Harmonic Balancer busted 1g tsi fwd

[D Loco]

Belt was squealing when cold. flew off twice in 1 week. the second time it came off i was letting my car coast so i could turn off of the highway and get parked. as i was turning i start hearing this loud clanging noise and thought holy $h!t wut is that. well this time i still had my belt under the hood and was relived because thats wut i thought the clangin noise was from. i go to put the belt back on and realize my harmonic balancer was busted. it's the outside rings that the belt go over its like it completely seperated from the pulley itself. what could of caused this. my dad sayed my crankshaft probly went out but when i said the car will still start he said than that isnt wut it is. but we cant get the thang to spin at all. it will only spin when the car is on. also when i go to replace the balancer will i have to pull or drop the motor? or can i take the car apart and leave the motor where its at?

 

[pauleyman]

That's a common failure. The balancer is old. Get a new one. You're lucky the outer ring didn't go inboard and take out the timing belt. Do not buy a used unit. Get a brand new OEM unit. Easy to replace, you do NOT have to remove the center bolt, just the 4 bolts holding it in. Mind the locating pin, it's important.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Thats all there is to it, use some pb blaster on those four bolts they may be on pretty good.

 

[D Loco]

Is the OEM pulley going to be better than any aftermarket? As well do they sell them at autozone and o'riellys or will i have to find an online dealer? Sorry if this sounds dumb, I dont know a whole lot about fixin cars. And this is my 1st DSM. I really don't know a whole lot about them i just know i love driving it haha.