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95 LeSabre w/ Balance Shaft issue
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RedGoat67
Novice
Jul 22, 2008, 11:56 AM
Post #1 of 6
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95 LeSabre w/ Balance Shaft issue
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Recently, a mechanic told me that the noise I was hearing on my 1995 Buick LeSabre V-6 3.8L engine was a noisy balance shaft. He indicated that it would be expensive to replace and suggested I just continue to drive the car since his sources of information indicated that no harm would come to the engine--it would just continue to be a little noisy. Assuming he was correct about the noise coming from the balance shaft, is it OK to continue to drive car without damaging the engine or any of its components? Also, just how involved is it to just remove the balance shaft or just "shoot some grease" it there?
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Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jul 23, 2008, 11:12 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: 95 LeSabre w/ Balance Shaft issue
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I suggest getting a second opinion and maybe even a third.. A noise in the engine in indicative of a problem... If GM wanted the engine to be "a little noisy",they would have engineered it that way! Dont tell the second shop/mechanic of the first mechanics findings...let him give you his opinion... Something that may be salvagable now may not be if neglected and driven... To replace the balance shaft requires the removal of the engine... It is not something you can just "shoot some grease " into. Keep us posted Jim
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dave284
Enthusiast
Jul 23, 2008, 2:15 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: 95 LeSabre w/ Balance Shaft issue
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If it is the balance shaft beware, the shaft will eventually wear out the bearings, oil pressure would be lost and resulting in engine damage, I service one that was caught in time and it left behind a table spoon of metal shavings in the oil pan...just a heads up note.
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RedGoat67
Novice
Jul 23, 2008, 6:57 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: 95 LeSabre w/ Balance Shaft issue
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Dave, Thanks for the heads up. I am curious though. How did you diagnose the balance shaft problem with the car that you recently worked on? Are there some guidelines to follow or processes or symptoms, or special equipment that can make this type of diagnosis without actually tearing down the engine first? My engine has a constant clicking noise. Paul
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dave284
Enthusiast
Jul 24, 2008, 7:38 AM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: 95 LeSabre w/ Balance Shaft issue
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There are no simple ways of knowing, I started by removing the timing chain....from there I felt too much movement on the shaft when I was checking everything out, so I removed the heads, and the intake.....slid the shaft out enough to check for scaring and thats what I found....the rear bearing was just about eat up. I didn't remove the whole engine but lifted it up enough so the shaft would clear the front and radiator. Everything sounds so easy in a few words, but talking about it and doing it is two different things, a mechanics stephescope would help you out a lot, most ticking noises are lifters/loose timing chain/ or a bearing in one of the drive belt pulleys.
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