I bought 95tsi awd and it already had a full set of underdrive pulleys on it.The guys on dsmtuners say that I should atleast put the stock crank pulley back on since they dont have dampeners and if your just racing thats fine but for ever day driving when you stay at one rpm it will be bad for the engine do to vibration. Is this true?

True, although some people have run them for years with luck.. I personally wouldn't run an undampered UDP. I thought somebody made an UDP that was dampered awhile ago but I don't know if it's still available, and I believe it was pretty pricey.

Buschur had one I believe and yes it was pricey.
I guess it's really up to you whether or not you want to chance it for a pretty minimal power gain. I'll also say that as many times as I've heard they are bad, I've never really heard of someones engine failing from not having a harmonic balancer. Hell, 1/2 the people I know don't have balance shafts...
Don't quote me on any of this though. If I were you, I'd do some more research here as well as other DSM forums. I'm sure the topic has been covered pretty thoroughly.

Originally posted by eclipzGST
Buschur had one I believe and yes it was pricey. I guess it's really up to you whether or not you want to chance it for a pretty minimal power gain. I'll also say that as many times as I've heard they are bad, I've never really heard of someones engine failing from not having a harmonic balancer. Hell, 1/2 the people I know don't have balance shafts... Don't quote me on any of this though. If I were you, I'd do some more research here as well as other DSM forums. I'm sure the topic has been covered pretty thoroughly.

I've never heard of this concern with the 420a. Everyone raves about the afx up. Why is that?

Because we don't have balance shafts

Originally posted by StreetRacer_21
Because we don't have balance shafts

Half the people EclipzGST knows don't have them either.

Well there's a few reasons for having a harmonic balancer.. It helps smooth the vibrations on the "free" end of the crank making it easier for the bearings to keep the crank in place. It helps absorb the shock from the engine going under load and unloading. Helps reduce vibrations transferred to the belts and other pulley's. In theory some think running an undampered pulley will cause premature wear on the bearings and cause crankwalk.

Originally posted by CarbonFiberRST

Originally posted by StreetRacer_21 Because we don't have balance shafts

Half the people EclipzGST knows don't have them either.

True, but the afx unit is also balanced and not completly aluminum. I have never had any problems with mine, and never heard of any. Turbo cars are a different story though

Originally posted by StreetRacer_21Turbo cars are a different story though

That's why we're having this discussion. If we were talking about NT cars, it wouldn't be in this forum. ;)

Originally posted by eclipzGST

Originally posted by StreetRacer_21Turbo cars are a different story though

That's why we're having this discussion. If we were talking about NT cars, it wouldn't be in this forum. ;)

But he asked a question that related to the non turbo cars... He said why haven't I ever heard of this problem with the 420a, everyone raves about the afx :thumbsup

Originally posted by eclipzGST
Buschur had one I believe and yes it was pricey. I guess it's really up to you whether or not you want to chance it for a pretty minimal power gain. I'll also say that as many times as I've heard they are bad, I've never really heard of someones engine failing from not having a harmonic balancer. Hell, 1/2 the people I know don't have balance shafts... Don't quote me on any of this though. If I were you, I'd do some more research here as well as other DSM forums. I'm sure the topic has been covered pretty thoroughly.

Balance shafts are COMPLETELY different than a harmonic balancer. Balance shafts balance NOTHING. They just counter the vibration made by the engine with it's own vibration so the driver doesn't feel it as much. It has NOTHING to do with engine balance. Harmonic balancers however actually balance the crank.

I told him not to quote me... :shrug

Originally posted by eclipzGST
I told him not to quote me... :shrug

Haha don't worry. Didn't mean to get down on you. Just wanted to make sure he got the right info.

Originally posted by burntheblobs

Originally posted by eclipzGST I told him not to quote me... :shrug

Haha don't worry. Didn't mean to get down on you. Just wanted to make sure he got the right info.

No problem. :cheers I depend on alot of you guys for your knowledge and experience to help spread useful info.
I would never say that I'm the most knowledgable and don't be afraid to correct me if I'm wrong about something.
I've had a 4g63 car for many years now and still learn something every day...

I just want to clear this up..................It is safe to run an aftermarket/aluminum underdrive pulley on a 4g63 - even with the balance shaft removed, correct?

Originally posted by RST95eclipse
I just want to clear this up..................It is safe to run an aftermarket/aluminum underdrive pulley on a 4g63 - even with the balance shaft removed, correct?

Not for a daily driven car. You wouldn't even notice the power gain anyway.

i dunno dont quote me on it (cuz im one of those 420A guys) but it seems like ive seen a dampened UDP for the 4g63 at one point in a magazine i was browsing...ill look around and see what i can find otherwise the cloest i can find is this... but i dont think its an UDP..probably stock diameter, but i cant be sure since i dont have a pulley to measure.

http://www.slowboyracing.com/more.php?id=5809&

Originally posted by DSMTalon
i dunno dont quote me on it (cuz im one of those 420A guys) but it seems like ive seen a dampened UDP for the 4g63 at one point in a magazine i was browsing...ill look around and see what i can find otherwise the cloest i can find is this... but i dont think its an UDP..probably stock diameter, but i cant be sure since i dont have a pulley to measure. http://www.slowboyracing.com/more.php?id=5809&

I have also seen discussions of UDPs for the 4G63 with the fluid damper in them. I remember them being pricey. My take on this is, how many DSMers, turbo or otherwise, have posted up "My engine failed and it was because of the UDP?" Can't say I've ever seen that thread...

Originally posted by DR1665

Originally posted by DSMTalon i dunno dont quote me on it (cuz im one of those 420A guys) but it seems like ive seen a dampened UDP for the 4g63 at one point in a magazine i was browsing...ill look around and see what i can find otherwise the cloest i can find is this... but i dont think its an UDP..probably stock diameter, but i cant be sure since i dont have a pulley to measure. http://www.slowboyracing.com/more.php?id=5809&

I have also seen discussions of UDPs for the 4G63 with the fluid damper in them. I remember them being pricey. My take on this is, how many DSMers, turbo or otherwise, have posted up "My engine failed and it was because of the UDP?" Can't say I've ever seen that thread...

Yeah, but how many guys do you hear of putting them on their 4g's? The mod just isnt worth it for the potential havoc it could reap, and ESPECIALLY for the money it costs.

Originally posted by burntheblobs
Yeah, but how many guys do you hear of putting them on their 4g's? The mod just isnt worth it for the potential havoc it could reap, and ESPECIALLY for the money it costs.

Point taken.

I can't believe I just got schooled on a DSM by fucking Andy of all people. :wallbash