why are dbb turbos so expensive?
 

Ive been looking at some big turbos for the 20B, and I just cant get over the $500 price jump for a dual ball bearing. Is it just the hype and the fact that they are relatively new? Because I cannot see that the actual cost of tiny little ceramic ball bearing is more than 50 bucks more than standard brass turbocharger bearings, and other than that and a water-cooled center, what's the difference?

anybody had oen apart and seen any numbers on the bearings that might lead to a manufacturer?

recoupe the R&D costs???

Who makes ceramic BB ones?
I think all the ones I've seen are steel BB's?


-Ted

yeah ive seen some stainless bb ones too. i forget which one said they were ceramic.

either way, i cant see why its so much. even some of the turbo retailers that just piece together oem turbo parts like agp still charge 500 extra for bb option

Turbonetics: hhttp://www.turboneticsinc.com/turbo_ceramicbb.htm

Turbonetics and Innovative Turbo System (ITS) both use ceramic ball bearings. Turbonetics using a single angular thrust bb with standard sleeve/journal bearing rear and ITS uses full double bearings. IHI and Garrett both use steel. Why the price hike? Several things, mainly 1 is its still reletively new technology and people are willing to pay for it, 2 recoop R&D, 3 it costs more to manufacture. Garrett claims a 15% quicker spool when compairing same wheels/manifolds, engine configurations. Prices will come down (infact they already have) as more OEM uses them and they become the mainstay for typical turbo chargers.

~Mike.............

And they are junk for the most part. Not much if any better in response, and the different load front to rear has a tendency to make them fail. At least those are my experiences with them. I'm sure some people think they are great and swear by them.


-S-