Wisemen possibly needed, 5 blown tb shaft seals!

[92 AWD ECLIPSE]

It been about 6 months since I have added my EVO3 Big 16G on my car, and since then I have gone through 5 throttle bodies. Not because the throttle body mechanically doesn't work, but because the shaft seals keep going. On every one that has blown, I have replaced them with Danco seals, and those will go about a week later. So I just kept buying more throttle bodies and rebuilding them.
I now have a rebuilt engine, 8.8 Weisicos(sp?), Clevites, Eagles, Balanced to .5 grams. I cannot even run over 10 psi without the car bogging. I am positive it has nothing to do with tuning because I have been all over the spectrum on my SAFC from really rich to slightly lean. I have adjust the throttle cable numerous times, and that is not snapping, I have adjusted my BOV to be very soft so I am positive it is not compression surge. I have consulted my local tuning shop(QPR), and they are baffled, as am I.
I have never heard of someone blowing shaft seals this frequently. I would appreciate any help, because right now I have no idea of what else to do. All my mods are in my profile. Thanks for the help and the space.

Rob

 

[Mike000]

Does the o-ring have a metal ring inside?

 

[jott5555]

not to jack your thread here but.. i also get a whole ton of compression surge on my hks ssq. when i shift under boost its very pssh pssh psssh psssh . if that makes sence.. and i have the screw on it backed almost all the way out.

 

[92 AWD ECLIPSE]

ok mike as far as I know these are just regular Danco seals that I have been using, and I am almost positive it is 100% rubber.
jott, as for your BOV, mine sounds like it releases the way it should, and I am not running over 7-10psi because I cant even build that much pressure. So I am pretty sure it is not compression surge. For yours, I would check the vac line going from the intake mani to the BOV and make sure it doesnt have any leaks or something that would cause the BOV to operate poorly.

Any other suggestions on the TB seals would be very helpful. Thanks.

 

[DevilSperm]

when you do a boost leak test can you actually hear the shaft seals leaking? something tells me its not the shaft seals....maybe try some better gas

 

[92 AWD ECLIPSE]

I use 93 octane all the time, and usually happen to get it different gas stations, and doubt that it is bad that consistantly. I am also positive that it is the shaft seals, because there is no other place for boost to leak out of the TB on the spring side except for the seals and the gaskets, which are brand new. It is most definitely the seals.

 

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

Does the thottle plate shaft itself have a small nick or groove in it where the oring is seated?? Have you tried a "new, used" throttle body to see if it makes a difference??

 

[92 AWD ECLIPSE]

This is my 5th used throttle body. I buy them, then put them in to see if they will hold boost, and they usually don't, so I rebuild them, and the seals blow in less than a week. And so far all of the shafts are smooth and do not have any abbrasive areas for the seal to scrape on. I have probably spent about $150 in used throttle bodies, and parts to rebuild, so I am really trying to figure out what is causing this.

 

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

Very strange situation. Unfortunately I have no "smart @ss" answers for this one. Perhaps someone else can help.

 

[92 AWD ECLIPSE]

Thanks for the help anyway, just curious, have you tested your car at the track yet?

 

[Mike000]

I bought these seals when I found out it was leaking.

http://www.machv.com/throtbodseal.html

They got a metal ring inside, just like the stock ones. The vfaq even recommends this seal.

http://www.ca.dsm.org/faq/tb-shaftseals.html

I'v done multiple boost leak checks and they havn't failed on me yet.

 

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

Thanks for the help anyway, just curious, have you tested your car at the track yet?

It seems that everytime I try something breaks a day or 2 before I plan on going there. Im not a big fan of "track drags". They may be safe but Id be lucky if I get 3 runs in the whole day with the large amount of "ricers" in this town.

On the other hand I have been in alot of fast cars i.e. supercharged mustangs, 12 second bugs, even went for a ride in a lotus elise once. In my honest opinion dsms are the fastest car for the money if you can keep up with the quirks and "monthly" repairs. I just happened to make mine "a step above" the stock versions.

Perhaps this summer I will go and run one 11 second 1/4 and leave since I dont have a helmet and refuse to purchase one for the sole purpose of "abusing my car" at the drag strip. Im sure Id have no problem making a couple of jaws drop from my stock looking laser.

 

[92 AWD ECLIPSE]

Ok Mike, thanks alot, I will buy some seals from Mach V tonight. I didnt realize they made that much of a difference.

2.4- I totally agree DSMs are the fastest things on the road when tuned and equipped properly, but they break all the time. I seriously havent felt full boost from my car in about 6 months.

 

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

Ok Mike, thanks alot, I will buy some seals from Mach V tonight. I didnt realize they made that much of a difference.

2.4- I totally agree DSMs are the fastest things on the road when tuned and equipped properly, but they break all the time. I seriously havent felt full boost from my car in about 6 months.

Ive replaced everything on mine short of the center driveshaft and I still have breakdowns. Its a part of the game. "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" sums it up pretty well. I still love to drive it though and it is fun taking down ricers all day on the street.

On a sidenote do you have an exhaust leak between your manifold and the turbo?? That was a source of boost leak for me as the turbo wasnt able to spool without the added exhaust pressure.

Another thing to check is if you have a catalytic converter and it is clogged you wont be able to boost worth a crap either. Dont just look on the intake side as the exhaust side is as equally responsible for these "issues".

 

[92 AWD ECLIPSE]

Yah, I did the exhaust check, and that was ok. I can hit what ever boost I set, the engine just bogs over 10 psi because it is running so rich from the leak. But I think my prob may have been the seals I was using. I am ordering some from MachV today, and hopefully that will fix the problem.