Lightened crank pulley. Worth it?

[dcarrb]

Not like I'm some expert, but if you're talking "worth it" in terms of performance, you'd need a laboratory setting to quantify any gain.

A one-piece pulley does alleviate the stock pulley separation problem, but there is some opinion that it's unwise to eliminate the damping effect of the original design.

dcb

[Lookin4SVX]

I do not have a pulley on my SVX (yet), but I had one on my Impreza.

Same fight on that front too. One camp says that the stock pulley acts as a harmonic dampener, other says its BS.

I ran a Perrin lightweight pulley for 5 years and 100Kmiles on my Impreza without issue.

My opinion is that if you do go with a lightweight pulley, buy one from a well know manufacture.
Its an important part, you want it made correctly, and you don't want it to break.
And stay away from underdriven, all the horror stories I read all involved under driven pulleys.

I am going to install a lightweight pulley on my SVX the next time I need timing belt or anything in the front of the motor done.
Only question in my mind is am I buying another Perrin pulley, or will I splurge the extra $40 and get a cobb tuning one.

[Tim]

I have 1 piece aluminum that I've had on for 80k and it hasn't had any ill-effects. There haven't been any known performance gain other than I dont have to worry about the pulley separating again.

[ZMan]

Here's why you should not:

http://www.atiracing.com/products/dampers/101/index.htm

[Lookin4SVX]

Tim, you saying that lightening the pulley on a SVX will not make the engine feel like it revs faster?
On my RS it really seemed to improve the throttle response...
If its not going to give me that lighter pedal feel, then I may just skip on the SVX..

[Tim]

I can't say I noticed a drastic difference but it was about 6 years ago when I had it replaced. I really don't remember how a stock Svx drives anymore. If it needs to be replaced I'd recommend it. However if it's not broken I'd say keep the stock one.

[icingdeath88]

Which ones work for our car exactly? Got a part number or something?

[SoobCrazy]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

A one-piece pulley does alleviate the stock pulley separation problem, but there is some opinion that it's unwise to eliminate the damping effect of the original design.

So the OEM SVX cranshaft pulley is damped? If you're running really high HP, like 175% over stock or higher, I would suggest looking into an aftermarket damped Impreza pulley. They are out there and would help keep things smooth at crazy power levels.

If you're just rocking bolt on power adders, a light-weight aluminum pulley should work just fine and the 5-year, 100K testimonial is pretty reassuring to hear.

[aust92pearl]

Originally Posted by SoobCrazy

If you're running really high HP, like 175% over stock or higher, I would suggest looking into http://www.fluidampr.com/ They would help keep things smooth at crazy power levels.

fixored