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Harmonic balancers, sometimes called dampers, help balance your engine's rotating assembly (crank, rods and pistons). The balancer also drives the belt on certain models. Depending on the motor, most balancers are pressed on (Pontiac engines are slip on), and some balancers are keyed (meaning they must be installed in a certain clock position). Balancers should never be installed with a hammer, they should always be installed with the proper balancer installation tool. Hammering on a balancer may not just damage the balancer, but it may also damage the crankshaft thrust bearing.

Ordering the proper balancer is also important. All balancers are balanced from factory, regardless if your motor is internally balanced or externally balanced. The holes in the balancers are where weight has been removed, sometimes, you will see slugs added to those holes, which is also how they balance them. Engines that are externally balanced will require a balancer that is for an externally balanced engine. Engines that are internally balanced will require a balancer that is for an internally balanced engine. Typically, an externally balanced engine has a large counterweight welded to the flexplate or cast into the flywheel. GM's 2.8L V6 engines came both ways, externally balanced and internally balanced, so it is extremely important to check your engine to ensure the original engine is still in the car. If you install the wrong balancer, there will be severe engine vibration, and potentially damage the crankshaft's main bearings.