phatride4ever

My harmonic balancer is pushed back (towards the motor) about 1/8 of an inch. Also theres little metal shavings all over my motor. When I first turn on the car for the first 5 sec when the pully belts are looses, my harmonic balancer vibrates against the motor alot and slows down when the belts are taught. At this time my motor makes a terrible GRINDING noise. Little vibration is still present at normal idle. My question is what will I need to replace and how. try to get a pic soon

'98 4cycl AT with 125k

TechWrench

Have you had engine work done recently? Is this vehicle new to you?

It sounds like the crank shaft is moving rearward in the mains and allowing the back side of the damper to hit the housing. Does the noise stop when you push the clutch in?

phatride4ever

Pics

MTL_4runner

Does it make any sounds if you turn it over by hand?
Does it turn freely?

It could be that a cover came loose and is making the noise or it could be far more serious.

phatride4ever

I have had the vechicle for about 2.5 years and now recent check ups. The shaft that connects the 3 pullies seem to not have moved, just the pully itself. And its a an At not 5sp. The grinding noises is only present 1st 5sec (when belts are loose) of warmup, then car makes a kinda quite cherping noise

Will not turn by hand...

phatride4ever

Does anyone know who to replace a hamonic balancer pully?

phorunninduke

you take it off, and put a new one on.

But i am worried about metal shavings and such. from the pictures the HB looks like it is in the right spot. Anything that would cause it to move back is a serious problem imo. I have to think about this one.

jimbo74

i dont think the hb is the problem

BigJohn

my belt makes a chirping sound too in the morning when i start it up

TechWrench

For some reason I can't see the pics, but from my experience with most engines, the HB center hub seats against a shoulder on the end of the crank. So I doubt the HB is moving in to the engine unless the entire crank is moving. In some cases, (though I don't know specifically about your engine), there is a spacer washer in between the HB hub and the crank shoulder. If there is supposed to be one (maybe someone with more knowledge of your specific engne can assist), and it is missing, that could explain the problem. The only thing that will allow the entire crank to move is the lateral thrust bearings in the engine. They don't normally fail, but I have seen some cases where they are left out during an engine rebuild. If the crank is not moving, the only other possibility I can think of is the HB is separating along the rubber dampening bushing between the center hub of the HB and the outer balance ring, and allowing the outer ring to move in to the engine.

Is the outer part of the HB what is hitting the front engine cover?

phatride4ever

Yes the balancer touches. I know you cant see the pic put the very edgr of the balancer is worn down from the friction against the engine

phatride4ever

PROBLEM FOUND, I stopped by honest engine today and had them check it. They say it is just the balancer and nothing else. They siad it will cost $350 so I am going to conguer this one on my own. Anyone have a write-up on replaceing a harmonic balancer on a 3RZ-FE. It would be a huge help.

shiftless89

when you re-install it do not overtighten your belts. You can cause premature wear on the HB. you will need a hub puller and maybe some other specialy tools (pulley holder). I could send you the info from Toyota TIS but you would find it more user friendly in a chiltons or haynes manual. the factory manual list severals SST (special service tools, : hub puller, pulley holder) you can rent these at your local autozone
dealer list on your part is $206.63 which isn't to bad. make sure you use OE Toyota on that part.!
Mike