6 bolt swap harmonic balancer rubs

[94talontd]

So I just bought a 95 tsi fwd stick. The car has a 6 bolt swap. Shortly after getting it I was driving it and felt a weird vibration in the steering wheel, So I pull the car over and pop the hood. It turns out that my harmonic balancer is rubbing the (not sure what to call it) framerail/side of engine bay. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this problem? The car definately needs motor mounts and I'm hoping thats the problem is, I'm just not sure if the motor mounts being bad would cause the engine to be that much out of place. When I test drove the car it wasn't doing this either. I tried searching this forum and wasn't able to find any info. Any input/help is greatly appreciated and my plan so far is to try motor mount inserts. The car is at my buddy's house I'll try to get over there tommorow and get a pic and post it. Thanks guys.

 

[talondave]

Sounds like the rubber in the pully has seperated... Grab the balancer and see if it wobbles! Their known to do this over time, being old and worn out!

 

[Gstclipse69]

Check to make sure the crank bolt is tightened. The same thing happened on my gf's 2000 eclipse. The harmonic balancer worked its way out because the bolt to the crank had came loose.

 

[94talontd]

I can't believe I didn't think of the balancer separating, and I'll also check to make sure its tight. Hopefully I'll be able to get over there today and check it out.

 

[94talontd]

So I finally got to get a good look at the car, turns out the harmonic balancer bolt did fall out. It was almost dark the night it happend so I wasn't able to tell then. Gst eclipse 69, did your gfs car jump timing when it happend? I haven't tore my car down yet so im not sure if mine did. My cam sprockets line up but the car was bogging right after it happend so I'm guessing that my timing belt jump a few teeth on the crank pully considering the timing belt is only about half on the sprocket. Hopefully no bent valves! That would be a nightmare and I'm not going to be very happy about it. Thanks for the replies you guys.

 

[Gstclipse69]

No it didn't luckily. What happened was, the bolt came out then the hamonic balancer worked its way out until it hit the subframe. Then the crank sprocket started to slip out too but there is a grove on the crank that will keep the crank sprocket lined up depending on how far out the crank sprocket has come. Hopefully it will have kept it in time. Tear it down and report back.

 

[94talontd]

So I went over there the other day and tightened the pulley back down, but it did jump timing and won't start . O well i'll order the belt when i get the money and hopefully once thats on i'll be set to go.