A non-invasive inverse problem method for rotor balancing relies on casing vibration readings and prior knowledge of the structure. Such a method is important for rotors that are inaccessible under operating conditions. This paper introduces a method for solving the quasi-implicit inverse problem that arises when identifying the required balancing correction for a rotor with only one weak linear connection to the casing, apart from the nonlinear connections. This is typical of aero-engine designs that use a retainer spring with only one of the nonlinear squeeze-film damper (SFD) bearings that support the rotor within the casing. The SFD journal displacements are estimated from casing vibration readings using identified inverse SFD models based on Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs). The information from these is then used to enhance the condition of the explicit inverse problem set up in previous research for simpler configurations. The methodology is validated using simulated casing vibration readings. The reliability of the RNN inverse SFD models is first demonstrated. The second part of the validation shows that the novel enhanced explicit inverse problem method is essential for effective balancing of this previously unconsidered system. Repeatability and robustness to noise/model uncertainty are satisfactorily demonstrated and limitations discussed.The identification of the rotor unbalance from vibration measurements at the casing and/or the rotor is referred to as an "inverse" problem [3], in contrast to the "forward" problem, which refers to the prediction of the system vibration in response to a known unbalance distribution. Traditional balancing methods (which include the standard "trim" balancing procedures) [4][5][6][7][8] involve the use of several trial runs and the application of trial masses at fixed balancing planes. Such types of methods are typically based on two representative methods, the influence coefficients balancing method [5] and the modal balancing method [4]. Darlow [6] developed the Unified Balancing Approach (UBA) that combined the advantages of both previous methods. The UBA method involved the calculation of modal trial mass sets, based on the influence coefficient approach of using trial mass data. Foiles et al [7] provided a comprehensive review of the several direct methods for rotor balancing, which were based on the fundamentals of the influence coefficients method and modal method.Chen et al [9] proposed an optimisation technique based on nonlinear programming to determine the balancing corrections to be applied to prescribed planes. This method required a valid mathematical model of the rotor-dynamic system to use within the optimisation scheme. Unlike the methods of [4][5][6][7][8], the method of Chen et al [9] did not require several trial runs and trial masses since the optimisation was based on measurements from the initial (unbalanced) configuration. However, the method was still invasive since it required measurement of the vibration of the rotor. Moreover, the system ...