Track day oops (balancer bolt)
10-11-2013, 05:50 PM
#1
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Track day oops (balancer bolt) Hi all -
Second track day (Thunderhill) cut short. The balancer bolt backed out. Is this normal? The bolt didn't come all the way out on track, but upon removal it looks okay. Don't have the balancer out yet. Seems like a pretty damn random issue, but I'll take it over the guy who put his car into the turn 15 wall.
The balancer coming loose tossed the belts, lost steering (exciting) and cooling (didn't lose coolant externally or in the crankcase that I can tell) and puked some oil at the crank snout.
I understand the bolt is a TTY, so I won't try to reuse it. The belts got oiled quite a bit - okay to clean and reuse if otherwise intact? Limited exposure for a short period of time. I figure a new FMS is a good idea regardless. Anything else to worry about?
Is there a way to inspect the balancer while it's off? I understand these are prone to failure, but don't want to just throw a new part at it needlessly.
Managed to blister and discolor the paint on my front calipers. Is this normal? Or am I some kind of hero? Was chasing my buddy with a modded E46M3. Brakes never faded or anything, though the residual fluid in the bleeders boiled out. How bout that.
Second track day (Thunderhill) cut short. The balancer bolt backed out. Is this normal? The bolt didn't come all the way out on track, but upon removal it looks okay. Don't have the balancer out yet. Seems like a pretty damn random issue, but I'll take it over the guy who put his car into the turn 15 wall.
The balancer coming loose tossed the belts, lost steering (exciting) and cooling (didn't lose coolant externally or in the crankcase that I can tell) and puked some oil at the crank snout.
I understand the bolt is a TTY, so I won't try to reuse it. The belts got oiled quite a bit - okay to clean and reuse if otherwise intact? Limited exposure for a short period of time. I figure a new FMS is a good idea regardless. Anything else to worry about?
Is there a way to inspect the balancer while it's off? I understand these are prone to failure, but don't want to just throw a new part at it needlessly.
Managed to blister and discolor the paint on my front calipers. Is this normal? Or am I some kind of hero? Was chasing my buddy with a modded E46M3. Brakes never faded or anything, though the residual fluid in the bleeders boiled out. How bout that.
10-11-2013, 07:37 PM
#3
On The Tree
Thread Starter
Brownbos, I love it. Good to get the nod.
Here's the balancer and bolt.
I have zero experience with this engine - the bolt is just starting to engage at this point. Is that normal? Doesn't feel like there's partial threads or anything rough inside to suggest it's been chewed up.
The balancer's center is aluminum (or something non-ferrous). It took the abuse of the crank thrashing at it pretty well. There were some small shavings and the greasy oily powder you get when you combine the smallest debris with oil.
There's some minor (?) cracking in the rubber, but the balancer otherwise looks okay, not spun or separated that I can tell.
Any thoughts on reusing this? Or is the fact that the bolt loosened off enough suggestion that the balancer's due for replacement?
It's an 05 with 70K. No idea how long the bolt had been backed out or loose. The end finally came puttering along in 5th gear during the cooldown lap of a 30 minute session.
Other than this issue and the brownbos, no other problems. Oil peaked at about 260F, water stayed right around 212. Beautiful 70 or so ambient.
Here's the balancer and bolt.
I have zero experience with this engine - the bolt is just starting to engage at this point. Is that normal? Doesn't feel like there's partial threads or anything rough inside to suggest it's been chewed up.
The balancer's center is aluminum (or something non-ferrous). It took the abuse of the crank thrashing at it pretty well. There were some small shavings and the greasy oily powder you get when you combine the smallest debris with oil.
There's some minor (?) cracking in the rubber, but the balancer otherwise looks okay, not spun or separated that I can tell.
Any thoughts on reusing this? Or is the fact that the bolt loosened off enough suggestion that the balancer's due for replacement?
It's an 05 with 70K. No idea how long the bolt had been backed out or loose. The end finally came puttering along in 5th gear during the cooldown lap of a 30 minute session.
Other than this issue and the brownbos, no other problems. Oil peaked at about 260F, water stayed right around 212. Beautiful 70 or so ambient.
10-11-2013, 08:09 PM
#4
On The Tree
Thread Starter
..edit..
searching suggests the bolt backing out as evidence the balancer's shot.
What's a good replacement?
Rockauto has them for 60-80ish, aftermarket ones are 300-400?
I plan to keep tracking this beefy bastard. No current plans for more power, but that's two months' ownership talking.
searching suggests the bolt backing out as evidence the balancer's shot.
What's a good replacement?
Rockauto has them for 60-80ish, aftermarket ones are 300-400?
I plan to keep tracking this beefy bastard. No current plans for more power, but that's two months' ownership talking.
10-11-2013, 08:44 PM
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ATI Blem balancer on ebay. I wouldn't settle for a stock style balancer if the car is going to be tracked and driven hard.
OEM Style ATI:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-Damper-917266-for-LS1-2-3-6-Y-Body-Corvette-and-04-07-CTS-V-New-Blem-/200969727021?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ecabaac2d&vxp=mtr
They have a 10% UD ATI as well but there are none available on ebay as a blem unit. I got mine and I haven't seen anything wrong with it yet. Getting ready to put it on tomorrow. I'd also recommend an ARP crank bolt as well.
OEM Style ATI:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-Damper-917266-for-LS1-2-3-6-Y-Body-Corvette-and-04-07-CTS-V-New-Blem-/200969727021?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ecabaac2d&vxp=mtr
They have a 10% UD ATI as well but there are none available on ebay as a blem unit. I got mine and I haven't seen anything wrong with it yet. Getting ready to put it on tomorrow. I'd also recommend an ARP crank bolt as well.
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10-11-2013, 09:19 PM
#9
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Thread Starter
Wow, thanks Michael for the link!!! That's a major savings; pays back for the missed trackday, haha. Was hoping for an underdrive, but nice to keep the stock belts and lengths.
Gotta get a bolt, will sort that tomorrow.
Gotta get a bolt, will sort that tomorrow.
10-12-2013, 11:08 AM
#11
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Thread Starter
Got the ARP bolt as well... wasn't sure if the competing HD bolts were as good, and why fool around for $10.
Got to thinking, the $20 tip I gave the tow driver was way cheaper than driving home. hah!
Got to thinking, the $20 tip I gave the tow driver was way cheaper than driving home. hah!
10-12-2013, 12:31 PM
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If you've got the balancer just barely slid onto the crank (since it is a light press fit), the stock bolt only barely reaches the threads - little enough thread engagement that you have to worry about damaging the threads in the crank, which would obviously suck.
When I replaced my LS6, I transferred the ATI damper over from the first LS6. I was using the ARP bolt, which comes with a fat-*** washer (probably 3/16" thick). So I initially used the ARP bolt without the washer to give better thread engagement, then once I had the damper started I put the washer back in there, pulled the damper the rest of the way on, and torqued it to the 8 million ft-lbs it gets.
When I replaced my LS6, I transferred the ATI damper over from the first LS6. I was using the ARP bolt, which comes with a fat-*** washer (probably 3/16" thick). So I initially used the ARP bolt without the washer to give better thread engagement, then once I had the damper started I put the washer back in there, pulled the damper the rest of the way on, and torqued it to the 8 million ft-lbs it gets.
10-13-2013, 12:09 PM
#15
if your going to reuse the stock balancer after it has spun on the crank snout, you will want to pin it so the bolt isnt the only thing holding it from doing it again.
you cant go wrong with a ati but its just a extra you dont "need"
i have a stock one pined on my car and have 0 issues with it.
before i pined mine it came off 4 times
you cant go wrong with a ati but its just a extra you dont "need"
i have a stock one pined on my car and have 0 issues with it.
before i pined mine it came off 4 times
