An engine balance shaft (20) for an internal combustion engine (24) is provided having reduced total mass and rotational inertia while having sufficient bending stiffness and sufficient unbalance mass. The balance shaft (20) is formed by fixedly coupling a counterweight (56), a front bearing journal (68), a rear bearing journal (60), a tail piece (40), and a nose piece (44) to a hollow tube (52). The hollow tube (52) is hydroformed to expand the diameter of the tube and fasten the desired components to the tube (52).