Balanced Wheels/Assembly
 

I have always heard to index compressor wheels and shafts before takedown for reassembly, to maintain balance and all this ho hum. I did so to my turbo when I replaced the turbine shaft ring... everything was/is fine etc etc..

Recently "blindly" purchased another turbo, an AiResearch T04, ended up having a shitty S trim compressor wheel (37 lbs/min flow).. I bought it for $75 so its ok..

Anyways, I am probably going to replace the wheel/housing from something else. I have heard that most factory turbos have individually balanced compressor wheels and turbine shafts, is this correct? If so, then it shouldn't make a lick of difference considering their relationship to each other..

I know aftermarket work usually involves having them balanced seperately, then as one, or something.. but that is a whole nother issue.

Just seeing if I can make the swap without taking it to a machine shop :6

Re: Balanced Wheels/Assembly
 

O0

Re: Balanced Wheels/Assembly
 

Balance it for peice of mind. I did.

Re: Balanced Wheels/Assembly
 

Bump because Im wondering the same thing. As long as there is no metal on the wheels missing or added the weight should have stayed the same. As long as they are both balanced individually I shouldnt matter how they are indexed upon reassembly.

Re: Balanced Wheels/Assembly
 

Its best to have the turbine wheel and compressor wheel ballanced seperatly... however I would also have it ballanced put together. A well ballanced wheel doesn't waste energy vibrating so it spools and spins faster.

Re: Balanced Wheels/Assembly
 

So when a turbo is professionally balanced to they balance it with the turbine and compressor in the center section or out of the center section?

Re: Balanced Wheels/Assembly
 

I have always wondered that myself

So if i need to, I have to take the shaft out, which wheel do you take off? the exhaust or compressor? and as long as you tighten the bolt back to where it was you dont need it rebalanced? this is interesting, i think my turbo needs to be rebuilt (blue smoke out of my exhaust when in/after boost) and I dont feel like paying someone to do it because its just a cheap, old, tiny junkyard turbo.

Re: Balanced Wheels/Assembly
 

They would balance it outside of the center section, on some sort of balancing tool/machine..

Most turbo's from the factory only have seperately balanced wheels, so it must be OKAY to swap wheels/etc without a rebalance, granted the new wheel is balanced..

Of course If i were building an uber expensive turbo I might get it balanced as an entire assembly, but for us junkyard guys, it's no use it seems!