Hi guys,

I posted the other day regarding my harmonic balancer wobbling. I've now tried a total of 3 balancers -- 1 brand new, one slightly used and the stocker. They all exhibit the same wobble, although on the stocker it is most noticeable.

The wobble is still there at idle. One of the posters (shoebox I believe) mentioned that I could have tweaked the hub during the removal of the pulley the first time.

I used a puller, but before using the puller I used a rubber mallet to bang (not hard, just tapping around the outer ring) to loosen the pulley. I eventually used the puller and it came off. Is it possible this tapping tweaked the hub? THe hub is made of cast iron... are they notorius for this type of failure?

I wish i had a video of someone else's balancer in action to see if what I have is the same as what it should normally look like, but I don't. I measured the face of the hub with my dial indicator and it looked OK, but it was a tight squeeze under the car so who knows, I could be a few MM's off -- which would cause the wobble.

Does anyone else have any way to weigh in on this? I want to avoid pulling the hub if i can... is there another tool or method to test if the wheel is sitting perfectly flat?

 

Is the belt having a problem?

 

Have you pulled the hub at all, or just the balancer? Perhaps the hub itself is untrue?

 

I haven't pulled the hub yet -- its what I'm gonna try next. The belt hasn't had a problem yet, but I assume that would happen in the near future. I didn't notice any frays the last time I inspected it. I've tried 3 dampers, although only one of those was brand new (the other was the old stocker and a replacement damper i had bought a couple years ago which had been sitting around.)

Maybe I'll try one more damper, just to see if that does the trick. Does anyone have a vid of their crank pulley in action so i can compare the wobble?

The wobble is very similar to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENf6nLmNWzE

 

You indicated elsewhere that you had attempted to measure the face of the hub, and it appeared to be straight. Have you also measured the hub's three arms to make sure one isn't bent?

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/gen...rottle-854078/

 

Do this, I'd bet one of the ears are bent.

 

i tried measuring the face of the hub with my dial indicator, but it's an awkward spot which may have affected my reading, so I can't be 100% certain it is OK. Perhaps the way I went about, i didn't get a proper measurement.

There's a different type of dial indicator on Amazon -- should I pick this one up:

Dial Indicator


It's much smaller than the one I've got, maybe it's worth a try?

 

Honestly, I would just get a hub and change it, but that's just me. If there is that much movement with no related noises, I'd doubt the crank is bent. But if you change the hub, install the NEW balancer....if it still hops, I'd say you'll be fairly certain that there is a crank issue, barring any damage that may have occurred to the new balancer.

 

He bought a hub from me, its straight as can be, ill be shipping it today.

 

Good, I really think it sounds like he needs it, at least a very good process of elimination start

 

yeah, fingers crossed...

what do you think the odds of the crank being bent are? the crank is forged steel,and the nose is so short, it would take tremendous force to bend the tiny stub wouldnt it?

 

Doubt its bent.

So its a aftermarket crank? stock ones werent forged steel were they? Maybe its out of balance or something?

anyways, hub was just shipped via usps today.

 

nah its the stock one -- i just thought they were forged steel :-p

 

they are cast iron on the lt1 and the lt4 is Cast iron with undercut and rolled fillets.

the pistons are Eutectic aluminum/silicon alloy, and the rods are Powdered metal, and block is cast iron.

just googled that.

 

btw, when you install the crank hub i sent you, install it with your BRAND NEW balancer you said you tried before, it will prolly be your best bet. haha

Make sure your hub bolt is torqued to spec, and that the correct washer is there, and that you do not damage the hub during install. and when installing the balancer make sure all 3 bolts are torque evenly in order to insure a proper flush seating on the hub.

I cleaned up both ends of the hub that i sent you and wirewheeled and primed the rest. good luck.