As I'm reading about rebuild kits, I notice there are 3 different types of seals, which must be matched to the original..

Do T3/T04E's use a dynamic seal?

pic to show what I mean

 

why not take it apart first to be sure? you rebuilding it anyways so...

 

thought about doing this, but i'd like to finish it all in 1 sitting.. oh well

 

are you getting it balanced again or throw it back together like it came apart?

 

It's probably dynamic seal. I'd pull it apart to be sure though.

 

The carbon seals aren't as common. They are mostly used in older stuff and for draw through carburetors.

 

i'm making the fan blades with the housing, then matching it up during assembly.
should be ok

 

You have to mark the shaft to the blades man, not to the housing

 

yea, i have a tutorial for it somewhere..
are the cheap kits on ebay worth the savings??

 

---- NO! They spec out like ----! Pretty much not worth doing the rebuild yourself either really. Get it professionally prepped and then just assemble it yourself to save money if you must. It's not just the shaft that needs to be prepped. The bearing housing will need it too. I'd say the hardest part is getting the turbine sealing ring clearance right. If there is any wear it has to be machined right (grooves in bearing housing and shaft) and a proper sealing ring (may need to be a little larger than OEM if there is wear) fitted. If it's even .01" (~1/4mm) off; it'll allow exhaust gases to push through into the crankcase via the oil return (not oil like most people think). That TO4E is a also dynamic seal. It has the normal style thrust collar and a 270 degree thrust bearing.

Bottom line is that if you want your turbo to be properly remanned; there are processes that have to be undertaken that you don't have the equipment for. The guys who use Ebay rebuild kits and don't check anything with calipers end up with turbos that fail miserably after a shot period of time or don't even work right from the start. Also, be careful of guys who consider a straightening a true balance. The backyard rebuild is definitely a game of Russian Roulette.