i'm in the process of rebuilding my turbo and i'm following Brandon's instructions, but i have a few issues. first, when i go to install the assembly onto the exhaust housing, the turbine wheel is touching the housing and doesn't spin, but if i pull backwards on the shaft it will spin freely. make sense? wheel looks good, as does the housing, so i'm not sure what's up.

after putting the split c ring oil seal, and one roller, spacer, and the other roller, it all spins nice and freely. but i put the assemply on the housing, and i is touching. like i said if i pull on the shaft (ie. pull in a straight line from the threads that hold the compressor wheel on) it spins fine. will tightening it up pull it away from the housing, do i need to take the dremel and clearance it a tiny bit or what?

also, i bought the rebuild kit from ron's turbo service, and i don't know what to do with one of the rubber o rings it came with. not the large one between halves of the compressor housing, but one smaller. it's not quite the same size as the one between the y pipe and compressor. any ideas? thanks (i'll try to get pics in a few minutes after i finish my lunch)

 

If your using the same turbines, (exaust and intake) it shouldn't hit. Make sure the bushings are installed correctly. I used the same kit, and Ron balanced my shaft with the new wicked wheel on it. Was it hiitng before you took it apart ?

 

Your compressor housing is not tightened down all the way. I ran into this same problem and it just took tightening up the 4 bolts that hold the compressor housing to the bearing housing. Also make sure that the new oring between the two halves is not squishing out of the seam when you put it back together.

The other oring should go between the compressor, and the spider. mine required a little stretching.

 

well i've had this one sitting in pieces for 4 months. i thought it would be a big deal to rebuild, so i just bought a used one off ebay for cheap. it works great and is on my truck now, i just wanted to rebuild this one either as a back up or to sell and try to get some of my money back. i had oil leaking into the exhaust, and knew the bearings were shot. it was just barely touching the housing if i wiggled it side to side, but the wheels were in good shape. the compressor wheel was slightly out of shape, but i think the turbine is ok. the rebuild came with a new WW anyway.

brandon, the o ring i'm talking about isn't a "round" on with regards to cross section. it's kinda squared, that's why i didn't think it went between the spider and compressor. it doesn't look big enough, not overall size, but thickness. the turbine wheel is touching the exhaust housing. if the 4 bolts aren't tightened all the way, it spins freely. but as i tighten them, it starts to hit. i am using a 8mm wrench for two of them, since my socket won't fit into the opening. is it possible that i'm not tightening them in the proper sequence, or something, and the wheel is kinda off center? if i tighten one all the way, it pulls that side down, and the wheel will hit on the opposite side from that bolt. i've tried to tighten them a little bit at a time all the way around. what gives? it this housing or the turbine shot? also the split c ring does go into the groove on the shaft correct?

 

ok, i've gotten it back together, but there is some resistance to the wheels when i spin it. it's not touching the housing, but it doesn't spin as freely as it should. now what?

also, there was some slight noticible wear inside the "middle" section of the turbo. where the rollers and spacer go. to the "rollers" spin too, or does the shaft spin inside of them. i didn't know if the tiny, tiny, grooves (really not hardly anything) would cause the rollers to not spin. i'm not experienced at this, so i'm not sure what to look for, to do.

 

Did you put it together "dry" with no oil ?

 

no there's oil in it, i lubed it, and with the turbo upside down (the pedestal mount up) poured a good bit of oil inside, and took my cordless impact wrench, and slowly turned the wheel so the oil would get worked around. if i leave the compressor wheel off, and spin the turbine wheel, it moves pretty freely, but when i tighten the compressor wheel (and not super tight) it doesn't spin as freely.

 

Sounds like the bearing housing maybe worn out. Likely why oil was getting in your exhaust. Replacing the split ring did not restore all the lost clearance. Think of it as checking the side clearance on the thrust bearing of an engine. If you can check the clearance in the housing and subtract the thickness of your split ring let me know the value. If you have much trouble finding a replacement bearing housing let me know.

 

well, i guess its one of those times where you just got to walk away for a while and come back to it. just took it apart, and put back together, and it works fine now. i don't know what i did different, but this time it spins freely, and no play.

 

I had a feeling something wasn't right, glad to hear you got it working There several ways those parts stiff fit but aren't quite right. I took mine apart and built it right back up so i wouldn't forget how they went.

 

good job Kevin, sorry I couldnt get back on to help last night. Glad you got it working.