Acceptable Shaft Play In Journal Bearing Turbo

[BAMR33]

After taking my intake pipe off today I checked the shaft for any play. To my disappointment there was a noticeable amount. This is a journal bearing turbo and has been on the car for no longer 5 months.

When I first got the turbo there was basically no play what so ever, so is this normal for a journal bearing turbo to loosen up like this? And will it rapidly get worse or will it stay similar to what it is now?

It’s not making any different noises or blowing smoke from the exhaust so I’m not sure what to make of this, as most turbo’s on the way out usually show these signs.

[7yphon]

When you say noticeable amount how much would you say its moving, And the only way to really know is to take it to a Turbo place and get them to look at the play and see what they say

[dead32]

yea how much we talkin? remember that a journal needs oil presure to float the bearing, if u did it dead cold after leaving it overnight, then it might not be so bad.

[BAMR33]

Yep when I check it, it was a whole day without start. So I suppose it could just be oil float for the bearings.

It's really hard to say how much movement, best guess 2mm side to side.

I was really expecting there to be none given it's a near new turbo.

[R31Nismoid]

There should be play.

There should not be none, that would indicate its seized

Journal bearing also has more than Ball Bearing, so 2mm of play IMO is nothing major. My old t04e gave a bit of movement

Side to side is ok if not excessive... in and out play would be bad news, but the sounds of it, your fine

[BAMR33]

Thanks for the replies. I'm just going to leave it on, check it every now and then and hope for the best.

B.

[subzeroR33]

There should be play.

There should not be none, that would indicate its seized

Journal bearing also has more than Ball Bearing, so 2mm of play IMO is nothing major. My old t04e gave a bit of movement

Side to side is ok if not excessive... in and out play would be bad news, but the sounds of it, your fine

Shit mine goes in and out a bit by a couple of mm

[R31Nismoid]

Just rebuilt it

They are cheap if they havent hit the housings/wheels.

Maybe $450-$500 to have a kit run through it unless prices have changed