loose turbo

[kendal_jones101]

ok i have an sr20det with a megan manifold and the nuts keep backing there way out of the flange whats the best way to keep them from comming out with out using those metal tabs cause i dont have them and does anyone know the size of the bolts or studs used........

[supreamS14]

This will happen even with the tabs due to vibration! I use lock tight and the tabs and the nuts get a little loose after about 10,000 miles. I was watching octane tv and a pro drifter's(dan) turbo fell right off the mani while he was drifting ! He bolted it back up and The turbo still worked !

[IanS]

Its a common problem with the SRs. It is caused by expansion from heating up and cooling down, not vibration. Often times, the lack of a brace attaching the downpipe to the transmission stresses the bolts, causing them to stretch, and then loosen up.

[redtop91]

It's an even more common problem with the Megan Manifold. That manifold FTL.

[Thoughtful_One]

The temperatures that the manifold sees are out of the range of LocTite.

When I changed out all my gaskets, I went to Ace hardware and bought Grad3 8 split-lock washers. Put the turbo on and slide the washer on and tighten the hell out of it.

WHat I should've also done is buy a nother set of nuts and use them as jamb nuts, as in put the washers on, put the bolts on, then a nother set of bolts to keep everything snug.

Ratcheting wrenches are awesome to use for that.

[Koshin]

the turbo is really not that important anyway, right......

[jaco]

bump, i need some more solutions for this ****uation and yes i found out the hard way that the heat range is way to much for lock-tite, the problem is the studs are so long theres no way i can fix this with out taking the header off ... a g a i n SHYTE !

[redtop91]

Solution? Top mount with a V-Band flange.

[Hijacker]

Lock tabs. If installed properly, the nuts won't back off.

[jaco]

thx for the quick reply but i kept the factory lock tabs and bent the tabs back upright the way they were but the testicles still fell off, i think i heard sombody said something about tackwelding the nut to the stud ??!? or was i really when i heard that.

[Hijacker]

I always recommend using brand new tabs whenever you remove a turbo off the manifold. They're cheap, so there's no reason not to.

Also, when you bend them in place, it's really handy to take a chissel or a bladed screwdriver tip and hammer a dimple in the tab that bites into the nut.

[nzmoman]

^thats what i have done on all of my SR cars...never had a loosening problem

[supreamS14]

WHat I should've also done is buy a nother set of nuts and use them as jamb nuts, as in put the washers on, put the bolts on, then a nother set of bolts to keep everything snug.

I used new tabs and more nuts to use them as jamb nuts. Thanks for the idea Thoughtful_One.

[heavythrottle]

If the studs are not seated properly they can back out. Use vice-grip pliars to tighten the studs in securely. That plus lock tabs has worked for us many times without a problem.

[480sx]

Its a mix of heat and vibration that backs the studs out.

It's an even more common problem with the Megan Manifold. That manifold FTL.

Manifolds great for the price, 150 bucks for a fully mandrel bent tiged tubular manifold. You just have to tig the studs in or it will back out.

Simple fix. Take the manifold off the car, install the turbo on the manifold and TQ the heck out of it. Then take it and get the studs tiged into place. That fixed mine. You can also use locking tabs like previously said, but thats not going to stop the studs from backing out.

[vocationalzero]

Why not use locking nuts with a lock washer between the nut and the turbo/mani?

[impact240sx]

My turbo got loose three times and it really made me made cuz you cant just tighten it. I think mine was getting loose because my turbo was going out and there was too much shaft play. so i jb welded the studs into the megan exhaust manifold, and got a new turbo, then i put two bolts on each corner of the turbo. I was driftting all day yesterday and still no loosening.