turbo rebuilding... do it yourself???

[superba]

Hi All,

I replaced my K-26 twice a few years back.  Some listers may remember my
frantic requests for help several times.  I evaluated rebuilding it myself
vs letting a turbo shop rebuild it vs just buying a rebuilt unit.  I
convinced myself that the sheer work of replacement was so difficult that I
really didn't want to install an untested unit only to find that it needed
to be replaced. So I bought one from a rebuilder.  Unfortunately, the first
one from the rebuilder had a bad oil seal that caused me to drive 20 miles
in Hwy 101 rush hour traffic laying down a huge smoke screen and
embarrassing the heck out of me.  I had to replace it again and, to protect
my original investment, I got another unit from the same rebuilder which has
remained good until now.  But most rebuilders REQUIRE you to replace the oil
hoses with new ones at very high prices and void their warranty if you
don't.  I didn't but I did clean the hoses carefully while they were off.

Even with my screw up and the long time it took me to replace it a second
time,  I still recommend that the rebuilding be done by a well equipped shop
that can test it off the car.  However, don't let any rebuilder "evaluate"
yours.  Once it's in their hands, you're at their mercy if they're
unscrupulous.  I feel the best alternative is to buy a rebuilt one.

There are listers who claim they can change a turbo in 4 hours or so;  mine
took 2 days each and it wasn't because I fell down and couldn't find my
beer.

Now, for the worst part of my tale, my turbo wasn't defective after all.
The lack of boost I experienced was from a plugged catalytic converter....
For months I wished I could have gotten behind myself for a swift kick or
three.

That's my btdt.  HTH.

Cheers!

Jim Jordan

>  Message: 21
>  From: "alan pritchard" <alanthecelt at alanthecelt.screaming.net>
>  To: "Beatty, Robert" <BeattyR at ummhc.org>, "'audi list'"
>  <quattro at audifans.com>
>  Subject: Re: turbo rebuilding... do it yourself??? (Garrett Guide)
>  Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 19:34:20 -0000
>
>  I recently did this on a garrett unit and it seemedb simple
>  enough, as long
>  as your not replacing the turbine or compressor you should be
>  fine, as long
>  as you mark the posiyion of these parts on the shaft you should be ok, if
>  replacing either the whole unit would, in theory, need to be
>  rebalanced.  On
>  the Garrett unit it is quite simple, i dont know how this
>  relates to kkk's
>  though:-
>  remove the compressor housing top half, to access the compressor wheel.
>  You should be able to find a socket to fit the nut, its 12 sided on the
>  garrett, but a 12 sided socket fits, i believe it is 10 or 11 mm
>  you will probably have to stop the shaft from spinning,  On the
>  exhaust end
>  of the shaft is a triangular protrusion, one piece with the shaft, on the
>  garrett a 9/16" socket fitted snugly over this.  It takes some torque to
>  shift the nut.  the compressor wheel may be stiff to pull of the
>  shaft, be
>  very careful because the blades are very fragile.
>  you should then be a ble to see the thrust bearing and one of the axial
>  bearings.
>  You should be able to access the others by removing the exhaust
>  housing and
>  withdrawing the shaft. This is as far as i have been and it all seemed
>  straight forward.
>  You should be able to buy bearing and seal kits from a good
>  turbo stockist.
>  Hope this is of some use!!!
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: "Beatty, Robert" <BeattyR at ummhc.org>
>  To: "'audi list'" <quattro at audifans.com>
>  Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 4:00 PM
>  Subject: turbo rebuilding... do it yourself???
>
>
>  > Question for you experts with turbos.
>  >
>  > Is do it yourself turbo rebuilding possible?  How difficult is
>  it?  Need
>  > special tools?  Rebuilding kits available?
>  >
>  > Thanks
>  >
>  > Rob
>  > 86 5ktq (soon to have a K-24)
>  > 89 200tqa