I installed a Fluidampr on my EJ205 as a reliability mod and I love it. It might be a stretch but I feel like I'm burning less oil after. I think MotoIQ's article comparing all three of these on a relatively stock BRZ speaks volumes; despite the extra weight the Fluidampr made more horsepower on the dyno and showed a much smoother power curve.
I have a fluidampr on my MK7 GTI. It has not only smoothed out the idle, but has also allowed the car to pull all the way to redline before I was experiencing some timing retardation due to the false knock. This has completely cleaned all that up highly recommend.
I swear by fluid dampener on EVERY motor I've ever build! reason being the balancer/pully affects the harmonics of the crank and thus affects the valve train. this is why belts are preferred as they help dampen these harmonics. This harmonics can cause tuning disruptions, valve bouncing, and so many other weird phenomenon leading to destruction. This was an awesome very well informative video with a great explanation! 10/10 said it like you read the same books or followed the same builders!
although super funny I build LSx motors blindfolded, and Honda motors time to time, and had built some crazy rotaries too *in fact a lot of the TH-cam junk is just that*! worked for Mazda motorsports specifically in R&D for their experimental scale GPT car they had been developing for a new car in series back in 2016. That's a weird story. but they swore by harmonic control and dampening. But seemingly all engines have this same combustion harmonics and these harmonics VSTLY effect the engine life. Koenigsegg free valve tech and some new2 machining styles have made some insane motors with near zero harmonics and ABSURE power for their size because of it.
Great topic to discuss. I feel like for the small hp gain probably safer to use stock and if I do a big build I'll go with the fluid damper. Thanks for the edumacation lol.
@@leftyo9589 The point is to have a reliable daily driver and not a shitbox sti for 10 hp you won't notice anyway lol. Then blame subaru when there is engine failure to your car.
Hey Tanner, I really like these informational videos you've put out, they really have broadened my knowledge of subarus specifically and, also, cars as a whole. Thanks a ton dude!
Really glad you made a video about this, i knew Im going in the direction of a Fluidampr for my 17 wrx, but could never get a full answer as to why its better for everything. I'm only around the 370 wheel mark rn, but with a lightweight flywheel i feel a ton of bouncing. Definitely made the mistake of going with LW after only having the car for a week lol
5:16 To add a bit to this discussion, I'd like to relay to you guys that, an engineer once told me that the only two piston driven engine rotational assemblies that achieve a "natural balance" at any point of their cycle is the flat four and the V12. This bit of info led me to form the opinion of, this inherent stability being the reason that the Subaru h4 can get away with just a little bit more tortional vibration than other engine designs.
Ever since I was a little larva I was told to always upgrade the pulleys on your car. Im done with mods for my wrx for now. I'll for sure look into a pulley for my mustang. Thanks for the educational video Tanner!
My stock one did exactly what he said and split thank god it was in my driveway. Got a fluidampr never looked back significantly smoother. 13 WRX 330whp/350wtq
Fluiddamp crank pulley and lightweight pulleys combo. I had full lightweight pulleys and intake on an frs. A bit louder engine idle and maybe 5 hp. Just get a fluid damp and reduce weight without reducing reliability.
@@lauchongyee9062 Nah I had the lightweight pulley kit from raceseng with the lightweight crank pulley. For 15k miles moved on to other cars. I would have liked to replace the crank with a fluid damp because it will only help with reliability. It won’t hurt. Also lots of people have a good argument not to change pulleys on an FRS because money could be better used for exhaust, tune, brakes, tires etc and I agree.
I've been running the Fluiddampener for a bit now. Seems to work well for my application. And for less rotational mass I plan to install a carbon fiber driveshaft.
Fluidamper rocks !! Thanks for putting some basic science behind harmonic balancers. Noticed a wobble coming from my noisy 02 WRX. Decided on the Fluidamper and I can say that my 02 still Loves me !!🙂
@@Smeedia Was looking for a replacement as the OEM rubber was beginning to disintegrate. Fluidamper was so expensive compared to rest and was curious how it would do: Wow cleaned up the wonk and vibrations. Keep up the great videos !!
@@mikekillion4731 Hi - it's 2002 WRX Wagon - Automatic, with a EJ205AX3BB engine. I think I'm the 2nd owner and replaced the original crank pulley at around 250,000 KMs. Saw the crank a little wobbley when idling, inspected it and could see bits of hardened rubber missing. Replaced it and the engine idled incredibly smooth, though not sure how a new oem would compare. worth the price for fluidamper !!
Oh my goodness, I have been waiting for this exact video ever since you said that a fluid damper was something you installed when you cared for longevity! :D
I paid $366 for my Fluidampr pulley almost 3 years ago. I haven't installed it yet because I'm probably going to save it for my V9 EJ207 that's on standby in case my EJ205 pops. From what I read while in the rabbit hole, the lightweight pulleys are worse in the long run if you are combining them with lighter flywheels. You will start to notice that the daily driveability will suffer, meaning your revs will be all over the place. OTOH, if you track the car, then you'd be better off because you're not trying to maintain a set speed limit. The EJ's crankshaft is also balanced with the damper installed, and by installing a lighter pulley, you will increase oscillations. That is not a good thing. IMHO, I feel that a lot of newer Subaru owners comb over the aftermarket sites and look for something that claims more power but doesn't break the bank. Hence, the slick marketing for the lightweight pulleys. Just my .02 cents. Anybody is welcome to do as they please. Just do your research.
100%, I left out lightweight flywheels from this intentionally. Personally, I stick with OE. When possible, I will keep the mass on the crank to help with inertia when turning over. Funny enough I came across an email from SOA stating the oe pulley is nothing more than a pulley as well. But like I stated I always suggest the fluidampers 🤝
I believe I saw a post on the forums(not sure which) where someone shared the same reply from SOA. A pulley that has an elastomeric ring surrounding it and they(SOA) call it a pulley just sounds odd. I know that the OE pulleys will literally come apart, which is why I'm thankful for an aftermarket solution. Maybe I'll buy a second Fluidampr and finally get around to installing one on my EJ205. I also have to do the timing belt... Oh and let's not forget about the OE cam pulleys that crack💸💸💸
Great info Tanner, I just realized I shouldn't go light weight pulley on my boosted Nissan Spec V, and will def go with Fluidamper on the STI build. Thanks a million man!
Yup, my factory damper delaminated. I was able to get another from a member of a local subaru group for $5. I have a Fluidamper for my new build, since the ati has a rebuild interval.
I'll add a forth option to this that might be worth considering as a cheaper alternative. Some quality aftermarket dampened pulleys are lighter than stock. On my old hawkeye the OEM pulley as you mentioned separated the two rings. In desperation I ordered a Febi-Bilstein pulley from Amazon due to next day delivery. On arrival I instantly noticed the Febi one to be lighter.. Not only did the engine rev more freely, it also seemed to reduce the NVH a little. But that could have been due to the old worn rubber on the OEM pulley. I've considered just replacing my hatch pulley before the OEM one fails. Keep up the great work. Awesome content as always.
This reminds me, I grew up working on old vw's, and I thought it was so weird how most other engines had big chunky dampers and vw's ran these single row, really light weight pulley that was mainly just used for timing marks.
It's a bit different with pushrod engines than modern OHC engines. But when I saw the built ones, many had dampers added or went total lightweight. But rebuilding a vw engine is like a weekend lol.
Great information Tanner. My 14 Hatch is pretty stock, but longevity is my thing so a fluid dampner maybe overkill but help longevity. Thank you for the info, now get that Hatch on the scales, I want to see some power bro!!!! 🥃🥃🥃
The correct pulley makes a big difference. I have a cranky old man (machine wizard) building a Chevy 327 for me, getting fully balanced and all. He still recommended the 10in 350 HB over the 327 6in stocker. Bigger, heavier one worth 15hp in the mid range since it smooths out everything a lot. The actual harmonics from the combustion pulses causes hp loss cause it starts to resonate and shake the engine apart
@@andreahighsides7756 We are building a small journal 327, 63 to be exact. The factory pulley was a 6in. Factory switched to 10in for all SBC sizes in 67. Now while I don't have the Dyno charts, I am sure GM has them burried somewhere
Perrin LWCP here on my 2011 WRX . The only “issue” I had was engine stumble at idle , or when the revs were dropping down to idle ….. you can eliminate the stumble by increasing engine idle RPM range. I grabbed my Accessport and increased idle with A/C off by 100 RPM With A/C on, I increased idle by 125 rpm Engine stumble has been eliminated for 10 years now with no issues at all. Car revs like a champ.
Thanks for explaining all of this. My crank pulley seized on my 05 STI. It's moderately modified. I was going to order the perrin buy the cons aren't worth taking a chance. But God damn that damper is expensive! Guess I'm just getting OEM. Thanks again. ❤
If you want to rev up faster, get a button clutch and super lightweight flywheel. The fluid damper is indeed heavier than stock, but it's the same outer diameter as stock, which means the mass is added on a shorter radius, which is easier to accelerate anyway. A smaller diameter clutch and flywheel has 4-times the effect that a somewhat heavier damper has.
As per what a dampner is, most engines do have a "dampner" and it would almost always take a cross section to see how much rubber or composite is used to soak up vibration and resonance. Lightened pullys (as a a dyno technician) I have noted that in about 30% of circumstances INCREASE the amount of resonance past having none, due to essentially adding a tuning fork to the end.
Finally installed by Grimspeed lightweight pulley. (-3.5lbs from stock) and definitely feel the difference when rev matching and generally revs faster. I felt like the added weight over the Perrin pulley would keep me from any Cels and hopefully not do any damage. The 1.2lb Perrin pulley just seems too light to me lol. Wish I could afford a fluid damper mind you, but alas, daily driver WRX not a crazy build.
For FA WRX's, the issue to look out for is the rods which are connected to ... the hip bone (j/k); crank shaft. My assumption is that this is that rod failure typically happens from "bigger booms" after say 350 to 375 torque. Would a fluid damper help? Hopefully I asked the question right. Sorry if I didn't in advanced. BTW, I've learned so much from your channel man. Sooooo much. Thanks big time.
Great video man! Wish I had it years ago when I started my build 😅 I started with a lightweight and then switched to a fluidampr when doing turbo swap, bigger injectors, etc.
So question. I'm looking to get up to the 400whp goal, should I plan on switching or will the OEM still be alright for that level? 20g, FBO, fuel build.
I did a fuji racing AC delete pulley (1.8 lbs) and a act street light flywheel and I felt like the engine revs whicked fast. (Na mind you 253) but I have heard you can make the vct go wonky if you Rev too fast. I also got the Perrin engine mounts and the group N trans mount and the chassis does vibrate. I do keep the idle rpm up to 950 though so its not unbearable. However got me thinking on longevity. And like oil pump cavitation.. Wonder if I can gear down the unit..
I’ve been finding myself coming back to your page more and more when it comes to info on parts. Thank you for doing what you do man. Just grabbed myself a fluid dampner
Perrin lightweight crank pulley still goin strong on my wrx with 67k miles 🙏 I think the Perrin LCP does the opposite of NVH reduction, lol. Still a bit of a sketchy mod
Thanks for saying this. Between you and this video I think I'll go with the Fluidampr. Would love smoother operation and I can make up for the extra weight with the accessory pulley upgrades.
Nice vidya. I thankfully had an expert convince me to get an OEM instead of a lightweight pulley for a 400whp bb500 build and I’m very happy with it. Maybe if I go rotated I’ll do the fluid damper
2009 subaru legacy had the outer ring of the pulley come off and eat through my plastic timing belt cover and well now I own a 2013 Outback (timing chain)
I know in rotary balancing, the front pulley to the flywheel are balanced rotationally to push high RPMs. And lightweight pulleys and flywheels will destroy bearings in a rotary if they aren't at least close in weight on each end. Rotational balance of the pulley and flywheel itself also tends to be overlooked, which becomes more important with high RPM applications. I'm not sure how much of that really needs to be worried about in the average EJ build, but it's definitely something to at least consider when throwing parts together, especially with the cheaper cast lightweight crank pulley and flywheel offerings.
Not so much luckily on EJs, the crankshaft is so short that vibrations are already pretty low. ROTARY engines though sound like a good time when it comes to dampers and balancing 😅
On a DI engine, the LW pulleys do beat the accessories to death due to crank chatter, but on non-DI, a lightweight one also with smaller diameter is good for maximum HP as in racing use.
it helps me a lot considering i have a 07 wrx tr which i will keep as a daily but will being a transmission swap from 5 spd to a sti 6 thank you humbly and keep them right. subie life
hello smeedia, I have a question,,,, I have my 2006 wrx the car is modified I don't have the secondary pump I have 1000cc injectors I have cattles down pipe hks equal length header and other modifications,,,, and the car has been run by 3 years with a base map,,, and with these modifications I can't tune it in New York but I have to move to North Carolina but I don't know if I can tune the car there with the same setup I have now.
I grabbed a fluid damper for my eg33. Did a bunch of research as well. I paid about 600 canadian for mine and had to wait 6 months for it to be made. But was worth it.
For an EG33 I wouldn't really worry about it, the boxer 6 is one of the best naturally balanced designs ever and they have a relatively short crankshaft torsional twist isn't usually an issue. I have researched using fluidamper but couldn't find enough reason to bother. I am not an expert by any means and anything you do to your build is good for you, I know you sure didn't make things worse.
I will also add the crank and stock rods are both forged in the EG33 even if the rods are a bit too thin so having those forged also helps keep things going fine without the vibration damping. I ran that exact Perrin LWCP on my SVX for 8 or more years but I was also running the stock ECU with Chip for fuel and timing mods that got me about 200 AWHP with stock injectors and some supporting mods, I also changed the tune and put in Nissan MAF and 550 Sti injectors without any issue but only ran that for a couple years. never did get a chance to re-dyno it. i was also running a sti 6 speed.
@@black69camaro2344 agreed. They are well balanced. But the stock one I had was starting to separate. I also found info that when you are loading the crank with higher torque (more than stock obviously which is the end goal) the fluid damper helps with the accessory drive stuff not getting the shock transferred through. Unless I misinterpreted that part.
@@jaredoliver3296 No I think you have it right, I don't know that the fluidampner is needed unless your going with 600 plus power and the light pulley is probably going to be fine for a lot less money. but the fluidampner isn't a bad idea at all.
@@black69camaro2344 agreed. I plan on supercharging or adding a turbo to my svx in the future so figured I would just buy it now. Maybe looking for the 400 wheel mark but will have to go standalone at that time
I'm going for a lightweight crank pulley on my engine. It's a straight O.E.M. plug and play replacement, no special belts or bolts blah blah. Just a lighter mass pulley. Stock pulley is about 4LBS and the aftermarket one is 1.5LBS give or take. What should I expect aside from what they advertise??
i used a grimmspeed pulley for 5 years and maybe 20,000 miles on it. not bad. going back to oem now to see how my 4.44 gear ratio will be with ej255, vf48
So does the Fluidampr still potentially free up a little bit of horsepower/revving ability, or does it double down on preventative maintenance and possibly even rob a smidgen more horsepower due to its higher weight?
The rotational weight of the fluidampr is less than OEM. There is a weighted inertia ring inside of the fluidampr that is suspended in fluid. MotoIQ did a long tech video on fluidamprs and provides better information and resources. After installing on my EJ, I noticed improvements in every area of driving. From Idle to redline, this made my Forester better. Mike from MotoIQ touches on a little discussed topic of the sensors picking up the cam and crank angles more "correct" as opposed to the whip forces on the cam and crank from combustion. He is not kidding and this is known is racing circles. The same way a faster ECU or one with better OS (if using older hardware) can do the ignition timing better and be more precise. The reduced whip of the crank and subsequently the cams means it is more accurately reading the correct cam positioning as an example. Go one step further and take a look at images of exotic engines and see a quite large and familiar crank pulleys. I have spotted a few. Additionally, you can find harmonic dampers with similar tech and goals in detailed pictures of certain F1 engines (take a look at the incredibly intritcate cam harmonic balancers as an example).
Question: what are your thoughts for the FA? Now this platform does not come w a harmonic balancer. Oem pulley is already light weight compared to an EJ. Grimmspeed and maybe perrin finally came out with a ver. For the 2018+ wrx. I am at 36% power increase over stock. (324 whp, 336wtq)
I am so glad I came across this video, so i just have a question. ill be around 350wph for my build (RA, headstuds, b25 heads) vf48, 1050s, top mount, intake. so im just wondering if you think the grimspeed lightweight pulley will be good compared to that perrin.. has a bit more weight to it and isnt as "lightweight" as that red perrin... do you think there is a certain limit to horsepower you think only to run the dampr from then on?
@smeedia I'm trying to figure out what would be best. I'm driving a 2017 wrx making 300 WHP. It is just my daily driver, but I am making more then 20% more power. I'm guessing dampr would be the way to go then?
When I bought my wrx it came with a gfb lightweight pulley kit. I really want a different pulley tbh. But I don’t wanna spend $450 on the fluidampr and I don’t want to spend $180 on an oem pulley. I need to find a used oem pulley lol. Great video tanner
So if i decide I want one lightweight pulley cause I have a cheap ass 2.5RS and my only future plans are a turbo kit and at least 6psi im fine right plus turbo plan is pretty far
I just installed a fluidampr on my 18 STi. the stock balancer just shit the bed. car only has 36k on. after installing it, I hear this aweful squeaking when I cold start the car, and when I turn the wheel. I retained the original belts. any idea what is causing this?
I have an exhaust and am getting a j pipe. I have a lightweight flywheel being put on. My buddy claims I need a fluidamper, is that true?? I have a 2018 wrx
Easily one of the best explanations on this particular subject. I have a nearly full bolt on 2018 WRX and have had the Perrin Lightweight Pulley on it since I’ve owned the car (about 2 years). I dyno at 337hp / 348 ft lbs on 93 oct with a pro tune (shout out to Fastech Motorsports in Louisville, TN) Zero issues thus far. But a lot of people cling to the harmonic balancer idea like it’s the end of the world to have one. If I decide to go for more power I’ll definitely change over to a Fluid Damper.
5-10hp? That's a lot more than I thought it would give. I'd assume it would affect how fast an engine revs because of the inertia but I didn't think it would actually affect power.
I need lower end torque, i thinking lighter pulley on my stock engine. Mine just solid metal, no damper or rubber. There is no aftermarket for my engine. This might be funny, but i think it will work. Could i just cast my stock pulley using solid fiberglass or carbon fiber, keeping the metal bushing for mounting. I could use alumunium on the side as heat shield. I think even using woven fiberglass and epoxy it will be significantly lighter.
My 2015 WRX is modded making a bit above 300 hp. Stock flywheel and other stuff. However my belt is autozone and pully is stock. Going towards 100k. Maybe I should swap out for that pully you recommend. My car is a daily driver. Planning to keep my car so maybe thos is a thing I should get. I live in NY also so it's exposed to the weather there also.
@smeedia awesome video! what is your opinion on replacing the oem crank pulley with the fluid damper, for the sole purposes to increase reliability on an otherwise stock vehicles?
you need to remember that machining evolution effect on primary harmonics is one thing but secondary harmonics are another. secondary harmonics are mitigated by design and not by machining. It's balance shafts, rod to stroke ratio. The rubber filled pulley is good for its intended purpose, not introducing resonant stress into the auxiliaries or crankshaft and avoiding extra torsional twist caused by the auxiliaries. By default the front pulley is mostly a counterweight for the flywheel. You should go with the rabbit hole anyway because where fluidampr is a good investment and good for your engine OEM is in most cases adequate for any abuse you're giving it as long it's a good one and not broken due to it being mostly dependent of engine design
so altering the engine design (valvetrain, redline) is a good reason to change the damper due to how resonance acts (easiest way to think of it is octaves) and slapping forged internals and a big turbo isn't
I wonder if my 2019 wrx would benefit from this. Its currently at 320 whp which is assuming 80 hp to the wheels over stock (could be wrong) any suggestions? I do get some odd vibrations in 4th.
So, if I am SC my 8th gen civic si with a kraftwerks kit, then I should go fluid damper? Since the SC blower relies on the crank pulley and belt, would the fluid damper lose power for me, because it is heavier? I was thinking of going lightweight pulley before I saw your video.
Sorry if this has already been asked but what's the whp cutoff for oem crank pulley and fluid master crank pulley? I am at 360whp/400 wtq on oem pulley and everything seems fine with 6K miles on my built shortblock. TIA
I installed a Fluidampr on my EJ205 as a reliability mod and I love it. It might be a stretch but I feel like I'm burning less oil after. I think MotoIQ's article comparing all three of these on a relatively stock BRZ speaks volumes; despite the extra weight the Fluidampr made more horsepower on the dyno and showed a much smoother power curve.
Less oil consumption from a different crank pulley sounds like fantasy. I have the same one but that isn't what it does
@@TrillMurray it's probably just a placebo. The engine is noticeably smoother after.
It could, but only if the pully is used as a sealing surface for the crankshaft seal and the original one is fucked
@@martienthestar lol, true, but not in my case. It was a leaky valve cover on the passenger side. AOS is next for more oil retention.
@@martienthestar the front main seal is behind the pulley on these and just contacts the crank and case halves.
I have a fluidampr on my MK7 GTI. It has not only smoothed out the idle, but has also allowed the car to pull all the way to redline before I was experiencing some timing retardation due to the false knock. This has completely cleaned all that up highly recommend.
I swear by fluid dampener on EVERY motor I've ever build!
reason being the balancer/pully affects the harmonics of the crank and thus affects the valve train.
this is why belts are preferred as they help dampen these harmonics.
This harmonics can cause tuning disruptions, valve bouncing, and so many other weird phenomenon leading to destruction.
This was an awesome very well informative video with a great explanation! 10/10 said it like you read the same books or followed the same builders!
although super funny I build LSx motors blindfolded, and Honda motors time to time, and had built some crazy rotaries too *in fact a lot of the TH-cam junk is just that*! worked for Mazda motorsports specifically in R&D for their experimental scale GPT car they had been developing for a new car in series back in 2016. That's a weird story. but they swore by harmonic control and dampening.
But seemingly all engines have this same combustion harmonics and these harmonics VSTLY effect the engine life.
Koenigsegg free valve tech and some new2 machining styles have made some insane motors with near zero harmonics and ABSURE power for their size because of it.
Great topic to discuss. I feel like for the small hp gain probably safer to use stock and if I do a big build I'll go with the fluid damper. Thanks for the edumacation lol.
This is the way 🔥🤝
There's also ATI dampers. They can also be rebuilt, which is kinda nice.
a good dampener is worth power. zero point for anyone to just run a simple pulley.
@@leftyo9589 The point is to have a reliable daily driver and not a shitbox sti for 10 hp you won't notice anyway lol. Then blame subaru when there is engine failure to your car.
@@newguynasti2008 well, subaru motors are not as mod-friendly as K20/K24, LS, 2JZ, etc. that's why it has a reputation as being crappy.
Hey Tanner, I really like these informational videos you've put out, they really have broadened my knowledge of subarus specifically and, also, cars as a whole. Thanks a ton dude!
Glad that I can be of some help 🥳
I read about Fluidamprs a lot in the NA community. It's a must-have, especially for NA EJs built to rev upwards of 10k RPMs.
High revving engines definitely benefits from the dampers
same with FA20? I'm debating between a light pulley and one of these.
Really glad you made a video about this, i knew Im going in the direction of a Fluidampr for my 17 wrx, but could never get a full answer as to why its better for everything. I'm only around the 370 wheel mark rn, but with a lightweight flywheel i feel a ton of bouncing. Definitely made the mistake of going with LW after only having the car for a week lol
Glad I could be of help 🥳 fluidamper is alqays the solid choice in my eyes
5:16 To add a bit to this discussion, I'd like to relay to you guys that, an engineer once told me that the only two piston driven engine rotational assemblies that achieve a "natural balance" at any point of their cycle is the flat four and the V12. This bit of info led me to form the opinion of, this inherent stability being the reason that the Subaru h4 can get away with just a little bit more tortional vibration than other engine designs.
Ever since I was a little larva I was told to always upgrade the pulleys on your car. Im done with mods for my wrx for now. I'll for sure look into a pulley for my mustang. Thanks for the educational video Tanner!
Anytime my friend and always a solid upgrade 🥳
Ironic, as I modded my Mustang up the ying yang. My STI is stock as far as power mods. I've done a couple of reliability mods though.
My stock one did exactly what he said and split thank god it was in my driveway. Got a fluidampr never looked back significantly smoother. 13 WRX 330whp/350wtq
Fluiddamp crank pulley and lightweight pulleys combo. I had full lightweight pulleys and intake on an frs. A bit louder engine idle and maybe 5 hp. Just get a fluid damp and reduce weight without reducing reliability.
Fluidampers are always a solid move 🔥
Any issues if i were to pair the fluidampr crank pulley with lighten alternator and waterpump pulleys on a BRZ?
@@lauchongyee9062 Sounds fine.
Are u running on the said combo for your ride?
@@lauchongyee9062 Nah I had the lightweight pulley kit from raceseng with the lightweight crank pulley. For 15k miles moved on to other cars. I would have liked to replace the crank with a fluid damp because it will only help with reliability. It won’t hurt. Also lots of people have a good argument not to change pulleys on an FRS because money could be better used for exhaust, tune, brakes, tires etc and I agree.
I've been running the Fluiddampener for a bit now. Seems to work well for my application. And for less rotational mass I plan to install a carbon fiber driveshaft.
I love mine it’s awesome you’ll feel the difference immediately
Fluidamper rocks !! Thanks for putting some basic science behind harmonic balancers. Noticed a wobble coming from my noisy 02 WRX. Decided on the Fluidamper and I can say that my 02 still Loves me !!🙂
Fluidamper was the right move! 🔥🥳
@@Smeedia Was looking for a replacement as the OEM rubber was beginning to disintegrate. Fluidamper was so expensive compared to rest and was curious how it would do: Wow cleaned up the wonk and vibrations. Keep up the great videos !!
@@i.norman WHich engine, year and mileage did the rubber start disintegrating at?
@@mikekillion4731 Hi - it's 2002 WRX Wagon - Automatic, with a EJ205AX3BB engine. I think I'm the 2nd owner and replaced the original crank pulley at around 250,000 KMs. Saw the crank a little wobbley when idling, inspected it and could see bits of hardened rubber missing. Replaced it and the engine idled incredibly smooth, though not sure how a new oem would compare. worth the price for fluidamper !!
Thanks for passing your wisdom to us from your lessons learned.
🙏🙏🙏
Solid topic not a lot of people talk about. I went fluidampr when I went to a e60 tune due to my tuners advise.
Fluidamper is always a solid move 🔥
@@Smeedia fluid... solid move... I see what you did there xD
Oh my goodness, I have been waiting for this exact video ever since you said that a fluid damper was something you installed when you cared for longevity! :D
Figured I'd make a video on it 🥳
I paid $366 for my Fluidampr pulley almost 3 years ago. I haven't installed it yet because I'm probably going to save it for my V9 EJ207 that's on standby in case my EJ205 pops. From what I read while in the rabbit hole, the lightweight pulleys are worse in the long run if you are combining them with lighter flywheels. You will start to notice that the daily driveability will suffer, meaning your revs will be all over the place. OTOH, if you track the car, then you'd be better off because you're not trying to maintain a set speed limit. The EJ's crankshaft is also balanced with the damper installed, and by installing a lighter pulley, you will increase oscillations. That is not a good thing.
IMHO, I feel that a lot of newer Subaru owners comb over the aftermarket sites and look for something that claims more power but doesn't break the bank. Hence, the slick marketing for the lightweight pulleys. Just my .02 cents. Anybody is welcome to do as they please. Just do your research.
100%, I left out lightweight flywheels from this intentionally. Personally, I stick with OE. When possible, I will keep the mass on the crank to help with inertia when turning over.
Funny enough I came across an email from SOA stating the oe pulley is nothing more than a pulley as well. But like I stated I always suggest the fluidampers 🤝
I believe I saw a post on the forums(not sure which) where someone shared the same reply from SOA. A pulley that has an elastomeric ring surrounding it and they(SOA) call it a pulley just sounds odd.
I know that the OE pulleys will literally come apart, which is why I'm thankful for an aftermarket solution. Maybe I'll buy a second Fluidampr and finally get around to installing one on my EJ205. I also have to do the timing belt... Oh and let's not forget about the OE cam pulleys that crack💸💸💸
let’s go, more questions answered everyday. my love for this channel keeps growing
I'll keep some more topic ones coming 🔥
8:40 the AXIS of rotation. an axial flow turbojet / fan flows along the axis. a wheel rotates around its axis or axle.
I’m new to your channel and this is some of the best Subaru content I’ve seen. Thanks so much for the great explanations and detail.
Anytime and appreciate the support Mike! 🙏
Great info Tanner, I just realized I shouldn't go light weight pulley on my boosted Nissan Spec V, and will def go with Fluidamper on the STI build. Thanks a million man!
Anytime my man! Jelly of that spec V 😍
@@Smeedia
Jelly of the Spec?....nah why so?
Yup, my factory damper delaminated. I was able to get another from a member of a local subaru group for $5. I have a Fluidamper for my new build, since the ati has a rebuild interval.
I've seen a handful of thrm de lam like that, makes a God awful noise when it happens 😆
I'll add a forth option to this that might be worth considering as a cheaper alternative. Some quality aftermarket dampened pulleys are lighter than stock. On my old hawkeye the OEM pulley as you mentioned separated the two rings. In desperation I ordered a Febi-Bilstein pulley from Amazon due to next day delivery. On arrival I instantly noticed the Febi one to be lighter.. Not only did the engine rev more freely, it also seemed to reduce the NVH a little. But that could have been due to the old worn rubber on the OEM pulley. I've considered just replacing my hatch pulley before the OEM one fails. Keep up the great work. Awesome content as always.
This reminds me, I grew up working on old vw's, and I thought it was so weird how most other engines had big chunky dampers and vw's ran these single row, really light weight pulley that was mainly just used for timing marks.
It's a bit different with pushrod engines than modern OHC engines. But when I saw the built ones, many had dampers added or went total lightweight. But rebuilding a vw engine is like a weekend lol.
Nothing gets me more excited than Tanner talking about vibrations! Lol.
😆🤭
I love when you upload, gives me something to watch when I get home from work 😅
Eyyyyy 🥳🥳🥳🥳
Thanks T. I'm uk 09 wrx, perrin pully stage 1 map 3 years now. Working out pretty good with full decat 💯🤘🤘🤘
🤝🙏🔥
Great information Tanner. My 14 Hatch is pretty stock, but longevity is my thing so a fluid dampner maybe overkill but help longevity. Thank you for the info, now get that Hatch on the scales, I want to see some power bro!!!! 🥃🥃🥃
Just waiting for my intercooler piping and we will be ready to rip 💔
The correct pulley makes a big difference. I have a cranky old man (machine wizard) building a Chevy 327 for me, getting fully balanced and all. He still recommended the 10in 350 HB over the 327 6in stocker. Bigger, heavier one worth 15hp in the mid range since it smooths out everything a lot. The actual harmonics from the combustion pulses causes hp loss cause it starts to resonate and shake the engine apart
Sounds like bro science let’s see the dyno charts
@@andreahighsides7756 We are building a small journal 327, 63 to be exact. The factory pulley was a 6in. Factory switched to 10in for all SBC sizes in 67. Now while I don't have the Dyno charts, I am sure GM has them burried somewhere
Perrin LWCP here on my 2011 WRX . The only “issue” I had was engine stumble at idle , or when the revs were dropping down to idle …..
you can eliminate the stumble by increasing engine idle RPM range.
I grabbed my Accessport and increased idle with A/C off by 100 RPM
With A/C on, I increased idle by 125 rpm
Engine stumble has been eliminated for 10 years now with no issues at all. Car revs like a champ.
Thanks for the video! Saved us all some time on initial research. And as someone new to this, it is also a great starting point
I have had my Perrin LCP since 2012 with ZERO issues on my 06' Hawkeye STi pushing just north of 500 crank hp.
Great video!! That’s good knowledge to share!! Also just noticed you hit 100k plus subscribers, Congratulations 🎉
Thank you Layne 🥳
I’d highly recommend fluidampr as well. My blobeye drives a lot smoother and it’s a good reliability mod
Thanks for explaining all of this. My crank pulley seized on my 05 STI. It's moderately modified. I was going to order the perrin buy the cons aren't worth taking a chance. But God damn that damper is expensive! Guess I'm just getting OEM. Thanks again. ❤
Im glad my sbc has both a pulley and damper. Ill get the light pulley and the fluid damper! Win win
I don't even own a car. Damn, I haven't even finished getting my license and I'm watching this video super fascinated.. Great content!
If you want to rev up faster, get a button clutch and super lightweight flywheel. The fluid damper is indeed heavier than stock, but it's the same outer diameter as stock, which means the mass is added on a shorter radius, which is easier to accelerate anyway. A smaller diameter clutch and flywheel has 4-times the effect that a somewhat heavier damper has.
they're called harmonic balancers for a reason, and i think that name pretty much sums up everything you just said.
🤝
I've had a lightweight cank pulley on my -89 Supra for 6-7 years, runs 10k-15k kilometers a year, still stock, only exhaust, intake and added boost
For the toyota 2ur-gse they have an ATI dampened lightweight pully
Curious, doing a Google now 👀
@@Smeedia yeah. Thinking about copping one up
I can’t wait for some more parts talk and what are the benefits!
Got you 🥳
I've renewed my damper simply after 15 years with a big service.
Dampner. For a flat motor or opposed anyhow. The harmonic resonance in them is brutal.
As per what a dampner is, most engines do have a "dampner" and it would almost always take a cross section to see how much rubber or composite is used to soak up vibration and resonance. Lightened pullys (as a a dyno technician) I have noted that in about 30% of circumstances INCREASE the amount of resonance past having none, due to essentially adding a tuning fork to the end.
Great video explaining the difference between all 3 pulleys!
Awesome visuals! I’m going to have to do some researching for my stock power track car.
Tired to get some in there that were applicable 🔥
Finally installed by Grimspeed lightweight pulley. (-3.5lbs from stock) and definitely feel the difference when rev matching and generally revs faster. I felt like the added weight over the Perrin pulley would keep me from any Cels and hopefully not do any damage. The 1.2lb Perrin pulley just seems too light to me lol. Wish I could afford a fluid damper mind you, but alas, daily driver WRX not a crazy build.
Nothing crazy for power I wouldent stress it too much 🤝🙏
For FA WRX's, the issue to look out for is the rods which are connected to ... the hip bone (j/k); crank shaft. My assumption is that this is that rod failure typically happens from "bigger booms" after say 350 to 375 torque. Would a fluid damper help? Hopefully I asked the question right. Sorry if I didn't in advanced.
BTW, I've learned so much from your channel man. Sooooo much. Thanks big time.
Unfortunately it would not help with that, higher cylinder pressures will make a rod bend before the vibrations ever would 🙏
@Smeedia I see. Thanks for the info. Looks like beefier rods are the only solution for my modest power goals.
Great video man! Wish I had it years ago when I started my build 😅 I started with a lightweight and then switched to a fluidampr when doing turbo swap, bigger injectors, etc.
My oem pulley ripped from the middle rubber part n it ripped my belt too so I ended just going for a fluid damper 😮💨🔥🔥n never failed again 🦾🦾
Fluidamper was the move! When those things explode its terrifying 😅😅😅
So question. I'm looking to get up to the 400whp goal, should I plan on switching or will the OEM still be alright for that level? 20g, FBO, fuel build.
You'd be fine with the OE but I'd still suggest fluidamper 🤝
@@Smeedia I'll add it to the list. If you think it's a better idea I'll take the builders word for it 💪
I put lightweight pulleys on my 92 5.0 Mustang and put well over 100,000 hard miles on it and never had a problem.
I did a fuji racing AC delete pulley (1.8 lbs) and a act street light flywheel and I felt like the engine revs whicked fast. (Na mind you 253) but I have heard you can make the vct go wonky if you Rev too fast. I also got the Perrin engine mounts and the group N trans mount and the chassis does vibrate. I do keep the idle rpm up to 950 though so its not unbearable. However got me thinking on longevity. And like oil pump cavitation.. Wonder if I can gear down the unit..
I’ve been finding myself coming back to your page more and more when it comes to info on parts. Thank you for doing what you do man. Just grabbed myself a fluid dampner
Perrin lightweight crank pulley still goin strong on my wrx with 67k miles 🙏 I think the Perrin LCP does the opposite of NVH reduction, lol. Still a bit of a sketchy mod
Thanks for saying this. Between you and this video I think I'll go with the Fluidampr. Would love smoother operation and I can make up for the extra weight with the accessory pulley upgrades.
@@mikekillion4731 100%
Nice vidya. I thankfully had an expert convince me to get an OEM instead of a lightweight pulley for a 400whp bb500 build and I’m very happy with it. Maybe if I go rotated I’ll do the fluid damper
As someone who's looking to boost their car, fluid dampeners sound pretty promising. Plus I see them on a lot of built/crate engines
2009 subaru legacy had the outer ring of the pulley come off and eat through my plastic timing belt cover and well now I own a 2013 Outback (timing chain)
This is something I would have never thought of.
I know in rotary balancing, the front pulley to the flywheel are balanced rotationally to push high RPMs. And lightweight pulleys and flywheels will destroy bearings in a rotary if they aren't at least close in weight on each end. Rotational balance of the pulley and flywheel itself also tends to be overlooked, which becomes more important with high RPM applications.
I'm not sure how much of that really needs to be worried about in the average EJ build, but it's definitely something to at least consider when throwing parts together, especially with the cheaper cast lightweight crank pulley and flywheel offerings.
Not so much luckily on EJs, the crankshaft is so short that vibrations are already pretty low. ROTARY engines though sound like a good time when it comes to dampers and balancing 😅
On a DI engine, the LW pulleys do beat the accessories to death due to crank chatter, but on non-DI, a lightweight one also with smaller diameter is good for maximum HP as in racing use.
Just did a fluid dampr on my wrx coming a lightweight crank pully legit best 400$ I have ever spent worth every dollar
Feel any diffrenece in the car? 👀
Huge difference upgraded mounts the sound was much better much smoother revs and less vibration through the steering wheel
very articulate! goodstuff mang ur helping us out alot, appreciate u!!
it helps me a lot considering i have a 07 wrx tr which i will keep as a daily but will being a transmission swap from 5 spd to a sti 6
thank you humbly and keep them right. subie life
hello smeedia, I have a question,,,, I have my 2006 wrx the car is modified I don't have the secondary pump I have 1000cc injectors I have cattles down pipe hks equal length header and other modifications,,,, and the car has been run by 3 years with a base map,,, and with these modifications I can't tune it in New York but I have to move to North Carolina but I don't know if I can tune the car there with the same setup I have now.
I would look into NC laws on emmisions testing. I'm not sure what they do and do not require
Boxer4racing near Ashville NC. Dale is owners name I believe. Cobb tuner also.
I grabbed a fluid damper for my eg33. Did a bunch of research as well. I paid about 600 canadian for mine and had to wait 6 months for it to be made. But was worth it.
For an EG33 I wouldn't really worry about it, the boxer 6 is one of the best naturally balanced designs ever and they have a relatively short crankshaft torsional twist isn't usually an issue. I have researched using fluidamper but couldn't find enough reason to bother. I am not an expert by any means and anything you do to your build is good for you, I know you sure didn't make things worse.
I will also add the crank and stock rods are both forged in the EG33 even if the rods are a bit too thin so having those forged also helps keep things going fine without the vibration damping. I ran that exact Perrin LWCP on my SVX for 8 or more years but I was also running the stock ECU with Chip for fuel and timing mods that got me about 200 AWHP with stock injectors and some supporting mods, I also changed the tune and put in Nissan MAF and 550 Sti injectors without any issue but only ran that for a couple years. never did get a chance to re-dyno it. i was also running a sti 6 speed.
@@black69camaro2344 agreed. They are well balanced. But the stock one I had was starting to separate. I also found info that when you are loading the crank with higher torque (more than stock obviously which is the end goal) the fluid damper helps with the accessory drive stuff not getting the shock transferred through. Unless I misinterpreted that part.
@@jaredoliver3296 No I think you have it right, I don't know that the fluidampner is needed unless your going with 600 plus power and the light pulley is probably going to be fine for a lot less money. but the fluidampner isn't a bad idea at all.
@@black69camaro2344 agreed. I plan on supercharging or adding a turbo to my svx in the future so figured I would just buy it now. Maybe looking for the 400 wheel mark but will have to go standalone at that time
is the only realistic down side to the fluidampr the price??? seems like its only upsides..
Does this apply all the way across the board, to n/a, forced induction, etc?
Yessir 🤝
@@Smeedia appreciate you
I'm going for a lightweight crank pulley on my engine. It's a straight O.E.M. plug and play replacement, no special belts or bolts blah blah. Just a lighter mass pulley. Stock pulley is about 4LBS and the aftermarket one is 1.5LBS give or take. What should I expect aside from what they advertise??
i used a grimmspeed pulley for 5 years and maybe 20,000 miles on it. not bad. going back to oem now to see how my 4.44 gear ratio will be with ej255, vf48
Best videos Tanner, awesome knowledge and info. Am going to install the fluidampr, the crank bolt is that 130Nm, 180Nm or 47Nm + 60degrees? 🤔
So does the Fluidampr still potentially free up a little bit of horsepower/revving ability, or does it double down on preventative maintenance and possibly even rob a smidgen more horsepower due to its higher weight?
Since it's heavier I don't see how it could free up power unless it has less friction than OEM.
The rotational weight of the fluidampr is less than OEM. There is a weighted inertia ring inside of the fluidampr that is suspended in fluid. MotoIQ did a long tech video on fluidamprs and provides better information and resources. After installing on my EJ, I noticed improvements in every area of driving. From Idle to redline, this made my Forester better.
Mike from MotoIQ touches on a little discussed topic of the sensors picking up the cam and crank angles more "correct" as opposed to the whip forces on the cam and crank from combustion.
He is not kidding and this is known is racing circles. The same way a faster ECU or one with better OS (if using older hardware) can do the ignition timing better and be more precise. The reduced whip of the crank and subsequently the cams means it is more accurately reading the correct cam positioning as an example.
Go one step further and take a look at images of exotic engines and see a quite large and familiar crank pulleys. I have spotted a few. Additionally, you can find harmonic dampers with similar tech and goals in detailed pictures of certain F1 engines (take a look at the incredibly intritcate cam harmonic balancers as an example).
ATI Superdamper, aluminum flywheel.
Great video, There is some type of maintenance must be given to fluid damper?
Question: what are your thoughts for the FA? Now this platform does not come w a harmonic balancer. Oem pulley is already light weight compared to an EJ. Grimmspeed and maybe perrin finally came out with a ver. For the 2018+ wrx. I am at 36% power increase over stock. (324 whp, 336wtq)
I am so glad I came across this video, so i just have a question. ill be around 350wph for my build (RA, headstuds, b25 heads) vf48, 1050s, top mount, intake. so im just wondering if you think the grimspeed lightweight pulley will be good compared to that perrin.. has a bit more weight to it and isnt as "lightweight" as that red perrin... do you think there is a certain limit to horsepower you think only to run the dampr from then on?
Tbh I would use the stock pulley. If you wanted to you'd be okay using the grimmspeed one though 🙏
@smeedia I'm trying to figure out what would be best. I'm driving a 2017 wrx making 300 WHP. It is just my daily driver, but I am making more then 20% more power. I'm guessing dampr would be the way to go then?
When I bought my wrx it came with a gfb lightweight pulley kit. I really want a different pulley tbh. But I don’t wanna spend $450 on the fluidampr and I don’t want to spend $180 on an oem pulley. I need to find a used oem pulley lol. Great video tanner
Lightweight pulley is fine for an EJ, provided you never ever want to idle the engine!
Fluidamper actually weighs about 7 lbs. The ATI pulley weighs 6 lbs. Which is why i choose an ATI damper. That and the ATI is about $100 less.
My fluidamper weighs 6.6 👀 that's what my scale read out at🫡
@@Smeedia According to fluidampers site they weigh 6.9 lbs.
@Don Merrigan interesting 🤔 in its defense I did weigh an older one as used in the video ao thr newer ones prob weigh the 6.9
@@Smeedia both have great track records. 20% cheaper and 15% lighter is what sold me on ATI.
So if i decide I want one lightweight pulley cause I have a cheap ass 2.5RS and my only future plans are a turbo kit and at least 6psi im fine right plus turbo plan is pretty far
I just installed a fluidampr on my 18 STi. the stock balancer just shit the bed. car only has 36k on. after installing it, I hear this aweful squeaking when I cold start the car, and when I turn the wheel. I retained the original belts. any idea what is causing this?
I have an exhaust and am getting a j pipe. I have a lightweight flywheel being put on. My buddy claims I need a fluidamper, is that true?? I have a 2018 wrx
What is the part number for that Perrin hub adapter? I can't find it on the Perrin site.
Easily one of the best explanations on this particular subject. I have a nearly full bolt on 2018 WRX and have had the Perrin Lightweight Pulley on it since I’ve owned the car (about 2 years). I dyno at 337hp / 348 ft lbs on 93 oct with a pro tune (shout out to Fastech Motorsports in Louisville, TN) Zero issues thus far. But a lot of people cling to the harmonic balancer idea like it’s the end of the world to have one. If I decide to go for more power I’ll definitely change over to a Fluid Damper.
5-10hp? That's a lot more than I thought it would give.
I'd assume it would affect how fast an engine revs because of the inertia but I didn't think it would actually affect power.
Maybe I missed it but what happened to the 2.5RS?
Moved it to free up parking 🤝
I need lower end torque, i thinking lighter pulley on my stock engine. Mine just solid metal, no damper or rubber.
There is no aftermarket for my engine. This might be funny, but i think it will work. Could i just cast my stock pulley using solid fiberglass or carbon fiber, keeping the metal bushing for mounting. I could use alumunium on the side as heat shield. I think even using woven fiberglass and epoxy it will be significantly lighter.
Great vid! question can a lightweight pulley be fitted but still running the OEM Pas and Alt pulleys?.. Thanks 👍
My 2015 WRX is modded making a bit above 300 hp. Stock flywheel and other stuff. However my belt is autozone and pully is stock. Going towards 100k. Maybe I should swap out for that pully you recommend. My car is a daily driver. Planning to keep my car so maybe thos is a thing I should get. I live in NY also so it's exposed to the weather there also.
@smeedia awesome video! what is your opinion on replacing the oem crank pulley with the fluid damper, for the sole purposes to increase reliability on an otherwise stock vehicles?
Got one for my RB in my r32. A must have
you need to remember that machining evolution effect on primary harmonics is one thing but secondary harmonics are another.
secondary harmonics are mitigated by design and not by machining. It's balance shafts, rod to stroke ratio. The rubber filled pulley is good for its intended purpose, not introducing resonant stress into the auxiliaries or crankshaft and avoiding extra torsional twist caused by the auxiliaries. By default the front pulley is mostly a counterweight for the flywheel.
You should go with the rabbit hole anyway because where fluidampr is a good investment and good for your engine OEM is in most cases adequate for any abuse you're giving it as long it's a good one and not broken due to it being mostly dependent of engine design
so altering the engine design (valvetrain, redline) is a good reason to change the damper due to how resonance acts (easiest way to think of it is octaves) and slapping forged internals and a big turbo isn't
You should do more educational shorts like this and call it "A quickie with Tanner"
Lmao going to start this series now 😅🔥
I wonder if my 2019 wrx would benefit from this. Its currently at 320 whp which is assuming 80 hp to the wheels over stock (could be wrong) any suggestions? I do get some odd vibrations in 4th.
I have a IAG built FA20 with full bolt ons and a steam speed turbokit I’m at 440hp on E-60 , will running a light weight throw off my tune ?
Do the stock Subaru pulleys/dampers become less effective over time (rubber gets too hard to flex)?
Yes. They'll begin to crack and delaminate
Great video except what siginicant horse power if my power goals are 5-600 would would that be fluid>lightweight
So, if I am SC my 8th gen civic si with a kraftwerks kit, then I should go fluid damper? Since the SC blower relies on the crank pulley and belt, would the fluid damper lose power for me, because it is heavier? I was thinking of going lightweight pulley before I saw your video.
Sorry if this has already been asked but what's the whp cutoff for oem crank pulley and fluid master crank pulley? I am at 360whp/400 wtq on oem pulley and everything seems fine with 6K miles on my built shortblock. TIA
450+ is when I would highly suggest swapping one out for a fluidamper