A popular upgrade once you start modifying your LS and LT engine is an ATI Super Damper. These performance dampers are constructed using a multi-piece design. Depending on the application this design consists of a hub, an inner shell, the inertia weight ring with elastomer o-rings, and the outer shell. The inertia weights, elastomer type, and shell sizes can be tuned for each application. But a less talked about benefit of the ATI Super Damper is the ability to rebuild them.

The engine in your street car came from the factory with a basic elastomer style of harmonic balancer to control the vibrations created while the engine is running. These balancers will use a solid piece of metal for the main hub, a single bonded elastomer ring, and have an outer piece of metal attached to it for balance. A balancer like this is designed to function within a certain RPM and horsepower range so it can control the vibrations created by an engine and when you go outside of that range the balancer will fail and these dampers are not rebuildable, you have to remove and replace them, which is costly.

Continuing to use the OEM balancer once you have altered engine performance can eventually lead to catastrophic engine damage.

How often should you rebuild?

ATI has different recommended rebuild intervals depending on application and power level. For street and drag engines that make less than 800 horsepower, they recommend a rebuild every 10 years. Drag race engines subject the damper to low total cycles at intermittent intervals, which is why they have the same service life as a high-performance street engine.

Engines that make more than 800 horsepower and engines running nitrous or superchargers should rebuild the damper annually. Higher horsepower puts a higher strain on the damper with increased harmonics. Supercharged and nitrous applications also generate higher stresses and harmonics on the crankshaft.

Circle track and road race applications require careful attention to a rebuild schedule. Unlike drag racing engines that subject the damper to low total cycles at intermittent intervals, circle track, road race, and endurance cars run almost exclusively in the upper RPM range for several laps at a time. ATI recommends rebuilding alongside every engine rebuild.

ATI offers o-ring kits to replace the elastomer rings on the internal inertia ring.

What’s Involved?

ATI offers an in-house service to rebuild your ATI Super Damper. Simply consult with the experts at ATI and ship yours in for the service. The basic overhaul consists of a complete damper breakdown. Each part is inspected and cleaned, the hardware and elastomer rings are replaced, and the damper is recertified for SFI safety specs. If your damper is in need of any replacement parts, such as the crank hub, outer shell, inner shell, etc., each part will be replaced.

In recent years, ATI has offered to the public replacement o-ring kits, tool kits, and online instructions to service your ATI Super Damper and may be a more economical option for those with sub-800 horsepower street and drag cars. With the tool kit and a hydraulic press, you can easily disassemble and reassemble the Super Damper without damaging the hard metal parts or the new elastomer rings.

Once the old, worn o-rings are removed, the replacement elastomer rings are easily installed on the inertia ring.

A call to ATI’s tech line will assist you in which o-ring kit you need to purchase for your Super Damper and application. It is super important to note that when you lubricate the rings for installation do not use oil or petroleum-based lubricants. These will prematurely deteriorate the specialty rubber the o-rings are made out of, so silicone is required and the only lubricant approved and sold by ATI.

Refreshing Performance

Upgrading to an ATI Super Damper offers several benefits for performance and racing engines, from dyno-proven increased power to increased durability and protection. But a lesser discussed long-term benefit is the cost-saving ability to rebuild your ATI Super Damper instead of paying full price every time to replace it.