Turbo-acceptable shaft play (side to side)
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,755
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Turbo-acceptable shaft play (side to side) Since there are so many turbo people that look in here I was wondering if I could get some answers. I have a 2000 VW Golf 1.8 turbo that I'm replacing the turbo on. The guy doesn't have the money for a new or rebuilt one. I got a used one shipped in off a 2001 Jetta. What bothers me is the side to side (radial) shft play seems pretty excessive. Another yard was going to send me one until they called and said they were afraid to sell it because of excessive play. Is it normal for used turbos to have so much play? The max spec. is .8mm which is a lot considering the impellar diameter is about 2". This one has appr. 1mm play. I looked around on the internet, one guy said as long as it does not rub the case it is O.K. and that once it gets oil pressure it will take up the slack. Since it is a 5+hr. job for the turbo RxR I would like to get all the info I can before proceeding. Since this is not LSX based I fully understand if it gets deleted, Thanks, Tom.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 564
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From: Omaha, NE
I agree with the guy that said if it doesn't rub, it's OK. I took the turbo off of my Harley Ultra this winter for some exhaust work. I noticed this same thing so I took it to a diesel shop that specializes in rebuilding turbos. They looked at it and told me the same thing. I was hoping for a little more scientific analysis but I'm happy. It was free too.
are there any shops that might be able to look at it and tell, im not sure if that turbo being a vein turbo (im i right about that?) might be different, of tolerable play.
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Auburn, Indiana
Originally Posted by dynocar
I agree with the guy that said if it doesn't rub, it's OK. I took the turbo off of my Harley Ultra this winter for some exhaust work. I noticed this same thing so I took it to a diesel shop that specializes in rebuilding turbos. They looked at it and told me the same thing. I was hoping for a little more scientific analysis but I'm happy. It was free too.
If the turbo has more then .08-.10" radial play then its time for a rebuild. Oil acts as a VERY small buffer. Once you start to spin the turbo 50K+ rpms the shaft will start to want to gyrate around the axis. This is where you get problems. As the gyrations escalate it will wear more and more until you have a major failure. Also with alot of movement the piston ring on the turbine will wear quickly....this will start to cause smoke as well. Their is a reason for specs on a turbo. The no rub = ok rule is for folks asking for trouble.
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Auburn, Indiana
Originally Posted by JZ 97 SS 1500
If the turbo has more then .08-.10" radial play then its time for a rebuild. Oil acts as a VERY small buffer. Once you start to spin the turbo 50K+ rpms the shaft will start to want to gyrate around the axis. This is where you get problems. As the gyrations escalate it will wear more and more until you have a major failure. Also with alot of movement the piston ring on the turbine will wear quickly....this will start to cause smoke as well. Their is a reason for specs on a turbo. The no rub = ok rule is for folks asking for trouble.
Sorry for the misinformation.
Tim
Originally Posted by JZ 97 SS 1500
If the turbo has more then .08-.10" radial play then its time for a rebuild. Oil acts as a VERY small buffer. Once you start to spin the turbo 50K+ rpms the shaft will start to want to gyrate around the axis. ...The no rub = ok rule is for folks asking for trouble.
However, only another .0035 or so, and it's going to start rubbing the throat area of the air intake. That means I'm going to have trouble if/when the play increases to only .028. If I'm following all this right.
(it just arrived yesterday)
Thoughts?
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Originally Posted by John_D.
My turbo has about .025 which looks like a lot when I'm wiggling it back and forth. (almost a plug gap...) But it falls under the .08-.10 mentioned above so maybe it's ok.
However, only another .0035 or so, and it's going to start rubbing the throat area of the air intake. That means I'm going to have trouble if/when the play increases to only .028. If I'm following all this right.
(it just arrived yesterday)
Thoughts?
However, only another .0035 or so, and it's going to start rubbing the throat area of the air intake. That means I'm going to have trouble if/when the play increases to only .028. If I'm following all this right.
(it just arrived yesterday)
Thoughts?
