Changing my harmonic balancer - Anything I should know?

[Passenger]

Gonna change my balancer out on Monday finally, after buying the part back in June haha. Anything I should know before I dive into this? tips/tricks or just things to watch out for?

 

[modo]

purchase or rent the remover and installer tool... a impact gun will make things easier as well.

 

[Passenger]

I found an easy solution to removing the bolt actually without air tools since I have none. Is it necessary to use the removal and installer tool or does it just make life easier?

 

[sn95gtvert]

it makes life much easier to just rent the tool. most the time they dont want to move off the crank when they have been on there for 14-15 years.

 

[ryclef331]

The installer tool is required in my eyes to install it. Some slam the new one on a few hits and then use the bolt to pull it the rest of the way on...while most are lucky enough to do it with no issue, you risk tearing the threads out of the crank snount. Use the tool to properly install it. Pay attention to the Key as well and make sure you don't drive it out and into the crank seal.

 

[94 DropTop]

A impact will make you life a lot easier. And the tools should always be used.

 

[fatkid00]

mine came off and went on with out the tool but i did use the ol air tools to get the bolt loose.

 

[MustangChris]

The installer tool is required in my eyes to install it. Some slam the new one on a few hits and then use the bolt to pull it the rest of the way on...while most are lucky enough to do it with no issue, you risk tearing the threads out of the crank snount. Use the tool to properly install it. Pay attention to the Key as well and make sure you don't drive it out and into the crank seal.

im am speaking based off my experiences with a 4.6SOHC. but in my car I had to remove the radiator for enough room to fit the impact gun. I dont know if this is the same situation on the 302, but it could be.

also, the threads on my snout were ruined by the previous owner. i am now in the process of an expensive motor swap........ thats how big of a paint ruined snout threads are.... so, please take care with doing this, no matter how easy it may seem.


got to harbor freight and spend $10.00 on the pulley kit tool.

 

[Passenger]

Finished it up about 30 minutes ago. Was defiantly an easy, but could have been an expensive fix for mistakes haha. Old balancer came off with the rubber most of the way out, halfway around it. Put the new one on, threw the belt on and fired it up. Much better

 

[toyman]

I trust the car has been parked these last few months. HB' s that are disintegrating can wreak havoc on bearings and journals.

 

[Passenger]

Actually it hasn't. Ive put about 6000 miles on it this year. The balancer didn't really cause any issues at all suprisingly. I was shocked when seen it wondering how it hadn't beat the mains out of it yet lol

 

[Dr Fildo]

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE WASHER OUT BEFORE YOU ATTACH THE TOOL!!! I know it sounds stupid, but I didn't know there was a washer in there, and it took me 3 days, a small sledge hammer with pursuader bar and a broken bolt on the removal tool before someone told me there was a washer in there. After the big bolt comes out, you must make sure to stick your finger in there and pull the washer out, if it doesn't fall off. Boy did I feel dumb. It was stuck in place. Once the I took the washer out, the balancer slid right out.

 

[Passenger]

Yeah, the washer can out with the bolt for me. Used a 1/2" drive breaker bar, locked it up on the bottom bracket for me radiator overflow tank and bumped the ignition til it came loose. Worked like a charm.

 

[Dr Fildo]

That was a great idea! I wouldn't have had the balls to try that. I used an impact wrench. Glad it worked out well for you.

 

[Passenger]

I don't have air tools, and I had actually broke the crank bolt loose once before by accident. Had just reassembled the car and was putting it back in time. Forgot I had the bar on it and fired it up. Brother yelled "no!" as soon as I turned the key over, lucky I heard it fast enough not to let the car fire and just had to retighten the bolt lol. We remembered it yesterday as we were about to start, and used that little trick. Came loose with ease. Center hub of the old balancer fell out of the outer weight when I dropped it to the garage floor. Good sh!t

 

[Win]

You don't need air tools i have a way you can do it in minutes without