What happens if the harmonic balancer is loose?
If the harmonic balancer gets too old or fails and can no longer properly absorb the harmonic vibrations, the engine will shake excessively. The shaking will become even more pronounced, and therefore dangerous to the engine at high speeds.
Can you run an engine without harmonic balancer?
The harmonic balancer is essentially part of the crankshaft pulley. And because the belts that go around the crankshaft pulley run all of the car’s accessories, without the harmonic balancer you’d have no air conditioning, no power steering, no alternator and no water pump.
What size is a 350 harmonic balancer?
Nearly all 350s came with an 8-inch balancer because of their relatively long stroke. An 8-inch balancer was used on the short-stroke, 3.0-inch-stroke, 302 Z/28 engines because those mills were intended for road racing.
What causes harmonic balancer failure?
Failure to do may cause misalignment and galling. Excessive belt tension. An over-tightened belt may cause crankshaft snout runout and harmonic balancer wobble.
What does it cost to replace a harmonic balancer?
Crankshaft Harmonic Balancer Replacement pricing for various cars
| Cars | Estimate | Average Dealer Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Kia Optima | $450 | $466.72 |
| 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 | $395 | $425.36 |
| 2014 Hyundai Genesis | $371 | $390.03 |
| 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 | $460 | $477.47 |
How long do harmonic balancers last?
On certain engines, sometimes these last forever, last the life of the engine. And certain engines they might only last 50,000 miles or less than 10 years.
Can a harmonic balancer be repaired?
The good news is, the harmonic balancer can easily be repaired with a kit that usually retails for under $10.
What causes the harmonic balancer to go bad?
Over time, the crankshaft harmonic balancer can go bad from constant exposure to chemicals, the elements, or from old age. If this happens, the crankshaft may develop cracks and ultimately fail.
How long does a harmonic balancer take to replace?
The book lists it as 7 hours, a post on the Forum lists it as 4 hours. Mine just went bad, got the dreaded squeak. The book lists it as 7 hours, a post on the Forum lists it as 4 hours.
What is the difference between a harmonic balancer and a harmonic damper?
A harmonic balancer (sometimes called crankshaft damper, torsional damper, or vibration damper) is the same thing as a harmonic damper except that the balancer includes a counterweight to externally balance the rotating assembly.
What does an aftermarket harmonic balancer do?
The function of the harmonic balancer is to reduce the amplitude of the torsional vibration peaks to an acceptable level. Most OEM harmonic dampers are not designed to cope with the rpm and BHP levels experienced in competition. That is why racers must consider a high-performance damper that is fit for purpose.