When should you replace the harmonic balancer?

Just replaced mine @ 1,000,000. Dertroit ddec vi. Visually it looked fine. There was a small vibration before swapping for the new one. Smooth as silk now...

 

It's most likely just a rebranded Vibratech damper. Yeah they're superior to the Chinese sourced OEM damper from CAT. I have one on mine that I bought from some parts house several years ago.

 

I’m wondering now, vibratech vs oem? On a n14. Anybody care to weigh in?

Oem is oem, but vibratech seems to have a high quality standard. Made in US. Then there’s the oil based viscous fluid in the oem and a silicone based fluid in the vibratech?

 

Who really knows it's probably just marketing hype. I have had vibratech on mine for about 400,000 miles now. Price wise I believe it is competitive with OEM or at least with CAT it is.

 

That’s good. I might just go with the vibratech. I did meet those guys at the truck show too. OEM in town said $750, I think vibra tech is $650. They said they think the oem is the rubber type. Think it would be worth it to replace the two pulleys on both sides for an extra $275 in parts? I decided I’ll at least get the “OEM” new bolts and washers which are like $125. I figured new balancer, might as well replace and put the new bolts that are built for that vibration dampening.

 

With your pulleys just press the old bearings out and press new ones in. I dunno about replacing the bolts at the same time they put mine on when the motor was inframed.