General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Is this an issue...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 4, 2013 | 10:03 AM
  #1  
nissan owner's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Perris, CA
Default Is this an issue...

So I am having this constant problem with my belts squeaking. I've changed all the idler pulleys, new belts, I even changed the main drive belt tensioner and its still there (I haven't done anything with the alternator). But as I was doing all that work I noticed my crank pulley was a little wobbly and off. Either my eyes are deceiving me, or something is wrong. So I posted up a video to see if you guys can tell.

Let me know your thoughts. Thank you in advance.



**If this isn't the best angle let me know I can try and get another one up.**
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2013 | 07:37 PM
  #2  
BlackBetty99SS's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Falls, TX
Default

Mine is behaving the same way. It looks like pieces of rubber are missing from mine too. I've replaced all idler pulley and tensioner pulley, replaced belts twice, changed alt. I just put some rtv black on the inside of belt between alt and ps pulley, then start car and it goes away for a wk or more depending on how much water I drive thru LOL. I'm basically putting off the prob. I have 182xxx, what are u sitting at.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2013 | 08:09 PM
  #3  
nissan owner's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Perris, CA
Default

Originally Posted by BlackBetty99SS
Mine is behaving the same way. It looks like pieces of rubber are missing from mine too. I've replaced all idler pulley and tensioner pulley, replaced belts twice, changed alt. I just put some rtv black on the inside of belt between alt and ps pulley, then start car and it goes away for a wk or more depending on how much water I drive thru LOL. I'm basically putting off the prob. I have 182xxx, what are u sitting at.
My car has 69k on it. I put some belt dressing on the grove part of the belt and the squeak went away, but I am concern about this crank pulley.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 08:23 AM
  #4  
ggino85's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Mountains and Stockton Ca.
Default

From the video it looks like you are missing some of the rubber that blackbetty was/is talking about. From my understanding (I COULD BE WRONG), the crankshaft pulley is actually two pieces and when they wear out/get old they can start to move/skip and become misaligned causing it to squeek and chirp? not sure where i got this idea from but i seem to remember reading some thing like that when i rebuilt my car. Hopefully some of the more experienced guys will chime in here.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 10:23 AM
  #5  
nissan owner's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Perris, CA
Default

Originally Posted by ggino85
From the video it looks like you are missing some of the rubber that blackbetty was/is talking about. From my understanding (I COULD BE WRONG), the crankshaft pulley is actually two pieces and when they wear out/get old they can start to move/skip and become misaligned causing it to squeek and chirp? not sure where i got this idea from but i seem to remember reading some thing like that when i rebuilt my car. Hopefully some of the more experienced guys will chime in here.
Interesting...

Thanks for the feedback.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 11:26 AM
  #6  
ggino85's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Mountains and Stockton Ca.
Default

Ok i did some quick research and the stock balancer is a two piece bonded balancer. It can separate and ruin an engine. Google, LS1 crank pulley balancer separated, there is a lot of threads that talk about it. It seems to be more of an issue on the corvetteforum, but considering we have the exact same motor im sure it goes for our cars aswell. Seems the GM balancers are a know POS, even the LS3 and LS7 are having issues with them.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 12:09 PM
  #7  
nissan owner's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Perris, CA
Default

Wow this is not good. I am going to stop driving it.

Edit: Thanks again.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2013 | 05:52 PM
  #8  
ggino85's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Mountains and Stockton Ca.
Default

No problem!, i would hate to hear that some thing terrible happened to your motor, especially if it could have been avoided. Im probably gonna order an aftermarket pulley after reading some of the stuff i read about our balancers, kinda scary
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 20, 2013 | 06:31 PM
  #9  
BlackBetty99SS's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Falls, TX
Default

Originally Posted by ggino85
Ok i did some quick research and the stock balancer is a two piece bonded balancer. It can separate and ruin an engine. Google, LS1 crank pulley balancer separated, there is a lot of threads that talk about it. It seems to be more of an issue on the corvetteforum, but considering we have the exact same motor im sure it goes for our cars aswell. Seems the GM balancers are a know POS, even the LS3 and LS7 are having issues with them.
That makes a lot of sence when you look at it as two pieces. Im going to go ahead and move that to the top of my rebuild list. Thanks for looking that up
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2013 | 01:25 PM
  #10  
dailydriver's Avatar
12 Second Club
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, Pa.
Default

Mine does not chirp or squeak due to a worn out/wobbling balancer/damper (ASP UD), but it DOES make a whine which follows the engine RPMS.

As soon as I get a break in the weather, I am installing the full, stock size Fluidampr I already have, along with new Gatorback belts, new idler/tensioner pullies, and an ARP crank bolt.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2013 | 11:31 PM
  #11  
Khaalathas's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: Marshall MN
Default

crank pulley balancer very common issue on LS1
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2013 | 01:50 PM
  #12  
Fluidampr-Tech's Avatar
FormerVendor
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Springville, NY
Default

Hello,

Ivan from Fluidampr here. We are now a supporting vendor for LS1 Tech and I came across this thread and decided to jump in.

The research presented is accurate. Almost all OEM dampers use a bonded rubber which will deteriorate over time due to numerous causes. One cause many are not aware of is performance part upgrades.

An elastomeric (bonded rubber) damper is actually a tuned absorber. It is tuned for a particular engine the way it was designed at the factory. Torsional vibrations (harmonics) will be worse at a certain RPM's and this is where OEM engineers will tune the rubber damper. When performance upgrades are made you may shift where these harmonics occur and it will overwork the rubber damper as it tries to do its job causing premature failure. The only reason OEM's use these bonded rubber dampers is due to cost.

Fluidampr incorporates a viscous design, which our parent company Vibratech TVD invented in 1946. This design is able to combat harmonics across the entire RPM range vs. a predetermined narrow bandwidth (as with rubber) regardless of performance upgrades.

Did I mention Fluidampr is also 100% made in the USA.

Please feel free to ask any questions regarding torsional vibrations or harmonic dampers (balancers).

You may also email me direct at ivan.snyder@fluidampr.com

Thank you.

Ivan @ Fluidampr
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2013 | 02:11 PM
  #13  
RJDio's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
From: NearHouston, TX
Default

I never let a crisis to go to waste. My balancer flange was chipped and pieces broken off - obviously a rock bounced up or it hit something and damaged it. I replaced with a 25% BBK underdrive pulley, new GM bolt and smaller belts: Autozone 370k4 and 760k6 (37" and 76").

Just a FYI, I have the A4. I'm not a mechanic, so Pulley was a bear to take off and put new on, had a mechanic friend show me how and we did it, but no way I could have done it myself without proper tools, lift, puller, and air hammer to get it started back on. All in all a good mod tho, happy with it. Good luck
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2013 | 02:19 PM
  #14  
dailydriver's Avatar
12 Second Club
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 0
From: Bucks County, Pa.
Default

Ivan;

I am installing one of your OEM/stock size (NOT underdrive) dampers on my LS1.

Will it actually make the engine idle/run smoother (like some have told me it will), regardless of how well the rotating assembly was internally balanced from the factory (especially since my ASP is visably wobbling now)???

In other words will the difference be noticable, even by 'the seat of the pants'??
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:25 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE