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ball bearing turbos

croat

By croat,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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croat Mentor

croat

Posted
Posted

Just in Qld at the moment... Have spoken to this guy at a workshop about aftermarket turbo's... Aparently ball bearing turbo's have a very limited life span (in some cases like 10,000km) and easily stuff up. I was told it is a better option to buy a non ball bearing turbo as it will last??? Any other views about this???

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Warpspeed Experienced

Warpspeed

Posted
Posted

I suggest you find another workshop URGENTLY.

Run as fast as you can away from that one, and do not look back over your shoulder !

I bet he just happened to have a crappy old turbo off a diesel farm tractor that has been fully reconditioned, for sale, a real bargain too.

Did he also tell you it would be absolutely perfect for your engine ?

Run for your life.......Hehehe

Warpspeed Experienced

Warpspeed

Posted
Posted

Coxy, cost of repair is not really an issue.

You could use wooden wheels off an old stage coach on your car. They would be far better, because the narrow steel rim cannot get a puncture. This would save you the cost of repairing punctures.

Seriously though......

Do not be fooled by certain "advantages". Turbo technology has advanced hugely over the last thirty five years. Using the old stuff just because it is cheap is not an advantage if you can afford something better.

The modern turbos are far more durable in every way, with the notable exception of ceramic turbine wheels. The water cooled ball bearing units are far tougher. If you replaced both wheels, housing, bearings and seals, and balance it, I doubt if a whole new ball bearing centre will cost any more than a whole new sleeve bearing centre.

Coxy_ Collaborator

Coxy_

Posted
Posted

Cool- Im looking to get a new turbo for my car soon and I was speaking to a mate of mine who works with turbos all the time and the ball bearing ones (unless there's a problem with it of course) will last longer but the cost to replace a core for the one im looking at is about $1800- the same sort of turbo but with a bush core id be looking at around 3-4 hunge..

What sort of turbo would you recommend suit a 34 to run a safe 16psi?

croat Mentor

croat

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I dont go to this workshop, the guy is a mates mate... This is what i was told. He said this to me in order to back up his statement "why do all drag car's run non ball-bearing turbos, except the HKS drag GTR which changes its turbo's every meeting, because their life span is only like 1.5 meetings"... What do you guys think?

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