To balance or not to balance

[toddw]

I have just recieved my 4age bigport back from the machine shop and will assemble soon. I have a few questions regarding the value of balancing a 4age. I have experience in engine building and in most performance applications opted for balancing. In saying this almost all were older syle V8 engines such as 308/350/383 strokers ect. not know for precision engineering.

Now with the 4age being a bit more refined than the forementioned dinosaurs is the factory machining and balancing tolarances good enough to assemble as is or should
I spend the money and balance the bottom end. I am using forged Wiseco pistons, stock rods ect. The application for this is to go into my AE86 for club/tarmac spirnts using arount the 8-9k rpm range. Any experience in this would be appreciated.

[30psi 4agte]

The factory balancing from toyota is very good.
When i had my stuff balanced i was told that minimal weight needed to be removed however if you plan to use a rpm limit of 8-9000 i would suggest having it done as it will ease the load so to speak of the engine internals such as bearing etc at this rpm.

Any imbalance at the rpm you have mentioned can cost hp (minimal but everthing counts) aswell if the motor is out.

[oldcorollas]

the crank is probably ok, but you can check it anyway.
if you have new pistons or rods, definitely check them total and end for end weights...

better to check and know, than to guess and not.
the difference will be in harmonics and vibration, and if you are going to high power figures, that vibration could be enough to cause problems...

at least measure it, even if you don't physically change the balance.

[kingmick]

i have always balanced! the 4ages and 1,2 j's have great balance from the factory, but you will find you change the clutch to a performance one so you want it all balanced with the new clutch type. usually it is only a few grams here and there that need to be taken of a stock 4a,1,2j. changing piston weights it def needs doing to be done properly. depends on your budget.

[RWDboy]

Oi Stu -> I've got another thread going about the 5S motor and it's balance shafts. Do you think that the increase in vibrations by taking the balance shafts out would reduce the longevity of the motor, and that it would be possible to go for a few more revs if I left the balance shafts in?

[EVOSTi]

removing balance shafts are a bad idea unless you plan to use an eliminator kit.

[The Witzl]

Balancing is great! I got it done to my 18R-GE when i rebuilt it a month ago, and although not a lot was take from the pistons/crank, it has made the engine feel like a much newer and more refined engine!

It revs smoothly, no bumps and rattles, it doesnt jump around so much in the engine bay, and is just smooth.... unlike any 18R-G i've driven before!

I rekon if you have the chance to do it, do it.

[Aust162]

i had my 3sgte balanced.

How much are they quoting for the balancing? i paid $193, and for the sake of it, you might aswell. you will end up with a better final product.

[RWDboy]

removing balance shafts are a bad idea unless you plan to use an eliminator kit.

What the hell ? How does using an 'eliminator kit' make the removal of balance shafts any better or worse for the engine - you still get the bad ass vibrations.

[RPM016T]

If you've gone to the effort of spending $1k+ on pistons, I reckon i'd spend the extra $150 on having it balanced for peace of mind. I would have prioritised balancing before aftermarket pistons anyways as balancing will effect the overall life of the forgies in the long run.

[EVOSTi]

What the hell ? How does using an 'eliminator kit' make the removal of balance shafts any better or worse for the engine - you still get the bad ass vibrations.

have you tried it? do you know what an eliminator kit is? i personally HAVE done it and the engine runs fine, just as if the balance shaft was in use. i dont know what engines you can/cant get eliminator kits for but ive done it on 4G53's.

[jeffro ra28]

If u spend 1k on pistons they wont need balancing, cast pistons may need balancing but out of the 20+ sets of forged pistons i have laid my hands on, not one set had any different weights among them.

Cast rods will ALWAYS slightly differ in weight, usually not a huge deal, sometimes 10grams(alot!!!).

If your going the whole hog with the forgies, it is likely the forgies are a different weight to the the std's so balancing the crank to the the new piston+rod+bearing+ring weight is important.

I know this is nessacary on v8's what about straight 4 cyl???

Tho, if it was going to turn 9000rpm a proper balance is a good idea!

They will balance your crank to suit the specified RPM range.

[1jzracing]

who is a trusted balancer ?????

can anyone recoment a good balancing shop in NSW

ive alwayse had my motors balanced and its well worth it but some engine balencers just dont do a good job or wont do it properly or their equipment is old and antiquated!

cheers

[jeffro ra28]

x static balancing, not sure of th details until i go back to work tho. They mainly do cranks etc. If freight isnt a problem, send them to me!

[YelloRolla]

Bobby Miles (sp) Narrabeen for balancing.

To quote Corky Bell "any engine that does not come in for complete balancing is just not serious". I don't like everything that Corky writes, but I do like that....Even if the dude doing the balancing takes nothing off it, it was worth the looking over.