Why you should pin your harmonic balancer on C5 & C6 Corvettes 

For anyone wanting to buy the part he is talking about, this is it. PowerBond Race Performance Harmonic Balancer PB1117SS. The price is no longer $200. The current price is $256.99.

It’s hard to fathom how GM could design a new more powerful Gen 3/4 small block and screw up something as basic as a harmonic balancer.

Had a wobbly balancer on my 98 convertible. Took it to a corvette specialist to have it repaired. He recommended I pin it. Because you said I should, I did. Thank you. BTW the car only had 38k miles. So as you say this is a time issue not a mileage issue.

My neighbor and I just replaced his 2007 harmonic balancer without removing steering rack or any other stuff yeap it was tricky but nothing to remove but harmonic balancer bolt and the piece itself

Thanks, Lyle man I wish you wasn’t 13 hours away from me. I live in Tennessee and I cannot find anybody. I trust to work on my vehicles.

Just bought a C5 yellow convertible, I love it, doing the entire front pulley, water pump, harmonic balancer because i have spring break to do it before it gets hot here in Arizona, woohoo!!!

As always great information to have. I just purchased my first corvette. 2008 model and i am glad to hear about things like this.

Thx, just bought a 3rd hand C6 with 82k miles.... definitely going to check into this.... the problem will be finding someone who will do it and get the parts.... btw, Orange County, CA

Hi Lyle, As always your advice was right on. I took my C5 in for oil change and talk to my shop about pinning my balancer, just to be proactive, turns out it was going bad. Thanks to this video, I would have never known what to look for. It cost me about a $900, but I feel it was well worth it. Thanks Again!!

I appreciate all your assistance.

I just subscribed to your channel. I have owned an 84 years ago, fixing to buy my next vette. Keep cranking out the content. Thanks for all the info.

Thank u Lyle! Keep learning more and more with every video cant wait til i get a C5!

Once again thank you, very important to know 👍

Thanks for making these videos! Very helpful for US Vette owners. Noob C4 here.

Coral Gables 🌴🇺🇸 A video on PIN REMOVAL would be helpful also Kyle. Oh , sorry , Lyle ! 🏄

I own a C5 with 12k and a C6 Grand Sport with 14k on the odometers, noticed a slight wobble on both, took my C6 to GMC dealer tech said it was fine, that he has not seen one that does not wobble a bit. He changed out fluids and said no need to touch it, its good. I trust the mechanic and have known him for many years.

Wow.!! Thanks Lyle. I've learned so much just watching this and other 2 videos of yours...just wish I could have someone as yourself with me when purchasing my first corvette...C5 or C6..? Thanks again Mr. Lyle....very glad to have learned so much. God bless America and the V8. :)

Put a 4'' Magnet in the oil pan. All the fine metal will be held on the magnet not run back into the engine. The fine metal is the main reason for engine ware.

This is good advice, I track my C6 Z51 regularly and had the entertainment of having the balancer bolt come out, didn't do a lot of damage, and is a big job to do on a Z51 because of all the cooler lines, but necessary for sure. Nothing like coming up on a corner at 140 plus and finding out the power steering belt has come off! GM's idea of how to repair this is to put locktite on the face of the bolt, ridiculous! (Cubicle Engineers)

Great tip and glad you educated us on this.

Wow, great information

Lyle, thanks for another informative video. I was wondering if you might have a comprehensive parts list you guys use for this job, including the "while you are in there" parts like the water pump, belts, idlers, tensioners and anything else you would recommend. Y'all obviously have a long track record of successful work, so whatever parts you guys are using must be pretty bulletproof.

I love your videos and all the information that you give us is awesome thanks!!!

You guys are amazing.

Very helpful video

I just subscribed Looking forward to more tech videos.

It will be nice if there is video for that... Thanks for amazing info

Great info as usual!

And that's exactly what I will do, My HB was changed 2500 miles ago, and now exactly the same thing happened to me, the engine was running but the belts stod still, the bolt has come loose, so I intend to do exactly as you recommend, Summit Racing HB and pin it. Super Lyle, i watch all your videos.

very informative video. thanks

Good to know!

I used the OEM balancer after wobbling. Lasted one hour… My only mods on the C6 add a mere 100 HP. I guess we will pin next time LoL

Great tip and I think I need this. :-/

My 2011 Grand Sport with 27k miles has a slight wobble to the crank pulley/balancer. What a bummer. At least it still appears aligned and hasn’t walked forward or backward yet (although I reached down with my phone and took a close up pic and it looks like there a little residue of aluminum particles is inside the pulley!). I live in NJ and have a tiny garage so can’t do this myself, I’m actually thinking of driving to Sarasota to have C&S do the right job the right way if Covid ever makes that trip feasible!

Hi Lyle. I have a 2013 base model bone stock. Do I need to watch my h balancer too. Thanks for all your great help

Hi Lyle.............more good stuff, thanks! /murray/van bc

Hi Lyle...I just recently purchased a 1200 mile 2012 ZR1. Does the LS9 engine have the same balancer and issue?

So i have a 2001 LS! 5.7 block, with a LSA supercharger in my FJ40 ran great for 1yr, (now to do this build i needed a different balancer and the balancer does have a key slot in it this confused me)... and ive noticed the balancer coming loose, never seen this before so i got an ARP bolt popped it in and it was holding for a few weeks and yesterday the darn balancer just fell off!!! so i reach down to feel the crank shaft to see if the woodruff key was broken, sheered or whatever and i noticed there was no woodruff key slot... so now im pulling my hair out trying to figure out where the slot was and how is this possible... then i found your video!!! so my engine is a C5 and has no key NO WONDER! i ordered a new balancer and this time im going to PIN it thx brotha! I'm going to be calling your shot to ask you what i should get instead of the balancer im using, i may want to switch to the one from summit!

My car only has the basic 345 horsepower and I haven’t heard about the spinning problem before. I did have the harmonic balancer replaced once as wobble started looking scary. Not that it’s ever run without any wobble at all but that seems to be normal.

Would the harmonic balancer replacement and pinning be recommended for a 2015 Camaro SS with a 6.2 L

I like the idea of the aftermarket Balancer that wont separate. Better than the pin idea IMO.

Oh cmon yt algorithm! why couldn't you pop this up last week!

Given the "Guide" has two holes....why not drill and pin it twice 180 Degrees apart to maintain balance?

Does the steering rack need to be removed to replace HB on c6? If so, any tips on best way to do this? Thank you!

Lyle, how about a lesson for dummies! How to inspect the harmonic balancer? With how to for any first time C5/C6 buyers. I ask because I do see a lot for sale and wonder if the damage has been done? If ya know what I mean! Oh yes tell the inspector/buyer to wear a shirt that WILL get dirty.

Had no idea, now I understand what pinning the harmonic balancer is. Question, I bought my 2011 vet last year, how can I tell if my balancer is pinned or not?

Lyle you talk about "Summit " harmonic balancer in video, your preferred so it won't walk, around $200 so which is your preferred, I have 2005 convert with 68,000 mi this will be my 3rd replacement in 5 years need better option then OEM, besides OEM out of production at moment and has been sitting on lift for 17 weeks at dealer

What is the part number for the summit racing balancer that won’t walk?

Would you still recommend pinning it after replacing it with an aftermarket hb?

Hey Lyle !! Thanks for such a nice video, really clear information right to the point, i got a quick question i have a ls3 corvette , but im thinking on cam it so ill be around 450 hp , with bolts on and tune , should i pin the pulley? Im no thinking on going forced induction and im not going to the track, just street use, ill be ok if just replace the pulley or its a must to do this pin thing ? Thanks !!

This sounds great, but how do I remove that pin in the future?

Just super glue it back together all fixed lol

Will the Harmonic balancer from Summit totally fix the issue? or is there still a chance of it walking/coming out? Also, which in specific is that balancer from Summit, thank you!

Do you need to pin it even if you get a new high performance balancer?

When using the pin kit with the Summit C2501 (which already has a keyway cut into it) for the LS3, should you drill a 'new' notch in the balancer or try to hit the existing one? Seems counterproductive to RTV the existing keyway and drill a new one somewhere else on the ID.

Pinning this does nothing to prevent the failing Harmonic balancer (HB) from walking or failing, so that's pointless and nonsense to say otherwise. And if you really want to avoid a spun HB, pin it. But, that issue is so damn rare that it is much more likely to have been a customer that had their HB replaced and the shopped fucked up in the install (such as reusing the bolt or not following the torque spec) than the balancer randomly deciding it no longer wanted to be press fit. However, always press-fit if you're supercharging.

Is 2013 427 good engine i like that anniversary edtion us good corvette buy

Old school balancers with timing marks could only be put on one way, can a balancer like this be put on at any degree point? And how do you remove it and replace it with another after it has been pinned?

Does anybody know the part number for the balancer from summit ? Mine is starting to wobble a bit and I want to take care of everything before it gets worse ! Also all recommended parts would be awesome thank you!

Thank you for an awesome video. Do LS7’s suffer from this?

Do you have a part number for the pin kit that will work with the summit HB ?. I found multiple and want to make sure it’s the correct one. Thanks for your time and videos

So will this end the wobble and never need to be replaced again?

Hello Lyle . Question You mentioned that your Mecanic has become very comfortable at replacing these balancers how much hours should GM or a very respected garage charge on the estimate Thank you

Brent here in Alberta. Do you have a maintenance manual C6. Good ideas- like rear main seal replacement plate rather than just replace seal. Would be nice to have a complete car nice to knows. Thanks

If you pin the hb and have to take it off later on, how hard is it to line up everything and put it back on as it was previously?

Does the pinning stop the forward and rearward creep or just the wear on the shaft to prevent spinning?

Another good video Lyle, I have a few questions, the adaptor has two holes, do you put two pins in, what size are the pins they look like 5/16 or 8mm dia, do you ream the holes for a tight fit, when installing the bolt after the pins are in place, is there a washer covering the pins to prevent them working out, why is the drill depth set so deep compared to the length of the pins?

Pin kit is necessary With summit Racing dumper as well ?

Any reason your not recommending the Fluiddampner HB. ....??

Great video ! I’m going to look at a atomic orange c6 2009 with only 29k miles for 30 grand tomorrow , first question is do you think it’s a good deal if the car is in good shape or should I talk them down on the price ? 2nd question is how can I check the harmonic balancer to make sure it’s in hood shape ? Thx 🙏🏾

So if I pop my hood and the engine is running and none of the belts are spinning, I rev my motor right? That will loosen them up right? I kid! I kid! :)

Would it be a good idea to do this with a built up 5.3 NA LS engine even if it`s not in a Corvette?

Hey Lyle.. I'm considering buying a 2008 Corvette with 41000 miles..how long before the harmonic balancer starts to wiggle..driving the car easily?

I've got to get mine done 2000 c5. Hope $700

Question: Does every repair shop use this pin kit? 🤔

I should have pinned mine after a cam upgrade, but didn't. Is there room to pin the crank with everything back together? If not, is there an easier way than removing everything again? PS I used the Summit balancer you recommended and it's a great piece. Thanks

Omg!!! So u gotta pull the motor to be able to drill it???

Hi, can you let me know why you would replace the harmonic balancer with a new (high performance?) unit especially if the original is still in good condition aftering pinning it? Also, if replacing the HB should I consider an underdrive or overdrive unit. What are the differences and when is it beneficial for each? Thanks!

Does this happen on an LS 3 engine, I have a 2008 🙏

If I install the summit racing performance balancer do I have to pin it too or is it just for the stock ls1 balancer?

GM strikes again. Saved 22 cents on a woodruff key. Made monthly budget. Executives got their bonuses. Wall Street cheered. I thought my '96 was bad. They really do build beautiful garbage. I see them parked in yards everywhere. Permanently.

Have a question. I replaced the HB with a Summitracing replacement. Now the specs for mine calls for torqueing with the old bolt to 240 LBS, then remove, install the new bolt torque to 37 LBS then torque 140 degrees if you have a J-36660-A tool. It then goes on to say if you don’t have the tool, tighten the new damper bolt to 75 lb. Now my damper has a keyway. This is my question. Do i have to torque the bolt 145 degrees if I pin my crank? It appears because the damper has a keyway you don’t need to tighten it the additional 140 degrees, but if there is no pin or keyway then the additional 140 degrees would be required to keep it from slipping. Your thoughts.

Where to buy the pin kit and bal

Harmonic balancer should be pinned. So how exactly do you do that? tear apart the engine, remove crankshaft, take crankshaft to a machine shop, then put it all back together again? Probably expensive as hell, and then you have to lose piece of mind wondering if some mistakes were made putting it all back together. If it aint broke, dont fix it! a new balancer is so tightly press fitted, and if you follow the GM repair manual instructions you should probably be just fine. I am about to do mine soon. Just gathering special tools and new bolt, doing my research. Also figuring plans a, b, and c for any road blocks.

how many hours of labor to do the job?

Was thinking about buying a 2013 but now rethinking it . Maybe the new Nissan Z is a more reliable choice .

What to do when battery is dead c6 automatic

My 2005 vette i just lost power steering and charging... Checked under hood with it off and all seem good.. Then i found crank pully bolt finger loose, so im assuming it spun.... Was told on a forum that i need crank now ... But i still gotta tear it apart in my driveway.. Im assuming crank is alot harded and i just need to pin new balancer to crank.... Have you seen any that have spun and need a crank ? Mine is visually still on all the way, at least it looks like it is.

I don't see the kit online anymore.

Need the pin even with the performace harmonic balancer, right?

someone may have already asked this, but... if my OEM harmonic balancer is not wobbling, can I just pin it rather than buying a new one?

Can’t I just pin my current good balancer and be done with it?

Do you recommend pinning the stock harmonic balancer ?

Do you need to pin the summit harmonic balancer? And how about a video of the harmonic balancer death wobble so we can see what it looks like on the car.... or is this something you just cant miss couse it's so obvious.

Would it be a good idea to buy a 2003 C5 with 9800 miles?

Why GM? No woodruff key!

Hey would I need to do this if I use the ATI harmonic balancer ?

Only 200 dollar balancer i can find on summit is a bracket racer.

What are your thoughts on the ATI balancer?

What’s the labor cost to replace these