[why?]

Originally Posted by Bergen23

Fucking this. Everyone claims "much improved throttle response. so free revving. such freed power. wow"

No one says that. That would be totally moronic. Reading comprehension is important.

Originally Posted by Poodles

What do you mean which SFI? There's only one SFI, but if you want to know the actual part of the SFI specifications that pertain to dampers, it's 18.1. It's not marketing BS, SFI is a safety rating. Not that many people are going to be going faster than 10.99, so it's not really required, but most people would rather have a better made and functional part....

Yawn, lots of words. You seem to be very angry for some reason. Obviously I hit the nail. Yay me.

Google SFI, there are lots of them. You are assuming they mean the one you think they do, why?

Oh it's safety, so you are saying a team of engineers from this SFI runs the product through a lengthy process, or does the company just do it? . I bet thatThis guy's roll cage had an SFI number too. Didn't help much, right?

Originally Posted by Poodles

Actually, no, it's not like the BBB, but it's apparent you're ignorant in this. There's a ton of different brands that make proper dampers, yet again, your ignorance in the matter doesn't mean it's not true. The reason lightweight crank pulleys are made and sold is the same reason there are a million different miracle cures for engine issues that are all nothing more than petroleum distillates... placebo effect and people want to believe.

Not a placebo, but you can believe that if you want. That is like saying a lightweight flywheel is just a placebo even though it has the same effect.
Yea, It is like the BBB. A group that makes "ratings" to make companies look good, but don't actually do much when said companies screw up. Unless your SFI has the power to shut the company down and take everything the company has to use as compensation for victims, it is just like the BBB.

Originally Posted by Poodles

And you're ignorant of everyone's background here, so why make remarks like this?

People's backgrounds don't matter when they say stupid crap and cannot back it up. You are using words with zero data or proof. Why I mentioned CSG and NST, both have actual data and actual experience with lightweight pulley's and what can happen.

Originally Posted by Poodles

Haven't looked at any of these product websites closely have you? Nearly all have disclaimers about their products being for "off road use only" which absolves them of any claims of damage.

Every aftermarket company has disclaimers for off road use only claims. It doesn't remotely absolve them of any damage claims in this insanely lawyer happy company. That is not how the laws work. If you are truly worried a product might do damage, you should not use that product. Unless that product has massive amounts of actual user data that proves your fears to be 100% totally unjustified and flat out wrong.

Originally Posted by Poodles

The stock pulley is more expensive to produce than a simple pulley turned on a lathe. Yes, most of the aftermarket ones go out of their way to shave more weight, so they require a bit more machining than that, but the general point is this: if the OEM's could save PENNIES on a part, they would. The multi piece damper pulley could be made FAR cheaper if it didn't have the damper, so why is it there?
If you really think they're cheaper to produce, you might want to do some research...
It's a DAMPER, not a BALANCER. These are two very different things. It's there for torsional harmonics, not to balance an engine.

Sorry, a steel hunk of metal with some rubber is not expensive to produce. If it cost less every oem would use aluminum or other more advanced lighter materials for everything, but those materials are always more expensive.

And you are assuming you know why the little piece of rubber is actually there. But have you actually asked any new car engineer if that is really why it is there?

Damper and balancer are very similar things in automobile parlance, to the point if you google one you get the other... Funny how the wiki article even mentions Flat 8 engines, lol. This stuff is probably very important on old school V-8 engines and the like. Which the BRZ is most certainly not.

Here's the deal, find me proof of any lightweight pulley actually damaging an otherwise stock small displacement normally aspirated engine. Go for it, show actual proof these things can hurt the engine. I'll be waiting.