Is there a preferred tool that can be purchased at a local auto parts store?

 

The balancer is pressed on. You need a puller to remove it. I just use a steering wheel puller. Remove the pulley from the balancer (four bolts). Remove the bolt that holds the balancer to the crank (it's torqued to 160 ft-lbs, so you need something to keep the crankshaft from rotating). Remove the thick washer inside the balancer hole then thread the bolt back into the crank snout finger tight. This gives the puller something to press against so you don't mess up the threads in the crank snout. DO NOT use a three-jaw puller on the outside of the balancer, as this will damage it. A puller like this will work just fine.




Balancer installation requires a different tool that screws into the threads in the crank snout and pulls the balancer into place. Once installed, you again need to hold the crank to keep it from spinning while you torque the bolt to 160 ft-lbs.

 

Torquing the crank snout bolt to 160 ft-lbs isn't enough to press the balancer onto the crank?

 

The bolt isn't long enough to catch the threads until you push the balancer most of the way on. Plus, having that thrust bearing in the tool makes life a lot easier.