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How to disassemble a turbo ?
balidey - 9/7/08 at 12:35 PM

I have a turbo I need to take apart. Its an IHI, but most turbos seems to look externally the same.

So, whats the procedure for taking them apart? ie start on the hot side or cold side first? Then when its apart I notice there are two very small lock nuts on the end of the shaft on the cold side. When I undo these do all the impellers slide off the shaft?

Or are there any online guides? I've not found any yet.

Thanks.
Steve

mikeb - 9/7/08 at 12:39 PM

there was an article in ppc about 8 months back detailing the rebuilding of turbo's. will look it up if I have a chance.

theconrodkid - 9/7/08 at 12:45 PM

why do you want to take it apart?
they are built to such fine tolerances they will need to be done properly if they are to run again

JAG - 9/7/08 at 12:49 PM

They also have to be re-balanced to extremely fine tolerances as they run at such high speeds.

I wouldn't attempt a full rebuild myself. You could do the donkey work and then ask a professional rebuilder to check and rebalance if you wanted.

balidey - 9/7/08 at 01:00 PM

I just want to take it apart.

tegwin - 9/7/08 at 01:08 PM

quote:

I just want to take it apart.


Drop it....from a great height

Richard Quinn - 9/7/08 at 01:52 PM

Run it with no oil supply. Worked for me once!

mangogrooveworkshop - 9/7/08 at 02:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Richard Quinn
Run it with no oil supply. Worked for me once!

MikeRJ - 9/7/08 at 05:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JAG
They also have to be re-balanced to extremely fine tolerances as they run at such high speeds.


The one in my Fiat Coupe is still going strong 12k miles after I rebuilt it, complete with 360 degree thrust bearing.

I did make a jig to ensure the turbine and compressor were correctly aligned when I assembled it though, and I spent a long time removing the carbon build up from the back of the turbine.

Method of disassembly depends on the specific turbo, but you should be able to remove both the exhaust and compressor housings fairly easily to leave you with the 'core', i.e. the bearing housing with the compressor and turbine. Getting the nut off the end of the compressor can be tricky, sometimes they are not standard hex's. On the Garret turbo at least, the turbine and shaft are one piece and the compressor is a tight fit on the shaft.

daviep - 9/7/08 at 06:35 PM

Just out of curiosity how did your jig work? What were you aligning?

MikeRJ - 9/7/08 at 07:01 PM

The jig was to simply to ensure the compressor wheel was fitted back in exactly the same relationship to the turbine wheel as it was before. I'm not convinced it's as important as it's made out to be be, but didn't want to take any chances.

I marked one blade (permanent marker) on each wheel that were in roughly the same position. The jig was very simple, it just had two screws that the turbo shaft sat between (using the centers already machined into the ends of the shaft), a fixed pointer at one end and an adjustable pointer at the other.

You need a long pointer and centering screw at one end, since you need to be able to align the compressor wheel whilst it's only partialy fitted on the shaft. Once it's pressed fully home it's impossible to turn.

[Edited on 9/7/08 by MikeRJ]

daviep - 21/7/08 at 10:42 AM

Thanks for that, my curiosity was bothering me again!

Davie