I was checking the shaft play on my old turbo with about 160K miles on it (it also was on a blown engine) and it has a very slight amount of shaft play. I checked the amount of play on my existing turbo (about 40K miles, J-spec) and they are about equal.

How much shaft play is normal/ ok?

 

When you check for shaft play, do you pull it up and down, or back an forth?

Metal expands when it gets hot, so there has to be some play up and down, otherwise it would sieze up once it heated to operating temp. Trying checking when the car is running and the engine is warm =)

 

When I wondered about my shaft play and if I had too much. I took a post it note, and slid it between the wheel/wall and I thought if it snagged when I tugged and turned the wheel it would be "eh I guess its ok." But if it ripped the post it well, I think there's too much shaft play. Just a silly little test.

 

mine seems to have about 1.5MM in all directions.. just enough for it to blow clouds of smoke everywhere all the time.

 

Hmm ok, i think im about getting a millimeter at MOST.

This is tested side to side, not up and down. I dont think i have any play up and down

 

really any shaft play is 'bad'. It might not be bad enough to do any damage, though.

 

NOT TRUE, even a brand new turbo will have some play side to side, this is for several reasons, but the most obvious is that a journal bearing turbo in your hand lacks the pressurized oil that the bearing rides on, thus there will be play. I am sure a DBB turbo will have alot less, but there still is some. I have a new unused turbo, it has roughly .25mm of play, I have a ~5,000 mile turbo, it has about .40 mm.
However, there should be no movement "in and out" Carl