Rebuilding turbo difficulty?

[Reese300]

hey guys I need a to start upgrading my car seriously! So I found this 16g turbo on eBay, it's used and it is genuine. The guy says its in good conditions but it does have some shaft play. I just want to know, if the turbo does ever get messed up, what's the difficulty of rebuilding it myself?

 

[TravisB]

Once you bust the nut loose on the compressor the take it apart it needs to be balanced again. Just have a professional do it its not that expensive for just a regular rebuild as long as the wheels are not rubbing housings.

 

[GST with PSI]

Once you bust the nut loose on the compressor the take it apart it needs to be balanced again.

That's not necessarily true.

Regarding the stock frame MHI turbos specifically, so long as there is no damage to any of the components, a balance is not required.

If you're simply rebuilding, mark the turbine shaft and compressor wheel and reassemble as it came apart. Technically, that's not even required, as all the components are balanced independently.

I've personally rebuilt dozens of MHI turbos without balancing them, and never had an issue. That even holds true for the bastard 20G I built which used a brand new compressor wheel.

Here's most of the information you'll need for the rebuild, upgrade, whatever: http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/fp-68hta-opinions.504515/#post-153596344

 

[Reese300]

That's not necessarily true.

Regarding the stock frame MHI turbos specifically, so long as there is no damage to any of the components, a balance is not required.

If you're simply rebuilding, mark the turbine shaft and compressor wheel and reassemble as it came apart. Technically, that's not even required, as all the components are balanced independently.

I've personally rebuilt dozens of MHI turbos without balancing them, and never had an issue. That even holds true for the bastard 20G I built which used a brand new compressor wheel.

Here's most of the information you'll need for the rebuild, upgrade, whatever: http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/fp-68hta-opinions.504515/#post-153596344

Well to be honest, right now a 16g will be what I stick to for now. Do you know where I can find a kit? Also what did you mean by mark the turbine shaft and compressor wheel

 

[GST with PSI]

For a rebuild kit see here. Make sure you read the entire thread, as multiple kits are mentioned: http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/turbo-whining.503822/#post-153591603

By mark the turbine shaft and compressor wheel, I mean exactly that. Make a mark on on the turbine shaft and the compressor wheel that line up with each other before disassembly. When you reassemble the components, line the marks back up.

Again, this isn't absolutely required so long as the components are in good shape, but it's a extra precaution you can take to ensure everything goes back together in sync.

This isn't a MHI turbo, but it may help you understand the idea: http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/t3-turbo-rebuild-part-1.316421/

 

[Reese300]

Awesome thanks if I have any other questions I'll ask you!