Could anyone tell me what "needs" to be replaced when changing my turbos out. There is a bunch of stuff in the service manual, just wanted some experience involved. Someone told me i could reuse a couple of the gaskets and be ok. Just want to know what would be in my rex's best interest, without going overboard, if possible. Thanks guys

 

need and should are two different thinks. you NEED to replace whatever looks like needs replacing.

You Should replace;

All Gaskets involved (if they are all original)
Both Coolant lines
Studs
Nuts
and anything else that looks like is in bad shape... such as the vacume hoses.

 

It's a tough call. I pulled my turbos for inspection and put them back on and only replaced the small turbo stud which snapped on me.

I strongly recommend replacing the coolant lines in any case.

If the nuts/studs come out together, in good condition, and the threads go back into the manifold by hand tightening, then the are probably ok. If a stud is messed up, replace the nut that went with it. At $5-10/piece, it's your call. If you're putting on used turbos, then reuse the gaskets (maybe clean them with fine sandpaper).

If you're putting on a set of new ones or paying someone else for labor, I wouldn't skimp even at Mazda OEM prices for hardware. All new studs, nuts, gaskets too. (But see if you can strike up a discount for buying all of them at once).

Next time I pull mine I'm trying to buy some DIN / JIS studs of identical style and locknuts to save money. We'll see if it works well or not. Seeing as I am my own labor, I have only my time to lose.

Dave