BA98TA

iTrader: (24)

I had a local trans shop build me a 3600 torque converter about 5 months back. When I first got the converter installed, everything performed beautifully.

Now, when I'm sitting at a stop light and idling in gear, the car vibrates. I took it to my mechanic, and he suspects the torque converter is out of balance.

Is this a common problem? Will it hurt my trans or anything?

The converter still transfers power fine, and the shifts are still clean.

Badazz 97 TA

iTrader: (18)

does the vibration get worse the more rpms you give it, or is it just at idle? if its out of balance i would think it would get worse the faster it spins. like a wheel out of balance.

BA98TA

iTrader: (24)

Thats what I would have thought too, but it goes away at even slightly higher RPMs than idle.

z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

R u sure it couldn't just be exhaust hitting the floorboard. Since the probably had to pull ur exhaust down to get the tranny out and all. I had a small vibration after I did my headers at idle and when I barlley give it gas and it would go away.

lt1-xjs

Could be a number of things but I doubt it is out of balance. Maybe the bolts came loose on the flexplate to the converter.

BA98TA

iTrader: (24)

I doubt it, they pulled the converter to check for damage. I would find it hard to believe they didnt tighten everything down when they reinstalled it.

tittan1500

iTrader: (8)

my converter seams to shake at about 3k not before or after, weird

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

My Fuddle has a small low RPM vibration, my old TCI did not.
Small shops likely can't spin balance and have to go by static
balance, which leaves some chance for torsional imbalance
turning into shake via the flexplate.

You could try the other 2 orientations and see if any are better,
but this didn't get me anything. I just got used to it.

Jays_SSZ28

iTrader: (2)

I had a friend that worked at a large converter rebuilding shop in the 90's.
They rebuilt a few for me and I'd hang out there sometimes.
They built a few high stall converters.

There wasn't a balancer in the shop. They'd stamp the two halves before they cut them open so the stock balance would be retained when weled back together.

A converter vibration will hurt the trans if it's caused by exessive pump hub runout, etc.