Harmonic balancer wobbles..?

[gxpjesse]

07 Pontiac GP GXP 5.3 81,000 miles The harmonic balancer not spinning true..is this normal? If this not normal what issues can develope if it's not repaired? Anyone have an idea how big this repair job is? I don't know how long it's been this way. I have driven at least 10.000 miles after noticing the wobble lucky there haven't been issues. Runs smooth- no drips -zero issues-operates as it should .. If Not repaired is this going to internally damage this engine? Anyone experience this wobble issue ? Please comment. Thanks

[Scottydoggs]

how big of a wobble?

if you look at the outer edge of the balancer where the middle black part meets the outside metal ring where the belts ride, you'll see a crack at the edge is its bad. you need to look at it straight on, like through the wheel well.

you can lift the plastic shield out of the way to peek at it. i had mine off cause the balancer was leaking on me.

[gxpjesse]

Engine idleling the wobble is noticeable .. an 8th to 1/4 inch wobble.. I don't know the correct terms to describe. There are no leaks-codes-sounds- operates as expected. Tran was rebuilt at 54.000 tranfliid temps run 195-220. Coolent temps 215 city driving . I just concerned if not repaired this issue WILL for fact create a weakness internally and begin inviting operational issues. Ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure... Thank you I appreciate opinion .. If it is going bad ..what happens and what is effected.? Again thank you

[Scottydoggs]

being a v8 your balancer will look different, but the same rules apply for checking it.

when they do break they usually make a horrid sound when running. yours may have been bent at some point. how idk.

you should really install a trans cooler to help lower those temps, heat is what kills these trannys.

[gxpjesse]

Triple edge performance has a nice cooler hand modded perfectly for 07 GXP. Thanks for your comments.. oh..if I see the crack and it's bad .. How big is that repair ? $$?

[SgtMarshal]

harmonic balancer shouldn't take more than 1-2 hours to replace, and you should be able to find one easily for under 300.

[gxpjesse]

200 $ 4 the part ... 5.9 hr per labor times ..?? Serious ? Anyone know if that's true?

[blueguy]

Well I know for sure the spring loaded tensioner is ignorant. That probably takes the 5.8 hours.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Apparently the LS4 balancer is semi common failure, I don't know how hard it is to replace though.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Looks like you need to drop the cradle enough to allow room from the impact gun on thecrank bolt and for the puller to get on the pulley.

[gxpjesse]

The video of it wobbling is exactly what I see only wobble tiny bit more .. Can I wait to repair this or ...? Am I damaging the engine if I don't have this repaired fairly quickly ?

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Only time will tell, either it will break or the belt will maybe shred or it'll start making noise but when that happens I don't know.

[SgtMarshal]

it shouldn't take 5-8 hours to replace the harmonic balancer. when I put a cam in my car, the crank seal used failed about 50 miles down the road, and when the mechanic fixed it he took the harmonic balancer off and had it back together within a few hours.

[blueguy]

it shouldn't take 5-8 hours to replace the harmonic balancer. when I put a cam in my car, the crank seal used failed about 50 miles down the road, and when the mechanic fixed it he took the harmonic balancer off and had it back together within a few hours.

You cammed your GXP with the motor in the car?

****.

[CrazyGuy03]

I did once but on a 3.8 not a 5.3

[Spawne32]

Engine idleling the wobble is noticeable .. an 8th to 1/4 inch wobble.. I don't know the correct terms to describe. There are no leaks-codes-sounds- operates as expected. Tran was rebuilt at 54.000 tranfliid temps run 195-220. Coolent temps 215 city driving . I just concerned if not repaired this issue WILL for fact create a weakness internally and begin inviting operational issues. Ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure... Thank you I appreciate opinion .. If it is going bad ..what happens and what is effected.? Again thank you

I agree, definitely need to get a trans cooler on there, the LS4's run consistently hot for some reason, never really understood why other then the fact that the radiator is over half the capacity of a typical LSx radiator and the exhaust system routes under the hood through the center of the engine bay leading to extremely high under hood temps. I used an impala SS police pursuit OEM trans cooler with a combination of OEM hard lines and soft lines, I wanted a nice OEM look and fitment that would be reliable. You can run all OEM lines but the 4t65e upper hard line is alot more expensive then the newer stye wbody lines for the 6 speeds. I saw about a 20-30 degree drop in temps, but even on the hottest of days (90+) i still see roughly 210F cruising with the 3.29 gears. Better then what it was since it used to be touching 230.

it shouldn't take 5-8 hours to replace the harmonic balancer. when I put a cam in my car, the crank seal used failed about 50 miles down the road, and when the mechanic fixed it he took the harmonic balancer off and had it back together within a few hours.

good god man, 5-8 hours? lol were you trying to remove it by hand? shouldnt take longer then an hour with the appropriate tools.

[91parkave]

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

[gxpjesse]

A very nice looking Trans cooler! Is it inline or stand alone.. In the northeast I was advised to have it inline... I want one I could switch the routing lines . for winter.. for summer.. I have seen this for those who can fabricate it or the shop will/can does special work! Triple edge performance is who to call.. Dave will modify coolers per specfic car ..

[gxpjesse]

I jumped over on the link to see how you did the replacement done it right tight. Nice

[Spawne32]

A very nice looking Trans cooler! Is it inline or stand alone.. In the northeast I was advised to have it inline... I want one I could switch the routing lines . for winter.. for summer.. I have seen this for those who can fabricate it or the shop will/can does special work! Triple edge performance is who to call.. Dave will modify coolers per specfic car ..

Yes its an inline cooler, mostly a factory w-body setup because the police impala's came with this trans cooler package. I live in NJ so i did it inline as well because our winters can be just as cold. There is a noticeable difference in how long it takes for the fluid to actually warm up even with it inline with the radiator. I also modified my coolant to 70% water 30% coolant setup with RP purple ice, which brought down my average coolant temps by about 10* which also played a factor in how hot the trans fluid gets given that its an inline setup. Although with how far north you are id recommend staying with 50/50 but the purple ice could help you out.