balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

Well, I bought a disassembled but complete 14b for 25 bucks. I cleaned all the ---- up w/ the intention of replacing the seals/bearings. I guess you could call it a rebuild, but my question is this...will I have to have the turbo balanced after I reassemble it? Would it be a good idea to do this even if not reqd? Where would I have this done, and is there anything else involved (like machining work) with an actual rebuild other than replacing the pieces that came with a rebuild kit? Any help is appreciated, I searched the net for DSM sites, found a few about rebuilding the 14b's and they all say mark how the comp wheel comes off so when you install its not out of balance. Well, mines not marked so I assume thats why the guy gave up on trying to rebuild it cause he knew he fucked up. Is there any hope for this turbo? Should I just send it out and have it rebuilt? How much would that cost and name some reputable shops if thats my only feasable option. Thanks I really appreciate it. My shits finally coming together, Ive already contacted stealth for my oil line (even though they suck :1 ) and im trying to get on to johnnyracecar.com to get my intercooler, but his site has been down for so long now. Is there any other way to contact him for an intercooler?

EDIT: Verified it is a 14b, thought it was a T25

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

bump, id like to know also im getting a 14b like this for free.

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

Its always a good idea to have it balanced after a rebuild. But if its completely taken apart it will need to be balanced, period. Otherwise its 99% likely that it'll trash itself really fast if its off balance. Look at the 'nut' on the end of the turbine shaft. You'll notice how its been grouned away at wierd places, that was done in accordance to a computer balancing machine to ensure a nice balance, so it doesn't spin off axis and contact the housing at 50,000 rpm or however fast they spin when fully spooled up.

You 'can' rebuild them by yourself without 'needing' to rebalance them if you get it when its fully assembled and it hasn't been taken apart previously. If you make a mark on the compressor blades and shaft and a few other places and then line those back up when you reassemble it 'should' maintain the factory balance. I actually just finished a rebuild on a t25 that I got for pretty much free (t25 and DSM SMIC for $35). I currently don't have anything to put it on right now to see if it'll scatter when it spools or not. thinking about boosting my 90 cavalier 2.2 shitbox just to see if the turbo will toast itself or if my rebuild was worth it. I'd hate to sell it to someone else and have it blow up and send shrapnel into their intake manifold :l. Actually all I'd like is someone to hook it up, not connect the charge piping and check to see if it spews its guts out when it fully spools up.

Any one volunteer ? :-X I'd send it in for testing lol.

Do some searches on this thread and on google and you'll find links to several write ups about rebuilding and marking procedures that will give you a place to start. But if you bought the turbo in pieces ... you'll need to send it away to get it balanced because is has pretty much 0 chance of finding a balance when you put it back together.

But hey, free is always worth it :) however rebalancing is expensive.

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

Depends if you really care about the turbo. I rebuilt my T3 60/63 a while ago and didnt mark the location of the compressor wheel and nut on the shaft, and its been working real good (Shaft play has not returned, neither has the magic smoke) id say that the price of a good used 14b is probably less than having it professionally rebuilt/balanced so its up to you. If it was an expensive turbo (say, a GT35R) then id probably send it out to get balanced/rebuilt.

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

serioiusly, i dont know what the ---- nutuner is talking about... maybe he doesnt have a turbo? A turbine wheel and shaft is a balanced unit, as it the compressor wheel. No matter where that wheel is on the shaft, your turbo is balanced. You can take it apart a hundred times. Ive rebuilt 5 or so turbos for my friends. None have fallen apart due to "balancing issues"

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

i thought you only need to do balancing after you cut fins and ----......

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

Im not cutting anything, so i guess Ill just be a guinnea pig and try it not balanced. Its not worth it to balance if its expensive. What are we talking about in price here? Any known good companies? Thanks.

NOTE: I realize this was moved from general discussion, yeah I fucked up. Last time I posted a quetion in FI, I didnt get any responses, so I had my reasons.

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

Blaast Performance...full rebuilt and balance 125US
www.blaastperformance.com

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

you're not the guinea pig here. Many people have done it, including myself. Rebuild it and run it. period.

Re: balancing turbo after rebuild?
 

+1