Hey there,

I'm trying to figure out if my turbos are worth rebuilding. What should I look for? I know that I should look for shaft play, but I believe I should be looking for cracking as well. I'm just not sure where to look for the cracks or anything else signifigant. Any & all assistance would be greatly appreciated.

-Mike

 

First Question is if they work correctly 10-8-10 or close? Cracks up to about a mm are OK in the manifold they are heat stress related they should however not be completely across a flange or connection point as exhaust can then leak through. Looking at the impeller (exhaust side) look doen the fins and check each for cracks or chips they should be clear or eficiency drops and an unbalanced condition can occur which will ruin the turb eventually. I have cracks on one of mine in the exit port of the impeller where the blades move by and it hasn't effected my turbo at all. Check the compressor for cracks or chips etc. and excessive oil pooling, some oil is normal in both compressor and impeller after siting for some time, leaks through the bearing. Don't take them apart because then you need the rebuild kits to put them together at about $150/kit. I was horrified when I first saw inside mine, cracks everwhere etc. so I took them to a Case dealer, big diesels etc., and he said aren't those cute! He then said they would be fine. He was right mine have 11-9-11 which is ok by me. Good luck!

 

HAHA Thats funny. "arnt they cute" I used to work on Big deisels when I was in the Coast Guard and Those turbos were the size of pumpkins. Does make me take it into perspecitve. Its funny that he said that to you.

 

HAHA "Pumpkins" Your right of course!

 

There doesn't appear to be any cracking on the turbos themselves. The concern is the cast iron between the turbos. I'm pretty sure it's the exhaust outlet, but I honestly don't know for sure. I've definately got some serious cracks there. How tough is it to just get the cast iron components? Is it even worth it?

-Mike

 

If the unit is whole with everything attached you should have only 3 exhaust ports visible one to each rotor housing and the main outlet to your downpipe. There was a thread of someone with a pic of his and he had lots of cracking but all ok but I don't know where it is. I didn't take any pics of mine. Again if they cross a flange completely then your stuck, some unscrupulous characters will fill the cracks and charge you a good sum - don't do it, it doesn't work. Mazda sells the complete turbo system only I believe but maybe you can order just the manifold if thats where the cracks are. Make sure you Need to do something! That you have real problems? And if you can take it to someone who doesn't have a vested interest in selling you more than you need. Thats why I talked to a Case engineer, he had nothing to gain.

If you can post a picture that would help?

 

I'll see what I can do about getting some pictures. The turbos in question used to be on my car, but aren't needed anymore. I'm just debating if I should fix them up to have them as a spare set, or dump them... The cracks I have are really bad. Thanks again, and once I have the pictures, I'll get them up somewhere.

-Mike