Balance shaft really needed in the 5S-FE?

[Meisner]

I am in the middle of rebuilding a 5S-FE motor and was wondering if the balance shaft is really necessary. It's a lot of metal that will rob some HP to get rid of a small amount of vibration.

Has anyone ever removed one from a 5S-FE engine? If so, how much of a difference did it make?

Thanks,
Steve

[bondobondo]

i know i moderate this section of the board

but i have never heard of a balance shaft?

[Meisner]

It is located above the oil pan and below the crank. It is the counter balance for the pistons & crank to keep the engine from vibrating. It's very heavy and is driven by the engine...thereby stealing some power.

[bondobondo]

hmm must be a trait of those blasted toyota FE engines...

i would keep it in just to be sure, i mean if there was a good reason to take it out, i am sure we would have all heard of it by now..
keep it in there. cuz i think it would be a big bi*ch it put it back later..

[Meisner]

Actually not...al you need to do is remove the oil pan (I think...haven't looked at it close enough yet).

I just found out that the 5S-FE used in the MR2 does not have the balance shaft but is the exact same engine otherwise. Also, the guy out at Burien Toyota said they have removed them and seen negligible difference in the amount of vibration.

I just wanted to get some more data before trying it.

Steve

[bondobondo]

i say go with the majority and take it out then...

dropping the oil pan isn't my cup of tea, but sure...

[JAC91]

Hello
Yes you will gain some hp but not only does it keep you from feeling the engine it also has the job of keeping harmonic vibrations under control.
It might only fell like alittle bit to you but it will increase wear on your crank bearings and make it harder and harder over time to rev your engine high.
It might fell like extra power now but after 60,000 miles or so your going to be hating it.
So that's what could/will happen.
(after awhile!!!)
So if you don't mind rebuilding the block every few years go for it.
Otherwise just get some power pulleys or something to feed your need for more hp.
Hope this helps some!!
C-YA!!

[Bensa]

Balance shafts are used to removed some of the harshness and vibration that comes out a larger 4 Cylinder engine (ie 2.2, 2.4 etc..)
Rule of thumb is Inline 4's above 2.0 should have balance shafts.

That's why in most reviews of Nissan's KA24 they say it drives like a truck that's because it's a 2.4 w/o balance shafts. The Prelude's H22 is silky smooth because of the balance shafts ditto the Camry's 5S-FE. :smile:

The MR-2 and I believe the Celica GT-S didn't have the balance shafts inside the engine as you said it robbed the engine of some of the power but of course in a camry being a "family" sedan they wanted to make sure it was as smooth as it could be.


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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Bensa on 2002-04-10 19:53 ]</font>

[Deep]

I wouldn't remove it unless I had my whole motor balanced. Crank, pistons, rods, etc.