Ball bearing turbos don't last on rotaries?
07-20-06, 12:00 PM
#1
Ball bearing turbos don't last on rotaries?
I heard this from a friend, but I never heard of it from anyone else, or read it on the forum anywhere. Wanted to see if it's true. The explanation I was given was a) due to the extreme heat generated by rotaries, and b) due to the oil blowby, ball bearing turbos tend to have high failure rates on rotaries, and we all know how expensive ball bearing turbos are to rebuild... Any comments/experience, etc?
Thanks
~Ramy
Thanks
~Ramy
07-20-06, 12:34 PM
#6
I won't let go
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
Thank you for pointing out the obvious 
In fact, by definition, all GT series turbos are ball bearing 
In fact, by definition, all GT series turbos are ball bearing
07-20-06, 12:59 PM
#7
RSPECT
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I'm looking forward to hearing some comments as well. In the process of getting a GT turbo so I'd like to know if theres any validity behind these claims.
P.S. Ramy, I PM'd you. You probably already know what about.
P.S. Ramy, I PM'd you. You probably already know what about
.
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07-20-06, 01:27 PM
#9
Originally Posted by willjs7
its not that they dont last, its if you shoot a seal out of the motor, have fun trying to get it rebuilt. you might as well replace it
Originally Posted by Railgun
It's the "R" that designates whether it's a BB center.
Originally Posted by Zero R
I guess I'm in deep trouble then
07-20-06, 01:33 PM
#10
I won't let go
Not that I think...
Originally Posted by from Garrett's site
If there's an "R" on the end of a model name, this means the unit is ball bearing. So, a GT4294 is not ball bearing; whereas a GT4294R is ball bearing.
07-20-06, 01:37 PM
#11
the only thing different that i can think of versus running ball bearings on a piston engine is the lack of an engine head to cool off the exhaust gasses on the rotary... so it gets hotter. but if journal bearings are ok, then ball bearings, which are superior, should do fine if not better.
maybe the bearing races get hot and expand beyond specs or something?
however, i'd bet that the only reason mazda/hitachi used journal bearings is cost.
maybe the bearing races get hot and expand beyond specs or something?
however, i'd bet that the only reason mazda/hitachi used journal bearings is cost.
07-20-06, 01:46 PM
#12
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It doesn't make sense that a ball bearing type turbo would be any worse than the alternatives (needle & roller). Ball bearing are designed to take axial and radial thrust in 900 degree C jet engines. Unless companies use poor quality ball bearings in there turbos, and good quality bearings in there other non-ball type turbos. Then there is no basis for the claim. It is more likey that there are other factors causing "your friend" to have this hate for the BB turbo.
07-20-06, 03:04 PM
#15
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BB turbos require a little better "care and feeding" than journals, especially in the cleanliness and supply rate/pressure of oil departments. If you botch that they won't last long on anything, and given their lack of repair options its easy to scare people away from them.
07-20-06, 03:11 PM
#16
Original Gangster/Rotary!
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On an FD ball bearing turbo application it is best to have both oil and water cooling of the turbo.
Also, rebuilds on BB turbos are quite a bit more expensive, almost as much as the cost of the turbo, as alluded to earlier in the thread.
Ramy, your friend is misinformed. Perhaps if only oil cooled they won't last.
Also, rebuilds on BB turbos are quite a bit more expensive, almost as much as the cost of the turbo, as alluded to earlier in the thread.
Ramy, your friend is misinformed. Perhaps if only oil cooled they won't last.
07-20-06, 04:33 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
On an FD ball bearing turbo application it is best to have both oil and water cooling of the turbo.
Also, rebuilds on BB turbos are quite a bit more expensive, almost as much as the cost of the turbo, as alluded to earlier in the thread.
Ramy, your friend is misinformed. Perhaps if only oil cooled they won't last.
Also, rebuilds on BB turbos are quite a bit more expensive, almost as much as the cost of the turbo, as alluded to earlier in the thread.
Ramy, your friend is misinformed. Perhaps if only oil cooled they won't last.
07-20-06, 05:03 PM
#20
Original Gangster/Rotary!
iTrader: (213)
Originally Posted by maxcooper
The ball-bearing, oil-cooled, non-water-cooled RX6 turbo has proven itself to last on the rotary.
-Max
-Max
07-20-06, 06:42 PM
#21
rebreaking things
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