81 UrQ in need of turbo replacement

[Ameer Antar]

Yes, I agree w/ Konstantin, there is one last nut that mounts the turbo to the manifold that is very hard to get at. But, you don't have to remove the head or any of the manifolds. I ended removing the airbox and a few pipes and such out of the way as well. The trick is as Konstantin mentioned is the offset 17mm wrench. You will definitely need this if the urq turbo and manifold are anything like the t44. Also, if you really get stuck, you can remove the 6 nuts that hold the turbo's bearing housing to the turbine housing (exhaust side). I did this on my first 5kT and had no trouble after the rebuild. There are no parts to replace in the turbine housing during a rebuild and often turbo places sell rebuilt "cartridges" which is just the central bearing housing... no turbine or compressor housing. All the wear occurs in the middle... unless the turbine or compressor wheel has touched the housings. Good luck.

-Ameer

---Original Message---
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 10:59:19 -0500
From: Konstantin Bogach <konstantin.bogach at morganstanley.com>
Subject: Re: 81 UrQ in need of turbo replacement
To: JagerBond at aol.com
Cc: quattro at audifans.com
Message-ID: <404600D7.3020806 at morganstanley.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Mike, I did it while rebuilding head and I took the head off with manifolds and turbo on it.  I practiced on junk yard before doing it on my car with purpose of training and getting spare head for practicing porting job, not cracked manifold and spare turbo.  I could not remove just turbo due to one nut (to EM, it seems to me) has almost no access for wrench.  I had to remove the head with EM,IM and turbo. Finally I got only turbo which turned very useful as I broke the shaft on my turbo while rebuilding it and I borrowed shaft from it.
Later when I put everything back on the car I found the way to get to that nut - Sears 15mm 45deg offset box wrench worked well.  Little clearence but enough to tighten the nut, with a lot of patience and other things around removed (don't remember what but nothing major).
Next time I need to remove a turbo I will try to do it without removing a head.  Those nuts are made of titanium, probably, don't rust and I think it is possible.

Sorry for not much details - I did it 2 years ago.

Konstantin.

>> Hey list,
>> I've never had the pleasure of replacing an Audi turbo before, and welcome
>> any BTDT and or tips.  How big of a project is it?
>> 
>> Mike Bond
>> 5Qs
>



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