This isn't normal... is it?

[SX APPEAL]

So recently I've been messing around with the turbo plans, and I've bought a turbo, changed my mind, and bought another one. Stange thing is, both of these were sold as "Brand new, never used" and both of them have noticeable side to side shaft play. Both are very obviously brand new, everything is shiny and clean, no wear marks or tool marks anywhere, but they both have that shaft play. Granted they are chinese, but I expected better for being brand new, even for chinese stuff. This brings me to another question, how hard is it to find a rebuild kit for these no name turbos? Or will one for the same size garret work?

[480sx]

All turbos have shaft play. You have to have space between the turbine shaft and bearings so that it can float on a film of oil.

Bad move on the ebay turbos, they arnt worth rebuilding. Just run an oil restrictor, cross your fingers and replace it when it blows.

[WDRacing]

All turbos have shaft play. You have to have space between the turbine shaft and bearings so that it can float on a film of oil.

Bad move on the ebay turbos, they arnt worth rebuilding. Just run an oil restrictor, cross your fingers and replace it when it blows.

I totally disagree here. If you buy a genuine Garret or BW rebuld kit, chances are it's a standard Garret btw, you end up with a very decent turbo for a cheap price. The main failure componants are the bushings and seals, replace those and you get a win win for cheap cheap.

All turbo's have radial play. If the wheel hits the housing then you have problems. But short of that...spool that whore up!!!

WD

[blacksrjdm]

In that case though, is there balancing involved in that rebuild???? Just wondering, considering the same idea, but wondering about the rebuild, and can I just buy the kit and install? Looks easy enough.

[WDRacing]

Most DIY rebuilds are never balanced. Mine wasn't and it works great...

WD

[PorkChopExpress]

to avoid a re-balance mark the compressor wheel and shaft before you dissemble.

[WDRacing]

Agreed, unfortunatly most Chinese units aren't balance at all.

[SX APPEAL]

Thanks guys, definitely thinking about the rebuild idea now. Went with the ebay crap cause the seller offered a 1 year warranty, so I figured nothing to lose right

[SX APPEAL]

Actually now that I'm thinking about it, how hard would it be (and how much would it cost...) to get a hold of Garrett wheels for this turbo too? Then the only chinese parts left would be the housings themselves. Would it be worth it?

[blacksrjdm]

Most DIY rebuilds are never balanced. Mine wasn't and it works great...

WD

Thanks for the response.

[480sx]

Went with the ebay crap cause the seller offered a 1 year warranty, so I figured nothing to lose right

The chances that they will honor that warranty is slim to none.. GL with it though for real. Iv just seen and heard a few horror stories about ebay turbos, and had one of my own that just makes me stay away. Iv seen a compressor wheel shatter at 20 psi, grenading into the engine with aluminum. Iv seen their compressor housing split in two, because most of them are epoxied together rotf. Iv seen pics of the chinese exhaust housings that heat up, and because of low quality everything, air pockets in the casting of the housing will burst and send metal into the turbine.

Iv also seen my own turbo completely self destruct in 3 runs. I dont even know how it happened really, i was doing my 3rd WOT run, boosting great, then saw a little puff of smoke come out from my engine(no hood on at the time) said, sht, slowed down, stopped, and my car was engulfed in smoke. Drove it home like that. Took the turbo off, there was so much shaft play it was insane, the turbine wheel was completely collapsed from hitting the housing.

The turbine shafts are rarely true, they arnt well balanced at all, and they use a ghetto technique that weakens the compressor wheel tremendously when they balance them.

Im kinda biased i guess, i just hate garbage made in china and its effects on companies who make quality ish.

[SX APPEAL]

Thanks man, I've read about your bad experience with the ebay turbo before, that really sucks, still crossing my fingers tho and hoping for the best. I'm definitely going to rebuild it with garrett internals tho, any word on those garrett wheels btw? how hard are they to get and such? Still waiting for WD to post up some good places to get genuine garrett rebuild kits in the Merkur T3 thread.

[WDRacing]

Oh...I forgot...LOL.

[motoman399]

i have helped my friend install 3 ebay turbos in his honda. every one has worked fine. he has done 3 different setups and sells every one as a full kit. so thats why he has had 3 of them. personal opinion is that they do wear out quicker than most name brand turbos. but would still be a great turbo for thousands of miles. you need to make sure you break in the turbo right and run an oil restrictor. but good luck with it

[480sx]

Turbos dont really need a break in period. They are only recommended because if you have contaminants in your oiling system or CHRA, not spooling it up for the first 50-100 miles or so gives the debris a much better chance at just flushing through the bearings and out the drain.

Oil restrictors are however key for an ebay turbo. I didnt know when i had one, and that had to play a contributing factor in my turbos failure. It was also one of the XS power turbos, which are notoriously the worst made.

[Logan76]

If you are worried about your shaft play, you can always set up an Indicator and check it, obviously your Ebay turbo wont have a standard so your going to have to get the appropriate axial off of Garret for a turbo of the same size, and then clamp it in a vise and set up your indicator and measure your total axial.

[motoman399]

Turbos dont really need a break in period. They are only recommended because if you have contaminants in your oiling system or CHRA, not spooling it up for the first 50-100 miles or so gives the debris a much better chance at just flushing through the bearings and out the drain. [email protected]

im sorry what i mean by that is when you first put the turbo on its a good idea to hold the shaft while idling so it doesnt spin. doing that for about a minute will ensure proper oiling in the turbo. if you put a fresh turbo on and immediately start spooling it. your going to ruin it no matter what brand it is. if it has the journal type bearings. at least thats how i see it. correct me if im wrong please

[WDRacing]

Good rebuild kits on the cheap!!!

http://www.gpopshop.com/garrettt3kits.html

The Garret type is the one you'll need for Ebay turbo's. By Ebay I mean Chinese...just to clarify. But that site has Holset and the others as well.

[SX APPEAL]

lol no worries. Thanks

[480sx]

im sorry what i mean by that is when you first put the turbo on its a good idea to hold the shaft while idling so it doesnt spin. doing that for about a minute will ensure proper oiling in the turbo. if you put a fresh turbo on and immediately start spooling it. your going to ruin it no matter what brand it is. if it has the journal type bearings. at least thats how i see it. correct me if im wrong please

Well, thats not really true. Just like any engine, a turbo is built with assembly lube. It wouldnt ruin it by any means.

Also, although i find it hard to believe in one sense but im still not gona try it lol.. Holding the compressor wheel while the car starts is a bad idea, or so my friend who owns a turbo shop told me. I had the same idea, he was like 'Yea, good way to lose a finger'. I know.. Hard to believe, but think about the tiny orifice that ALL the gas from your motor has to go through when you have a turbocharger equipped. Thats a lot of power.

[Logan76]

I was thinking the same thing, I never primed my turbo other than by unplugging the ECU and cranking the motor a few times before startup. If I was to hold the turbo from spinning it would be with a pair of channel locks, i value my fingers bro.

[motoman399]

haha seems nutty but they actually barely spin at idle. and you can just put your finger tip on the end of the shaft and it will stop it from spinning. and i dont think the ebay turbos have assembly lube, do they?

[SX APPEAL]

I'll soon find out...