Is there a way to rebuild a balancer yourself? Can new rubber be poured in between the hub and ring (after making a fixture to hold the parts correctly)? Are they poured or pressed?

A buddy of mine has a 2002 Mercedes SLK32 with a bad balancer (the rubber rotted out- seems to be a very common problem with those). Replacements are $300 - $600 and only last a couple of years. Aftermarket "high performance" jobs are over $1000 and overdrive the supercharger and all of that stuff. He's trying to find a more affordable, longer lasting alternative. Most of the damper repair places want around $500 to do the job.

Anybody done this or know anthing about rebuilding these things?

They talk about this on a different forum. The rubber has to be cured. Here is such a site.... the cost... well, it is what it is, I guess. sorry.

http://www.damperdoctor.com...DD&Category_Code=MER

REBUILT HARMONIC BALANCERS
Rebuilt harmonic balancers have a refundable core value. All rebuilt harmonic balancers are first disassembled and cleaned. The parts are then inspected for defects, including stripped bolt holes and worn or cracked keyways and hubs. Harmonic balancers are then prepared for assembly. Timing marks are set to the factory specification by using a laser aligning process. After the timing marks are set, the harmonic balancers are then injected with a high-temperature, high-strength silicone rubber that is then platinum cured for a extremely strong hold. The new silicone rubber is capable of withstanding temperature in excess of 450 degrees, and will hold up against pressures as high as 770 psi. Rebuilt harmonic balancers carry a 3 year limited warranty.

[This message has been edited by jaskispyder (edited 01-16-2013).]

If you had the right rubber and a suitable press, you could possibly do it but it would need rebalancing. Considering the engine it's going on and that effort, I would buy new/remanufactured balancer or find a good used one. This is on part that needs to be right without question.

Put in a Chevy motor.

Find somebody with a Benz club card and have them buy one at the dealer for like half off?