I just picked up a T25 cheap Ebay turbo (new) and it came out of the box with a millimeter shaft play.

I wrote to the seller expressing my disappointment about the shaft play but they replied that since it was a journal bearing turbo that some shaft play should be expected.

is this just bullshit? should I lay into them to send me a non fucked one or should I expect a bit of play from a journal bearing?

this is a cheapass turbo I didn't really expect much out of this chinese turbo. I expected to break this thing in a few months, instead of getting it fucked straight out of the box.

 

no. journal bearing turbos will have a small amount of shaft play. put some oil in the oil feed hole and spin it. you shouldnt feel much shaft play. once the turbo is supplied with pressurized oil the shaft play will dissappear. i installed the same turbo on my gsxr 1000 and it is still good after my abuse.

 

+1 Journal bearing turbos got lil shaft play, but sometimes chinese got even more than normal, remember you got for what you pay