Loose harmonic balancer?

**wikisi9** · 07-20-2016

Hey folks,

I have a 06 grand prix gxp with 255,000 miles on it. It broke down on me today after work. As soon as I started up my engine, I heard my belt slip loudly. I turned off the engine, opened the hood and noticed the harmonic balancer had moved out of alignment with all the other pulleys by a good 3/4" or so, throwing off my serpentine belt.

I looked at it to see if maybe the bolt holding the balancer came loose, but it doesn't look like it. I didn't use a wrench to check it or anything though. I'm too tired to mess with it today. Any suggestions what I should look/check for tomorrow? What's the usual culprit in such a case?

**Scottydoggs** · 07-20-2016

pretty sure thats a broken balancer. you'll need to change it.

**rottonj** · 07-20-2016

Originally Posted by wikisi9

Hey folks,

I have a 06 grand prix gxp with 255,000 miles on it. It broke down on me today after work. As soon as I started up my engine, I heard my belt slip loudly. I turned off the engine, opened the hood and noticed the harmonic balancer had moved out of alignment with all the other pulleys by a good 3/4" or so, throwing off my serpentine belt.

I looked at it to see if maybe the bolt holding the balancer came loose, but it doesn't look like it. I didn't use a wrench to check it or anything though. I'm too tired to mess with it today. Any suggestions what I should look/check for tomorrow? What's the usual culprit in such a case?

This is an old post but has some info that could be helpful to you. Good luck. post back your results.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/ls4-perfor...all-notes.html

**wikisi9** · 07-20-2016

Before I go and buy a new balancer, I wanna make sure it is in fact the balancer that's broken. On the other hand, what else could it be? Is there an easy way to check without having to take off the passenger wheel, brakes, etc?

Thanks for the link.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 07-20-2016

Broken HB's are pretty common on the LS4's.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-20-2016

take the wheel off and look at it, if you can wiggle it or push it around its busted, the outer part the belt rides on tends to break off.

**wikisi9** · 07-23-2016

Well... it's definitely the harmonic balancer. I pulled on it with bare hands and the outer piece that belt rides on came right off.

Problem now is.. how do I get it off. Mine doesn't have the small holes for bolt type puller. I has 3 oblong holes. I'll need a jaw type puller I guess.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-23-2016

iirc you v8 guys can use a 3 jaw puller.

still gonna need a air gun to get the bolt off. or red neck it via the starter.

**wikisi9** · 07-23-2016

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

iirc you v8 guys can use a 3 jaw puller.

still gonna need a air gun to get the bolt off. or red neck it via the starter.

Via the starter? What do you mean? I don't have an air gun so I may have to do that if someone can explain how it's done.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-23-2016

a breaker bar off the crank bolt a jack stand and crank the starter over. bolt comes free. check you tube, search redneck crank bolt removal.

disable fuel or spark so it cant run.

**wikisi9** · 07-23-2016

Thanks. I'll check youtube.

Here's a pic of the HB. It's broken alright. LOL

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 07-23-2016

There might be write on LS1tech or something, I think you have to drop the subframe a few inches to get a puller on there and snake the balancer out.

**wikisi9** · 07-23-2016

Yeah I found it. Basically, it said to put jacks under subframe, loosen bolts on passenger side all the way, and bolts on driver side an inch or so. Then slowly lower subframe on passenger side till the HB clears the body. And to make sure there's no binding/pinching/whatever as you lower subframe. They removed alternator and battery as well.

After this post I'm going to get a Harmonic Balancer from Rock Auto and I'll probably install it next weekend.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-23-2016

jack stand under the cars body, not the sub frame, if under the frame you can lower it. you want a jack under the sub frame, then take the bolts out, then lower the jack.

**wikisi9** · 07-23-2016

Oops, I worded it wrong. I mixed what I'm going to do with what it said in the how to. I'm going to place jack stands under the sub frame and use a fork lift to raise the body.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-23-2016

sad to say, but i highly dislike your idea.

body on jack stands makes every thing solid to the ground, stuff moves on a chain.

**wikisi9** · 07-23-2016

Well, part of using a fork lift is because I feel safer being underneath a car when it's held up by a fork lift instead of resting on jack stands.

Plus I'm not using a chain. The car is sitting on the forks.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-23-2016

id never trust a fork lift to hold stuff up either. and your not under it really. your reaching in to it via the wheel well.

oh, and to do what your saying,,,well look at the big picture here. whats the forks lifting on? yup the sub frame. scrap this plan, use jack stands and a floor jack.