Another 20G Question

[99GST]

This guy is trying to sell me his 20G turbo at a great price. It has about 5000 miles on it. I asked him if it had any wobble, and he seemed to have given me an honest answer.

His response was: "the turbo has the usual shaft play, but no excess play".

Can someone explain this shaft play to me? And should I even consider buying this. He is willing to sell it to me for $600 and my T-25 (he is turning his car back to stock).

I will be running this turbo around 15-18psi on 93 octane daily.
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Nathan

 

[NosLaser]

A lot of turbos, especially the used 20G's I have seen do have some amount of shaft play. It's a hard queston to answer because the only right way to gauge what is a little shaft play, and what is excessive shaft play, is to take it apart and measure clearances. If you want, what I would suggest is pay for him to ship the turbo to a shop and have it looked at, and if it's good, buy it, if not, then at least you both know, and besides the shipping costs, it won't cost you guys much money.

Regards,

 

[IPT]

I agree.. All turbos have some play it is just a matter if it is within tolerances so that the wheels will not hit either housing. There have been alot of people get turbos and there is not shaft play in them and then they run them on there car and then it has some. When they first get the turbo it has a thick assembly lube in it thattakes up all the slack in the tolorances. When the turbo is installed all the assembly lube is replaced with the oil from the motor which is thinner. That is were the small amount of play comes from, unless the turbo is just shot!