harmonic balancer broke..help please

[chrissm14]

Ive got an 04 XLT with around 90k miles. A week or 2 ago, I started hearing the infamous chirping sound from the belt. I inspected everything and the balancer is definitely at fault. The rubber between the outer ribbed pulley and the middle of the balancer is starting to fall out and the balancer has a noticable wobble when the engine is running. The 2 parts have not seperated yet.

Well just now I was out looking at it again, and I stuck my finger in the hole in the middle of the balancer and something has broken off in there. I cant see what it is, but it's metal and i can move it all over in there. Is this just part of the balancer that has broken off? Or did the end of the crankshaft break off??

I ordered a new balancer yesterday so I won't be able to install it until next weekend probably. Will the car be okay to drive to work and back this week? about 40 miles total a day.

Also, this may not be related, but the other day my reverse went out. It was about 94degrees outside, and I stopped at the store after driving about 30 miles on the highway. When I went to leave, the truck wouldn't go into reverse. I had to turn the car off and back on, and shift into drive and then back into reverse to get it to work. This is only the 2nd time this has happened in the year ive owned the truck. Should I be worried??

 

[shucker1]

Chrissm14,

From what you describe it sounds to me like the balancer bolt which connects the balancer to the crankshaft has broken. Unfortunately you are in an un-drive-able state till its fixed.

Trying to run it will only cause more damage.

 

[chrissm14]

Chrissm14,

From what you describe it sounds to me like the balancer bolt which connects the balancer to the crankshaft has broken. Unfortunately you are in an un-drive-able state till its fixed.

Trying to run it will only cause more damage.

I was able to get a better look at it with a mirror, and the bolt is still on. I read somewhere that the 04-05s have a 'ring' in the balancer, and I believe this is what is broken in there.

 

[shucker1]

Ok.

There is a rubber liner between the inner and outer sections of the balancer that actually dampens vibration.

Still not a good idea to drive it until it's fixed. The outer hub will come off eventually.

 

[Number4]

If it fails while you are driving, it'll become a metal projectile hitting and breaking everything in its path. You may end up replacing the belt, brackets, power steering reservoir and the radiator.

I'd say don't drive it at all. Don't even turn it over until you are removing the balancer bolt.

 

[chrissm14]

Ok I ordered a new balancer, belt, and crankshaft seal last night. I emailed them just now to see if I can have my ground shipping changed to 2-day express so i can knock this out asap. Until then im parking it.

Could there already be damage done because of the ring that is broken off on the inside of the balancer?

 

[2000StreetRod]

related thread

You may be interested in the following thread: Harmonic balancer failure

 

[chrissm14]

okay so I got the center bolt off using the starter bump method. But now while trying to attach the puller, one of the bolts that holds the puller onto the hb snapped. Can I pull this thing off with a regular 3 jaw puller? the rubber between the ribbed part and the pulley isnt deteriorated too bad.

 

[Number4]

Really needs to be the harmonic balancer puller. The puller that has three bolts going into the balancer itself.

How are you pressing the pullers center shaft against the crank? Did you leave the bolt in, just backed off some?

If not, the puller is pressing against the balancer its trying to remove.

 

[chrissm14]

Really needs to be the harmonic balancer puller. The puller that has three bolts going into the balancer itself.

How are you pressing the pullers center shaft against the crank? Did you leave the bolt in, just backed off some?

If not, the puller is pressing against the balancer its trying to remove.

i didnt even get a chance to start pulling the pulley, i was just tightening the bolts to attach the puller and one snapped. only got it about halfway in, there was a good bit of resistance, prbably from rust and crud in the tapped holes of the pulley

 

[Number4]

Yes, I purchased a 8x1.25 tap and cleaned out the threads first.

 

[chrissm14]

Ok I managed to get the pulley off. I ended up using a c clamp to hold the puller onto the pulley where the bolt broke. I also ended up removing the radiator cause I didn't have enough clearance.

I have a few questions now.. 1. do i need to replace the woodruff key on the crank? I have a new one but im having trouble getting the old one out. Also, I'm replacing the front seal, and the one that I got from rock auto seems to be a hair too small. I can push it all the way to the back of the hole with no resistance. It is a timken part #3051N . How is this supposed to sit in the hole??

 

[Number4]

You can reuse the key. The seal must be pressed in. If it slips in at all, it's not right.

 

[shucker1]

It would be a good idea to put a little grease on the inside of the hub bore and a little motor oil on the seal lip and bolt threads before you put them back together.

You don't need anything galling up when you go back with all the parts.

 

[chrissm14]

Thanks guys. Went to advanced auto and got the right seal made by national, don't have the part# on hand. Pressed that in and put the new balancer on without any problems. Put it all back together and it started up fine. Didn't run it long though I need to get more coolant.

 

[shucker1]

Of course you did torque the balancer bolt correct?

 

[chrissm14]

Yes I torqued to 33 ft lbs, then tightened an extra 90 degrees. I drove to work today and noticed that it seems like the pulley isnt spinning true, like it has a slight wobble to it. Also noticed the belt tensioner was bobbing up and down again, not as bad as it was with the bad HB but still noticeable. When i installed the new pulley it slid on pretty easily and I actually took it back off to seat the crank seal some more and it came off much easier than the original pulley. What could this be???? Seems to run fine btw.