Turbo refurb diy?
Discussion
Exactly what do you mean by you think the bearings are gone as there is play ?
Has the compressor wheel made contact with the housing or something ?
Is there enough play that you can make it touch the housing ? Is there any play axially ?
And more to the point...other than a noise...are there any symptoms of it not actually running correctly ? When exactly does it make the noise ?
If you could get a good used unit, I'd choose that over a cheap core and attempting DIY. All those cheap cores will be chinese...and probably dubious quality. It's a lot of work for that risk when you could buy a good used unit.
My original unit lasted nearly 500,000 miles before it blew the compressor wheel apart.
Combo, Corsa, Meriva are all definitely the same, and even though the Astra uses a Bosch management system, I'm pretty sure the turbocharger is the same too. So there should be no lack of used units out there.
Has the compressor wheel made contact with the housing or something ?
Is there enough play that you can make it touch the housing ? Is there any play axially ?
And more to the point...other than a noise...are there any symptoms of it not actually running correctly ? When exactly does it make the noise ?
If you could get a good used unit, I'd choose that over a cheap core and attempting DIY. All those cheap cores will be chinese...and probably dubious quality. It's a lot of work for that risk when you could buy a good used unit.
My original unit lasted nearly 500,000 miles before it blew the compressor wheel apart.
Combo, Corsa, Meriva are all definitely the same, and even though the Astra uses a Bosch management system, I'm pretty sure the turbocharger is the same too. So there should be no lack of used units out there.
Thanks for the in depth reply
I have play once all directions I’m sorry don’t know the proper words
It’s been into garage today and they say the turbo is ok at the moment but will get worse as more miles etc go on it so would rather change it before it fails badly and damages other things.
There’s a siren sound when it comes onto boost it’s not extremely loud at the moment and drives good with plenty of power no smoke etc,
This is why I’m thinking replacing with a cartridge as the housing would be in excellent condition..
If he buying from a fairly well established company directturbo.co.uk
I have noticed a little more oil than usual in the intake system when recently blanking egr
I have play once all directions I’m sorry don’t know the proper words
It’s been into garage today and they say the turbo is ok at the moment but will get worse as more miles etc go on it so would rather change it before it fails badly and damages other things.
There’s a siren sound when it comes onto boost it’s not extremely loud at the moment and drives good with plenty of power no smoke etc,
This is why I’m thinking replacing with a cartridge as the housing would be in excellent condition..
If he buying from a fairly well established company directturbo.co.uk
I have noticed a little more oil than usual in the intake system when recently blanking egr
OP, hold the shaft at both ends and push it in, pull it out of the housing. There should be zero play or just a miniscule amount. That's called axial play.
Next hold the shaft at both ends and with both hands together push the shaft towards the same side of the housing, the SAME side. You shouldn't see a lot of play but there will be a bit. Push from side to side together. This is radial play.
If you move each end of the shaft in opposite directions you will see loads of play and you're measuring it wrong.
Have either of the wheels scored the housing, if not that's good? Do they look damaged? Does the unit spin freely, quietly and smoothly? Does it leak oil or make smoke?
If all checks out I doubt you need a new turbo but if you buy a core it'll already be balanced.
Next hold the shaft at both ends and with both hands together push the shaft towards the same side of the housing, the SAME side. You shouldn't see a lot of play but there will be a bit. Push from side to side together. This is radial play.
If you move each end of the shaft in opposite directions you will see loads of play and you're measuring it wrong.
Have either of the wheels scored the housing, if not that's good? Do they look damaged? Does the unit spin freely, quietly and smoothly? Does it leak oil or make smoke?
If all checks out I doubt you need a new turbo but if you buy a core it'll already be balanced.
I’m not sure tbh just going off what the garage say but I do remember feeling play and seeing a bit of oil more than I’ve ever seen in the inter cooler hoses before
It’s not smoking just the whine they assure me it’s the turbo and I can also hear it’s coming from turbo
Does it make a difference it’s a VNT TURBO? Will cartridge still work without need setting up on bench
It’s not smoking just the whine they assure me it’s the turbo and I can also hear it’s coming from turbo
Does it make a difference it’s a VNT TURBO? Will cartridge still work without need setting up on bench
It is a VNT turbo....and as said...I would absolutely choose a proper used OEM unit long before a cheap unknown chinese core.
It's a fair amount of work to change, with potentially seized and broken bolts, especially to take the turbo apart from the exhaust housing. Save yourself the grief.
The crappy OEM oil breather setup means every damn pipe, the intercooler and of course turbo inlet will almost always be covered in oil.
Perfectly normal.
And even on mine when I did replace the turbo...with a unit supplied exchange from a local turbo re-con place, after only some 160k or so the leading edges of the compressor blades are showing damage...which is extremely unusual.
If your blades look ok, the unit feels ok as described by Boosted above...then I most certainly would not be pulling things apart based on a slight whistle, although can appreciate you maybe not wanting to break down.
But I'd be wanting good solid evidence that the core does not feel good or a visual on it.
It's a bit of an awkward bugger to get your had to to test down there though. Handy enough to poke a camera down in for a visual though
It's a fair amount of work to change, with potentially seized and broken bolts, especially to take the turbo apart from the exhaust housing. Save yourself the grief.
The crappy OEM oil breather setup means every damn pipe, the intercooler and of course turbo inlet will almost always be covered in oil.
Perfectly normal.
And even on mine when I did replace the turbo...with a unit supplied exchange from a local turbo re-con place, after only some 160k or so the leading edges of the compressor blades are showing damage...which is extremely unusual.
If your blades look ok, the unit feels ok as described by Boosted above...then I most certainly would not be pulling things apart based on a slight whistle, although can appreciate you maybe not wanting to break down.
But I'd be wanting good solid evidence that the core does not feel good or a visual on it.
It's a bit of an awkward bugger to get your had to to test down there though. Handy enough to poke a camera down in for a visual though
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