While tearing down the turbo to install the wicked wheel I noticed that there is a good amount of play in the turboshaft left and right up and down when moving the compressor wheel. This is a 2002 F350 with 85,000 miles on it. Would this be covered under Warranty or will I need to buy a rebuild kit? What would a rebuild kit cost and where would be the best place to get on if this is the route I have to take? Any suggestions would be helpfull. Should there be any play here? Thanks

 

I noticed when rebuilding Cummins 855 turbos that the end play horizontal is a very small amount, enough for an oil film, the up and down seemed to drift quite abit. So here is some other items to look for for tell tale problems in to much freeplay and clearance, is the compressor side oil seal leaking, is the turbine or compressor hitting there respective housings if the turbo is put back together properly. There is a spec I am sure for the clearances, but oil has got to get in there and float that shaft doing whatever high speed revolution it goes to. Broken Wire

 

I have noticed a thin oil film on the compressor side housing but that probablly got there before the CV mod was done. The truck does not use hardly any oil between oil changes and no signs of scuff marks on the housing as of yet. Although it seems pretty close to me when moving the wheel around. Iguess I will have to indicate someone elses powerstroke compressor wheel for play and see if it matches mine. Thanks for the help. Would a rebuild for peace of mind be a difficult job?

 

Or you could buy a used turbo ?? instead of rebuild...I'm upgrading mine and am selling one..If all else fails pm me...I'm not to sure what a rebuild kit cost?? Good luck...

Later..

 

rebuilding a turbo is not a hard job just need to watch closely on what is going on, if the turbo blows apart, it WILL damage alot more than the turbo, the kit for cummins 855 was a teflon paper shim, aluminium bearing assembly and an aluminium packing that went on the turbine side to guard against heat into the oil galley in the center of the turbo. There again peace of mind, if yours is not broke, scuffing, leaking, I don't know as I would go there, back to clearances, with the turbo together clearances can get mighty close, but again-is there scuffing, housing to wheel clearances are tight to keep air from going around the outside of the wheels which is lost power.
Broken Wire

 

this is what OEM says for Testing and Inspection, with turbo standing on one end, move blade assembly to one side and spin, it should not touch in the housings, move blade in other direction and spin wheel, it should not touch in the housing, if the wheel touches the housing bearing needs to be replaced, otherwise it is still good. end play, set up a dial indicator at the end of the shaft, move shaft back and forth, measure end play
end play should be: 0.02-0.10MM or 0.00079-0.00394 in.
if this spec does not meet, turbo needs to be reconditioned or replaced.
Broken Wire