Ok, this IS NOT another "clean your turbo" thread....this is to help show that when the mechanic says "yeah your turbo seals are shot and it needs replaced"...well....that's not always true. Now I know it can be a bit tricky, but if you're competent and confident to pull the turbo and clean it...with just a little more finesse, you can rebuild it and have it back to new for just a few hours more of your time and a couple extra bucks instead of that $600+ reman.....unless you want a sweet performance unit then I say go to town
So here's what I had....a turbo that I bought off a member here....his symptoms were low to no power, a lot of black smoke, and oil in the tailpipe. I bought the turbo guessing that the seals were bad and sure enough, that's what was wrong.....a quick recondition/rebuild and it spools better than the turbo I had in my '05 (this one has since taken its place). So without further ado....into the pics we go!
First....what it typically looks like when the seals go bad....a lot of coked oil that looks like it spun out of the housing. These pics were taken after disassembly to show it a bit better in the light
So! Apart it comes! For those who haven't done this before, the only thing I did before this pic was pull of the band, then I did the ever important line-up mark. This helps to get everything back in the exact spot as the factory had it so that your VGT system operates correctly.
Then, with a LOT of PB blaster and some time with a dead-blow hammer, I finally got it apart. The vanes moved ok.....but we'll get to them later
Not pictured is the removal of the compressor housing...it's pretty self explanatory though, just the 12pt 8mm bolts around the housing, then a tap with the dead blow if it needs it and it will pop right off. After that came the removal of the compressor wheel....this turbo didn't have much taken off the turbine side for balance, so a 6pt 7/8 socket fit great! Then a spin off with the impact brought the wheel off....if this is your first time doing this the threads are left-hand thread!
Now the compressor plate looks like this
Again, using the 12pt 8mm, remove the 4 bolts....note the orientation of the arrow, since you'll be reinstalling it back that way as well
OK, now its time to make damn well sure that everything stays clean and doesn't get in the turbo
Sometimes the outer seal and thrust bearing will come out with the compressor plate....if they don't just lift them off the shaft
Once you're to this point, another small tap on the tip of the shaft will set it free to be pulled out the back end.
So here's what I had....a turbo that I bought off a member here....his symptoms were low to no power, a lot of black smoke, and oil in the tailpipe. I bought the turbo guessing that the seals were bad and sure enough, that's what was wrong.....a quick recondition/rebuild and it spools better than the turbo I had in my '05 (this one has since taken its place). So without further ado....into the pics we go!
First....what it typically looks like when the seals go bad....a lot of coked oil that looks like it spun out of the housing. These pics were taken after disassembly to show it a bit better in the light
So! Apart it comes! For those who haven't done this before, the only thing I did before this pic was pull of the band, then I did the ever important line-up mark. This helps to get everything back in the exact spot as the factory had it so that your VGT system operates correctly.
Then, with a LOT of PB blaster and some time with a dead-blow hammer, I finally got it apart. The vanes moved ok.....but we'll get to them later
Not pictured is the removal of the compressor housing...it's pretty self explanatory though, just the 12pt 8mm bolts around the housing, then a tap with the dead blow if it needs it and it will pop right off. After that came the removal of the compressor wheel....this turbo didn't have much taken off the turbine side for balance, so a 6pt 7/8 socket fit great! Then a spin off with the impact brought the wheel off....if this is your first time doing this the threads are left-hand thread!
Now the compressor plate looks like this
Again, using the 12pt 8mm, remove the 4 bolts....note the orientation of the arrow, since you'll be reinstalling it back that way as well
OK, now its time to make damn well sure that everything stays clean and doesn't get in the turbo
Sometimes the outer seal and thrust bearing will come out with the compressor plate....if they don't just lift them off the shaft
Once you're to this point, another small tap on the tip of the shaft will set it free to be pulled out the back end.