Harmonic Balancer

[Detroit Dan]

recently read that the Dormans are junk, someones fell apart after 7000 miles. I want to do mine soon, what should I get?

 

[Acesneights1]

I think outside Fliudampr , it's pretty much all chinese made garbage.It's disgusting that you can't get decent parts anymore.

 

[Matt Bachand]

I think outside Fliudampr , it's pretty much all chinese made garbage.It's disgusting that you can't get decent parts anymore.

Yep... Disgusting is right. Maybe quality will improve since the initial manufacturing move is done with, and perhaps they are making corrections...

 

[Acesneights1]

It'll get better when a nice big Tsunami wipes out Asia and we start making parts here again and hold them to some sort of quality control. My FSU is a week old and now I gotta pull it again.

 

[Detroit Dan]

usautoparts lists two very different balancers for my truck, no idea why, maybe ones for a van or something? went on the live chat help thing and asked, guy came back and told me it was one and not the other, but no idea why. I'm going to measure mine before I order one.
Also, these were both Dormans. Local parts stores only carry Dorman as well, so I think I'm going to chance using a Dorman, versus a 13 year old stock unit with 175k on it that's probably going to split and fall off any day now.

 

[Turbine Doc]

Guys bitch & moan about "made in China" all you want, it no longer means same as it once did, just like at one time "made in Japan" was once considered inferior quality products,

Chinese or other offshore mfg parts do bear watching to make sure you are getting a quality made in China part,as they still have some growing pains. But until USA becomes business friendly again tax wise (Hey Obama et Als reduce taxes and our economy will turn around), there will be parts made offshore, or if you can miraculously convince the US buying public to buy only US made products.

How many of you brag on your Michelin (French) tires or other things Asian made electronics for example, alas it is no longer a made in USA only economy that is the reality of it all, we closed the barn door too late on that one, horse has escaped and is unwilling to go back into the barn.

 

[Acesneights1]

I'm sorry TD but I think most of the stuff is crap. I gotta drop my f'in fuel tank now a week later cause the POS aftermarket FSU died. The "new" best quality WP I bought was mis forged and I had to grind nearly a 1/4 an inch off it to get the Alt bracket bolted back on and I wasn't happy taking a grinder to a 200$ water pump. I realize that AC Delco quality parts are gone and never to return but reserve my right to bitch and vent...
I'll save the poison toys and food for P&R..
It's not all China either. Alot of the garbage reman parts come from Mexico another source of worthless junk. I take everything to a local rebuilder now.

 

[Detroit Dan]

reserve my right to bitch and vent

good point. regardless of why, if you spend hard earned dollars on product that fails to work, then you got every right to bitch.

I find that everything I buy these days is crap. I buy stuff for the house from Lowes because its the only game in town, and replace it a year later because it's crap. Home Cheapo is absolutely no different, all cheap crap. But I can go to a lumberyard/homestore and pay twice as much and guess what? A year later it's junk too. I can't even count how many storm doors and doorknobs I've put on my house. Everything is made as cheaply as possible to maximize someone elses profit.

I won't even consider a new vehicle anymore. I know I sound like an old fart now, but my newest is an 04 and it's a piece of crap compared to my 97. And my 97 probably won't last as long as my 82.

 

[Acesneights1]

Yep, that's why I like my old Iron..Although I wouldn't say no to that Dmax I posted in 07+ Dmax section....
Back on point though...how did the rest of the balancer install go ?

 

[Matt Bachand]

It did seem to idle a little smoother before I got distracted by the grinding flexplate (hopefully at this point). Oh shit, the pictures!
Sorry guys! Few minutes to get the camera and set it up. I'm in the mood now

 

[Matt Bachand]

This kit rental from Advanced had everything to remove and install, everything fit. Very nice kit.

You can see how I wedged the balancer tight with the bolts from the kit. The flatbar bottoms out on the crossmemer, not the Waterpump as it may look like there.

Put the pieces together, thread the fitting bolts from the kit into the HB where the pulley would mount to, then turn the end of the puller with a ratchet and out she came. Very smoothly.

 

[Matt Bachand]

Rubber looked good. In fact visual inspection in the vehicle looked good. Upon closer evaluation, theres my wobble.

The directions in the HB kit indicated that if wobble failure, check crank for wear. As I mentioned, mine went on easy enough, mostly? by hand. Perhaps my snout is worn. Perhaps china part is junk. Perhaps things are all good.

 

[Matt Bachand]

This is how the installer sets up.

The threaded piece on the very left threads into the crank snout where the bolt goes, and you tighten the nut against the bearing and it pushes it in. I think I got a little more movement past where I got it too by hand.

Keep in mind, my hands have the strength of two men.:thumbsup:

This is how I flatbarred the install. The bar bottomed out on the top of the steering box. Worked like a damn champ.

I put a touch of blue on her for good luck.

 

[Matt Bachand]

And there she is, making my original water pump look old.

 

[Matt Bachand]

I took my fender off to inspect exhaust components. See how easy #8 injector and glow, and the turbo/downpipe are to do like this? Takes 10 minutes to get such easy access to this half of the engine.

Also note how well rustoleum grill paint is holding up on my downpipe over a year later. Tit.

 

[NVW]

Looks good Matt:thumbsup:

 

[midniteplowboyy]

Matt had the old balancer spun yet or just cocked? The timing line should line up with two adjacent bolt holes through the center line of the crank.

 

[Matt Bachand]

Matt had the old balancer spun yet or just cocked? The timing line should line up with two adjacent bolt holes through the center line of the crank.

It had not spun, only cocked I think. I'll go look!

 

[Matt Bachand]

Had not spun.

 

[Detroit Dan]

Matt, where did you get the hb? Is it a Dorman or what?