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my bad luck with turbo rebuilds

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Old May 21, 2008 | 03:05 AM
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initial D is REAL!'s Avatar
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my bad luck with turbo rebuilds

Ive had horrible experience with my stock turbo rebuild. I had my first s5 t2 turbo rebuilt 2 times. It burned oil after both times it was rebuilt, Mainly during warmup. So finally I got another turbo I had and sent it back to the turbo shop.

This turbo rebuild was fine, no smoke, but the only problem, it failed over time after a piece of silicone got stuck in my oil resrictor plate I made. I used silicone because I needed my car up and running in a day so I could go back to work ASAP

So, I needed my car in a hurry again, so I put the first turbo I had back together, the turbo that smoked. I have my Dailey driver car now, so my rx7 is sitting on the side. I jsut need a good turbine wheel and I should be good, hopefully!!

Im thinking about taking the center bearing housing off the non smoking turbo, and finding someone to sell me a turbine wheel that was off a good turbo. I would get a good used turbo, but total cost of it with shipping would be more than I would like to spend.

The first turbo I had that smoked would leak from the exhaust side past the oil control ring. That one has good bearings still from the first rebuild. I just suspect the turbine shaft or the housing on that one is no good
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Old May 21, 2008 | 10:19 AM
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Sounds like you have enough parts for 1 good turbo lol. Generally, the reason these smoke after a rebuild is because the center housings rear bore were the piston seal rides is out of spec. A real good turbo builder would measure the bore before a rebuild to determine if the center section was re-usable or not. I've seen a lot of builders simply replace seals and bearings then out the door which is fine if the bore isn't wore out, but it should be checked.

~Mike.............
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Old May 21, 2008 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by RacerXtreme7
Sounds like you have enough parts for 1 good turbo lol. Generally, the reason these smoke after a rebuild is because the center housings rear bore were the piston seal rides is out of spec. A real good turbo builder would measure the bore before a rebuild to determine if the center section was re-usable or not. I've seen a lot of builders simply replace seals and bearings then out the door which is fine if the bore isn't wore out, but it should be checked.

~Mike.............
I was wondering, the one turbo I had that didnt burn oil, but it starved of oil. The shaft was a little blue from overheating but didnt look completley screwed. When I sent it to the turbo shop, they said they were just going to polish up the shaft on the lathe. Instead of letting them do that, I had another turbo(the one that burned oil) The pic is hard to see, but what do u think if I were to just polish up the shaft?
I drove the car 1 mile when I heard my turbo acting up. Took it apart , and this is what I found



sorry, that is the best i can do

Last edited by initial D is REAL!; May 21, 2008 at 12:13 PM.
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Old May 21, 2008 | 02:47 PM
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Turn off the zoom and back up...

Also,


This turbo rebuild was fine, no smoke, but the only problem, it failed over time after a piece of silicone got stuck in my oil resrictor plate I made. I used silicone because I needed my car up and running in a day so I could go back to work ASAP
This is why everything worth doing is worth doing right THE FIRST TIME. I've learned that lesson more times than I should have.

Using silicone is fine as long as you don't use too much, torque it properly, and let it set for the required time.
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Old May 21, 2008 | 03:53 PM
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Yeah, I was in a big rush, paid the price. Here are some better pics, i hope


So you think I can jsut polish them up on a lathe with some emery cloth?
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Old May 21, 2008 | 04:10 PM
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hard to tell from pictures. If theres a noticable step in it were it rides withen the bearings, then no, its junk. Give it a quick polish with emery cloth or even mag wheel polish, then look to see if theres any inconsistances, steps, or groves. If alls good then let er rip. Besides, your not spending money to assemble a turbo, give it a try.

~Mike............
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Old May 21, 2008 | 11:19 PM
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get BNR to rebuild yours next time (they will rebuilt to stock spec), I would trust them.
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Old May 22, 2008 | 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by RacerXtreme7
Sounds like you have enough parts for 1 good turbo lol. Generally, the reason these smoke after a rebuild is because the center housings rear bore were the piston seal rides is out of spec. A real good turbo builder would measure the bore before a rebuild to determine if the center section was re-usable or not. I've seen a lot of builders simply replace seals and bearings then out the door which is fine if the bore isn't wore out, but it should be checked.

~Mike.............
I did notice that that one bearing housing burned the most oil, but they were also matched up with the same turbine. I took my turbo that is burning oil apart, everything looks good.

So Im thinking of using the turbine from the turbo that burned oil, and using the bearing housing from a turbo that didnt burn oil.

I was curious what what seals the oil for the intake side? I had some oil in my intake piping. Is it the black seal in the middle of the backing plate?
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