HELP turbine making contact with housing...

[rbertalan]

I removed the 21 cm housing and installed a 12 cm housing.



Everything seemed to fit and bolt back together like they were always a set.



I just got the truck running and have been driving it a few times

maybe a couple of miles at the most.



I can hear the turbine fins making contact with the walls for a few seconds once the turbo starts to spool up.



It only does this at approximatedly mid range of spool up.



It has not done it while idling or at WOT once the turbo spools up.



Any idea what might be wrong? bad housing? bad turbine?



I guess I am going to have to take it apart again... but what should I be looking for?



Thanks for any advice...



... Robert...

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Hi Robert,



Happy New Year !!



STOP DRIVING IT UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED !!

From the sound of it, your turbo is in need of a rebuild. It should not make contact with any of the interior surfaces. Remember, that thing can hit rotational speeds in excess of 100,000 RPM.

If it binds up on you you'll have alot more problems than just a turbo reubuild. As it is now, you're likely pumping shavings/filings thru your intercooler. The runout will cause greater imbalance in the turbo shaft/pinwheel assembly, all leading to an ugly event!

You may be having problems with the bearing(s), thrust plate(s) (my word) or other components internally.

It is NOT safe to drive it like this... . Fix it right away.



Seek professional advice quickly.



Bob.

 

[JLEONARD]

Robert,

Heed Bush's warning. Stop driving the truck.

This happened to my turbo several months ago. When I dissassembled it to rebuild it, the intake turbines were pretty far gone, and the unit was not repairable.

The thrust bearing (a bronze plate) was totally shot. It got taken out by a steel mating bushing that had cracked and broken apart. Basically the tubo self-destructed.

I had to buy a new turbocharger. I bought it from Gomer's... . by far the cheapest price I could find...

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Jay

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Every 21 I have removed was rusted and warped tight onto the center housing flange. This makes it very easy to bend the shaft or a fin during the r&r.



If on a budget, I and some others occasionally get used HX35s.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Followup to Joe D's response.....



Joe are you able to narrow done the primary cause of this type of failure? Assuming it is not R&R related would it just be poor lube supply, bearing deterioration, over spooling or what??



Thanks,

Bob.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Usually the compressor wheel rubs first, in non-r&r situations. Abrupt changes in rotor speed are often the culprit. Small housing---instant acceleration and spoolup; very high boost with any housing, taking the foot out of it instantly---compressed air tries to spin the wheel backwards and drives it into the oil film at the bearing, eventually scuffing the bearing. Very high rotor speeds are hard on the bearings too, but if changes in boost are done smoothly, not too hard on them. Any out-of-balance makes the effect much worse. That is why I now have Pius at Bell Turbo balance every turbo I use.