New rebuild. Should I remove balance shafts?

[eric91gst]

OK guys, I am in the process of a rebuild on my 6 bolt motor. I know this issue has been discussed before, but I never could get a straight answer. After I am done rebuilding my motor I am hoping to run around 20 psi tuned, with an e316g. I am rebuilding with oem parts. Just new rings, bearings, front and rear seals, and gaskets. I was just wondering if it would be beneficial or just more reliable to have the blanance shafts out with this set up. I could care less about a little more vibration, and I plan on driving this car daily. My biggest concern here is whether or not doing this mod will really hurt my motor. I know the bshafts are quite a big mass when there spinning at high rpm's, and wouldnt want to take the chance of one of those bearings failing. If i do this mod I am planning on buying the kit for it.
-thanks everyone.

 

[DanThMan1983]

Might as well do it now. Wont hurt anything.

 

[eric91gst]

Might as well do it now. Wont hurt anything.

do you have yours removed?

-also what site can i order a MLS head gasket for pretty cheap that will be able to handle over 20 psi? Also, can I just use new oem head studs and that new mls head gasket to handle a little over 20 psi, or should i buy ARP head studs. Im on a tight budget and would like to spend the least for my desired goal right now.
-thanks

 

[91 Eagle AWD]

I would take them out! Mine spun a bearing on the rear and locked up oil pump. So now, I have to do all new bearings clean crank+vales! So I am not putting mine back in,plus it's less rotating mass. =power OEM gasket kit "over haul kit" has all you should need. Just make sure it OEM with MLS. Not having ARP head studs would make me sweat under high boost. I would think you would be looking around 800 to do it half right. Spend it now not more later. Good luck hope this helps.

 

[boosted_91_tsi]

I took mine out after the rear one spun a bearing. The added vibration is not even noticeable to me and I drive mine about 4 days out of the week. It has been done on these cars now for many years with nothing I have seen leading to negative results. I have heard of a few with bad vibration after but I would have to think that is related to more than just removal of balance shafts. I say do it.

 

[GVR4592]

do you have yours removed?

-also what site can i order a MLS head gasket for pretty cheap that will be able to handle over 20 psi? Also, can I just use new oem head studs and that new mls head gasket to handle a little over 20 psi, or should i buy ARP head studs. Im on a tight budget and would like to spend the least for my desired goal right now.
-thanks

Stock head bolts and a stock Mitsubishi composite gasket will handle 20 psi with no problem. They will handle 30+psi with a good tune, I would just leave them alone.

 

[autonut]

I took them out of a SOHC 4g63 once, and the only diff noticable was it was ALOT noisier on at high rpms. If you really want to do it right, take them out, but get the rest of the motor balanced by a professional. In the long run, the balanced crank and rods saves wear and tear on the entire unit and done right, wouldnt even need balance shafts.

 

[blkwidow]

I've had mine taken out while swapping in the 6bolt. I haven't noticed any extra vibration.

 

[eric91gst]

Stock head bolts and a stock Mitsubishi composite gasket will handle 20 psi with no problem. They will handle 30+psi with a good tune, I would just leave them alone.

-what do u mean "I would just leave them alone" Also is it really necessary to get the motor rebalanced after performing this mod?...and is this all i need to perform this mod correctly http://www.extremepsi.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=17650&cat=865&page=1

-thanks

 

[boosted_91_tsi]

http://vfaq.com/mods/balance-shafts.html

Just follow the link ^^.

 

[GVR4592]

-what do u mean "I would just leave them alone" Also is it really necessary to get the motor rebalanced after performing this mod?...and is this all i need to perform this mod correctly http://www.extremepsi.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=17650&cat=865&page=1

-thanks

I mean there is no reason to upgrade them, measure the stock bolts, if they'e within specs reuse them. Get a new Mitsubishi composite head gasket, resurface the block and the head, and call it a day.

 

[eric91gst]

is it really necessary to have the engine rebalanced if you do this mod?

 

[GVR4592]

No, the balance of the rotating assembly isn't changing when you remove the shafts.

 

[eric91gst]

No, the balance of the rotating assembly isn't changing when you remove the shafts.

Then why do people say, "in order to properly do this mod you should have the motor rebalanced." Also is it true that by having the motor rebalanced that the engine, in the long run, will receive less wear and tear? Do these people know what there talking about?
I will listen to you since I see your a wiseman

 

[GVR4592]

The balance shafts just cancel out the vibration, they don't really balance anything. Mitsubishi calls them silent shafts.

I don't think the engine is going to wear any faster just from removing the balance shafts.
If you have the engine apart and you have the money it's definitely a good idea to balance it, but it isn't required. A lot of people build their own engines and don't balance a thing and they never have any problems. I always have my engine's balanced, it's only a couple hundred dollars and it does make a difference in power and longevity.

 

[eric91gst]

The balance shafts just cancel out the vibration, they don't really balance anything. Mitsubishi calls them silent shafts.

I don't think the engine is going to wear any faster just from removing the balance shafts.
If you have the engine apart and you have the money it's definitely a good idea to balance it, but it isn't required. A lot of people build their own engines and don't balance a thing and they never have any problems. I always have my engine's balanced, it's only a couple hundred dollars and it does make a difference in power and longevity.

-when you say you always have your engines rebalanced does that mean every engine you have rebalanced have the balance shafts taken out of them?

 

[GVR4592]

Yes they have no balance shafts in them. My current engine is stock, except for the BS removal and is factory balanced. When I build engines for other people I have them balanced, and I would never build an engine with balance shafts. That's just asking for trouble

 

[eric91gst]

Yes they have no balance shafts in them. My current engine is stock, except for the BS removal and is factory balanced. When I build engines for other people I have them balanced, and I would never build an engine with balance shafts. That's just asking for trouble

-ok cool, so your saying that after you removed the BS on your current motor you didnt have the motor rebalanced, you just kept it the way it was balanced from the factory? Is the factory balancing messed up if you take out the whole bottom end?

 

[Dsm2nr89]

Ok this might be a dumb question,but for the meantime,due to financial reasons,i cannot afford for any mods at the moment.But i was wondering if i can just remove the belt that spins the balance shafts for the while,is that ok ? If i could get a link pointing out which is the belt that spins the shafts would be helpful,and can i cut the belt that spins it? Any help is appreciated. ( Ps - I will NOT run it like this forever,it is only a MOMENTARY mod. )

 

[shaunman1979]

No You cannot just remove the belt. You have 2 shafts, removing the belt would only stop one from spinning. (correct me if I am wrong) I think there have been some people remove the Rear due to the fact it will come out with the motor in the car, and leave the front in.

 

[boosted_91_tsi]

You can remove the rear and leave the front shaft in but you might as well pull them both while you are in there. It is a tight fit and a PITA with the motor in the car but you can remove both but no matter what you do, don't just cut the belt.

 

[nightspeed87]

i dont have balance shafts and my vibration isnt any more than it was before.
One less belt to worry about breaking and less bearing to worry about spinning if you ask me.
If you ever upgrade to prourethan motor mounts then the vibration from the balance shafts
in addition to the solid mounts will cause some excessive vibration on some cars, but I just window
welded my motor mounts which provide a solid mount without some of the excess vibrations so maybe
thats why mines isnt so bad. Besides if your an enthusiast and your cars not for luxury anyways then who cares.
Maybe your girl friend wont like it but she'll get over it.