TURBO REBUILD STICKY

[sil80drifter]

I figured with so many KA-T guys getting older/used turbos, and eventually running into smoking or similar issues with them, we should make a sticky on how to or whether one even should repair their own turbo. As of right now we do not consider having it send out for a rebuild a good option, because usually the price of that is the same as getting a brand new t3 or t3/t4 on e-bay.

Rebuild kits usually range between 80 and 150 bucks.

Here are some of the links I've been able to dig up on turbo rebuilding DUYs:

*************************************New for 2005 Great links about Common Turbo Issues and Rebuild How-To Links:

Common Issues:http://www.mx6.com/forums/show...68576

Rebuild How-To:http://www.mx6.com/forums/show...48317

*************************************

Another rebuild link:http://www.vfaq.com/mods/Turbo-rebuild.html

Another:http://robrobinette.com/turbo.htm

Another:http://brickboard.com/FAQ/700-...g.htm

Another:http://www.gnttype.org/techare....html

Another:http://turbofiero.fierojoe.com/rebuilding.htm

Once you've replaced the seals/gaskets, if you are not sure about the wheels being in balance, it is a very cheap service to have done, probably under $50 with shipping it out to a shop and back.Here are some price quotes for complete rebuilds I've gotten from calling around, some of these sites also sell rebuild kits:

http://www.forcedperformance.net$345

http://www.turbochargers.com$270, and free shipping back

EVERGREEN TURBO COMPANY (Florida)$380, if parts in stock turnaround in 48 hours.

http://www.turbocharged.com$270, forgot to ask turnaround rate.

http://www.turbocity.com$285 $35 for just balancing (only need to send wheel assembly)

As you can see from the last link, balancing the wheels is not an expensive service, and most likely you'll be able to find a machine shop in your area that can have it done for cheap.

Another good site about DUY turboing is http://www.homemadeturbo.comThese guys are as DUY as you can get. Mostly Hondas, but they don't discriminate

If anyone has personal experience with rebuilding turbos, your input is more than welcome.

Also, sorry for posting/naming this thread a sticky, but I had no time to email or contact any of the admins, I hope you guys aren't mad. I hope that this does become a sticky or a FAQ item.

Enjoy!

sil80
Modified by sil80drifter at 12:45 PM 1/17/2005

[andrave]

I know a volvo guy that worked as a mechanic and he said he rebuilds his family's volvo turbos for less than 120 bucks. When I told him I was turbocharging my car he told me I should just buy a blown volvo turbo for like 20 or 30 bucks and he said he could rebuild it for less than 100 dollars. He said its easy to do. I dunno, I could ask him more about what is involved but I have a hard time understanding him, he is Polish.

[sil80drifter]

To my understanding, there is a lot involved when a shop actually FULLY rebuilds a turbo. It's almost like rebuilding an engine, just less parts. Taken from the forcedperformance website, their procedures involves:

Complete disassembly and inspection - turbos we receive are identified, marked, and torn down to component level. Each part is inspected for wear and/or damage, and cause of failure is identified. Cleaning and sandblasting - Turbine and compressor housings, bearing housing, and turbine wheel are sandblasted and refinished. If your housings are specially coated, we clean them with solvents to avoid damage to the coating. The bearing housing is flushed with solvent and honed, and the turbine shaft is polished to a mirror finish. Blueprinting - Journal bearing bores are measured for oil clearance. All reusable items are checked against specification. Reassembly - Turbo is reassembled with new journal and thrust bearings, o-rings, piston rings, fasteners, thrust collars, and seal plates. Balancing - Turbos are dynamically spin balanced as a complete assembly to less than half the manufacturers allowable limit.

What I'm talking about, and probably your mechanic as well, is that if a turbo only needs the gaskets/seals replaced, and no actual machining done to it, it can be done for pretty cheap (your quote seems about right).And this is what we should be looking for, because unles the blades have hit the housings, or the oil is spewing uncontrollably everywhere, most turbos need just those few repairs, and if you mark them well at disassembly, you can even get away without re-balancing it.

Come on, someone has to have done this, no?

sil80
Modified by sil80drifter at 2:09 PM 12/16/2004

[574-240sx]

Very informative. I watch my friend rebuild turbos, he has rebuild alot of them. I have yet to rebuild mine. I hope I don't have to for a while. No really bad shaft play yet.