turbo shaft play ?

[grocery getter]

on a properly working turbo,is there any "normal" shaft play?
what's a normal tolerance range? i'm talking up and down , not side to side...

 

[matt1967]

very very minimal, not much is allowed. a turbo will work with shaft play, but not well. if it has any at all, it should be checked out.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Radial clearance depends on the type of bearings used in the cartridge. There is always some so that things can grow with temperature and still allow enough space for the oil to establish a lubrication film. MacInnes uses a figure of .003-.004" as typical; more modern turbos may have slightly different numbers. I would expect axial clearances at room temperature to be of the same order there has to be just enough to prevent the bearings from binding in end loading when the assembly heats up.

Basically if it's enough that you're asking, it's probably a problem.

 

[Anonymous]

yes, sliding the shaft back and forth (along its axis, the long ways) should be near none. If there is play, the thrust washer needs to be replaced IMMEDIATELY.

All non-ball bearing turbos will have radial play, even brand new. I have even seen turbos that if you push the shaft sideways (light force, from center towards the outside), you can get the wheel to scrape the housing, but they never fail and run for years. Oil pressure keeps the bearings centered when idling, and aerodynamic pressures keep the wheels centered (more or less) when under boost. The bore the bearings ride in is actually egg-shaped just slighty, so at it rotates it "wedges" oil in between.

 

[grocery getter]

thanks for the replies. it doesn't come close to touching the housing but there was some movement. (none along the axis) i'd thought it should've been some for oil clearance.

I was told it's new . .it's a polished T3/T4 garrett. it doesn't say garrett but it has the A in the castings?

i'm still learning

maybe I should just go with the finned edelrock triple manifold and skip the turbo..

 

[Anonymous]

it doesn't come close to touching the housing ... I was told it's new

Sounds like new.

but it has the A in the castings?

With the left side of the leg on the "A" curved? That would be AiResearch, they got bought out by Garrett

 

[Anonymous]

if it has any at all, it should be checked out.

Not really.

 

[grocery getter]

it doesn't come close to touching the housing ... I was told it's new

Sounds like new.

but it has the A in the castings?

With the left side of the leg on the "A" curved? That would be AiResearch, they got bought out by Garrett

Yes, the "A" is curved, Thanks for the info.

 

[matt1967]

if it has any at all, it should be checked out.

Not really.

my teacher teaches us to question everything, that's why I said to have it checked, if even only looked at by a rebuilder ( not taken apart ). My '78 Buick Air Research T3 super 6 has absolutly no shaft play at all, teacher said it was perfect and did not need service as I figured.