Acceptable radial shaft play on remanufactured turbo?!?

[MarkEmark]

I just received my "remanufactured," aka, rebuilt T3/T04B today.

I got it for $360 from a guy on ebay (OH NO) called Down2Turbo. His feedback was excellent and the price seemed right.

It also came with a 90 day warranty, or at least the ad said so, although no actual paper work came with it.

My question is: There seemed to be quite a bit of shaft play, especially for a "like new" turbo that was just rebuilt.

I understand that if it were indeed just rebuilt, there won't be much oil in it and that with oil the shaft play decreases, but this is quite a bit more shaft play than the other turbo that I bought remanufactured.

The radial (side to side) shaft play, measured using feeler gauges that are used to precisely measure valve lash is .009". Axial shaft-play seems nonexistent.

However, I've read that .003-.006" is acceptable for new turbos. Is .009" too much shaft play? It almost seems like it might hit the inside of the compressor housing (the turbine shaft play doesn't seem as bad, and the measurements cited here are for the compressor).

Anyway, did I get duped? I was expecting a turbo in like new condition if it was advertised as remanufactured and had a 90 day warranty....but I'm always weary of ebay products. Plus, the price was right...I didn't have $550 to spend on a new turbo, but I did have $360.

This is really gonna suck if I have to send it back and find a new turbo....but better to diagnose and fix a problem now than when it's already installed in the car and causing real problems. I think I'm going to call the place tomorrow and ask what their deal is.

Input?

[C-Kwik]

I'd probably confirm what an acceptable amount of shaft play is with a turbo dealer.

And if it's not touching the sides, it is typically still usable.

.009" seems really small to me. but I don't what an acceptable amount is off the top of my head.

[MarkEmark]

.009" doesn't seem like much on paper, but when you're looking at the turbo inlet and moving the wheel, the aount of play seems almost unacceptable....

I don't want to be stuck with a "usable" turbo that will go bad in the long run--not for that type of money. THats why i went with what I thought would be a turbo in as new condition...