jonsingle1614 I'm not down on them at all. I have had probably at least a dozen of them since they came out. I really don't know how or why it came apart but it did and the fluid inside covered the inside of the engine bay. I guess I can't call it fluid, more like a thinned out silly putty....
@@dannywilsher4165 i think they do have a lifetime warranty ? Yes....it full of silicone....goo
Mines squeaking.looked wobble.here we go .thanks for the heads up.should i attempt at home?
Is this something we need to worry about with c7 corvette. More specifically 2019 grand sport?
Just noticed this on my 11 GS do you recommend going with oe replacement or aftermarket?
Always aftermarket. We sell the Summit Racing SFI rated unit, and it is an excellent piece. Lyle
I have a 2007 C6 with only 14000 mi. I have noticed that "death wobble" you talked about. What balancer do you use to repair your customers' cars? Thanks for the 'heads up" video.
I recommend the Power Bond unit from Summit for $259.99
@@csvette can you tell me the part number
@@craigpahl7937 PowerBond PB1117SS
How much movement is normal on the balance wheel? And how much movement is normal on the motor itself? The balance wheel was already upgraded on the car I looked at yesterday, and I couldn't notice much movement. But I thought the engine moved quite a bit.
Just had my balancer replaced by a reputable mechanic. After installation, having trouble with power steering. Had to drop rack to remove pully. Any suggestions on how to correct hard steering... We bled the air with vacuum pump?
Your Magnasteer module may have gone bad--rack works, but it really hard to turn at low speeds. That would be my first guess, and remedy is a new rack (unfortunately) Lyle
How much did the shop charge you to replace the balancer?
I haven't had any problem with my 2001 C5. 53k miles on it and it's a daily driver. The car runs great. No storage here in FL. Should I replace this part anyway based on the years? Is there an aftermarket harmonic balancer that is better built to avoid this problem from happening again?
Hey Leon! If you balancer isn't showing any signs of wobble, let it be. There are several aftermarket units that are better built than the stock replacement--Summit Racing's own branded unit at $199 is an excellent piece. Lyle
@@csvette Ok thanks. I think I will check out that part and purchase it. Just to have it already for when this happens one day. I already have a couple of other parts already for common issues with my model year.
Is the harmonic balancer issue limited to C5 and LS2 C6s or are they just as prone to failure on LS3 C6? I did watch your video explaining about LS2 crankshaft getting out of balance and destroying harmonic balancer and that that is no longer an issue on LS3. Crankshaft issue aside, is the harmonic balancer still a potential issue on LS3 C6? Did LS1 C5 engine have a similar issue LS2 did with poorly designed crankshaft?
The balancer issue is present in every Corvette 97 through 13. I have not seen the LS1 or LS3 lose internal balance like the LS2. Lyle
@@csvette Thank you Lyle
working onhis now for my dads corvette and that harmonic balancer does not want to come off. :(
So why didn't you take a video of the hbalancer spinning? I wanted to see what a really bad one looks like.
What HB do you recommend? for a 07 C6 I was thinking about the summit Racing bracket racer SFI Sum-C2501