Balance Shaft Removal?

[no1692]

hey, just wondering if anyone has removed their balance shaft? what's the ride like and do you know what the gains are? besides eliminating the risk of the belt breaking. thanks, newbie question i guess.

[Shane@DBPerformance]

The gains are easier timing belt replacement and the ability to rev to high rpms safer. As far as HP gains, it can't be much. Some people claim it feels like they gained a bunch of HP, but I throw it into the imaginary gains realm with light flywheels and light pulleys. Will the motor rev down in neutral quicker? Yes. Will there be a measureable gain in HP on a dyno, probably not.

[niterydr]

it frees up a little horsepower, but nothing that would be noticeable butt dyno wise, unless they weren't timed correctly. It causes a small vibration, hardly noticeable after a few days. Not the worlds easiest task to do install/removal wise. I recommend it as a relability reason, i've seen balance shaft belts snap, and they get mighty close to taking out the t-belt, never had one happen on me, but it has happened many times.
Also makes it cheaper every time you change the t-belt (don't have to buy balance shaft belt and tensioner).

[Goat Blower]

I don't know, I think it was worth about 50-60 horsepower gauging by my butt dyno. :bs:

[Raptor]

horsepower claims vary depending on who you talk to, it is a loss of crank driven weight so from an engineering standpoint, it is worth 2.8 horse per pound and considering that the shafts spin at twice the speed of the crank, it should be worth something. If you decide to do it, maybe it would be cool to dyno the car first then after so the debate could be settled with some numbers. if you do it with the engine in the car, make sure there are no small children around, they shouldn't hear the things that will be flying from your mouth. The reasons stated above are the best reasons to do this by far, it is a smart move for reliability.

[Red GST]

less rotating mass = more power but look at this way in my 2g the balance shafts are removed and on the highway you can really tell especially at higher rpms when you feel it in your a$$ or when anything loose rattles if you got good motor mounts but theres pros and cons to the removal

[Red GST]

extreme motorsports estimates a 5-7 hp gain :brownnoser: