well ever since i installed my bov 3 days ago, ive had this annoying squeel when im under boost. Im almost 100% positive that its a hole in one of my couplings. I decided to take off my TID to check my turbo play just to be sure that it wasnt the turbo. Well the shaft has about 1-1.5mm of freeplay which concerns me. this is right after driving it as well. What are the play limits of the stock turbo? does it sound like im going to be needing a rebuild soon? thanks -alex

 

there should be next to zero play for a fresh turbo, but that sounds about right for a well-used turbo. Don't worry about it; fix the turbo when it goes, which is almost always after the first engine blows.

 

Ok a sure fire way to tell if you need to rebuild or replace your turbo is quite simily,
Check the shaft play as you did and with a flash light and a mirror if needed check the clearance between the compressor blades and the compressor housing as you check the play. If it looks like it is possibly touching or comming really close... it is time to do it now so that you only need a basic rebuild!

 

I don't think he had the Turbo Freshly rebuilt... I could be wrong but at least I didn't read it that way.

 

I never thought that he did.
I simply stated that a brand new rebuild should have almost none, and his play seems about right for a 20 year old turbo.

 

OIC... then I would have to taltally agree now that I understand what you were saying...

 

lol thanks for clearing this up for me. The turbo is actually off a jspec with about 45000 miles on it. Ive only put about 3k on it. Im not sure how much play there was b4 it was installed because the PO did it. Im sure of the mileage because the PO had a japanese imported vert chilling next to his barn that the turbo was from. it was very sad to see, it did have some pretty cool red 5 spoke wheels which i guess was a very rare wheel that came on a few select verts. well at least thats what he said. Im pretty sure that the shaft doesnt have enough play to hit the housing. Ill check tomarrow since my garage is poorly lighted and its already getting dark up here in michigan

 

darkness + engine bay = use of flashlight + (if needed mirror)

 

my T2 with 160k miles on the turbo sounds and works perfectly, it has about 2 mm of shaft play up and down but that does NOT mean it is worn out or making noise, you can check to be sure the blades are not getting close to the housing, also check to be sure any of the blades are not bent, spin the shaft and watch to see if any othe blades come close at times indicating a bent shaft, also feel if there is any roughness to the bearing. lastly pull out and push in on the shaft (ha ha, but seriously!) and make sure it has no end play. up and down play is normal, the others i mentioned are not.