hi i just wanted to ask the question has anyone refurbished a turbo them selves on this forum? iv seen t28 kits on ebay and i just wanted to know if its just a case of geting the turbo balanced after?

no no and thrice no. you really dont want to.

I've spotted some of your other posts and it looks like your on the same learning curve as me.

I'm guessing the wear can be on the shaft as well as the bearings though there is a replacement shaft for sale there too. Doesnt look to be genuine Garrett tho.

The ebay review of DIY turbo rebuilds is worth reading for a -ve view here .

On the other hand others seem to have gotten away with it with:

"I have rebuilt two Garrett turbochargers-one on a Volvo and one on a Mercedes. The overhaul kits came from a company in California and cost about $100. Just take your time, keep things clean, follow the instructions and you'll be fine. Breaking everything loose is the hardest part. Both of the ones I overhauled worked flawlessly for years."

from here .

I suspect its a matter of care and good fortune if a DIY repair lasts.

The US GT turbo you asked about will fit I believe but you'll need to buy the v-band adapter for the exhaust outlet and adapters for the compressor inlet and outlet which will add to the price. If the courier hits you for VAT (duty?) as well then it might not be so much of a bargain, especially if you need the warranty.

I'm not looking for a big power increase and may well settle for standard again tho I am tempted by a superspool from what I've read hereabouts. The police siren under my bonnet doesnt seem to have much patience with my indecision though

If I go the DIY route I'll let you know how I get on.

Yes it is possible and indeed quite straight forward, providing your bearing housing, and turbine shaft haven't got excessive wear. If the're worn you'll need an vernier gauge to ascertain whether you'll need over size bearings avalible with 0.005" and 0.010" oversize outer and under size inner diameter. The piston ring seal is also an area that wears and might need machining oversize by 0.010" and also you've got to consider the width of the oil seal might also need oversizing. Then you can get it balanced. CR TURBOS balanced mine for £50 quid and are awesome chaps to talk to v helpful. Be wary of Turbo Dynamics though i sent my turbo to them in 2004 to be hybridised to superspool (MD370) spec at a cost of about £750 and after two years of driving and two years of no use fitted to my old wreck i decided to strip it down just for a health check and renew of bearings et al. Even though i have the invoice which says "New Core Supplied" because i really did wreck the original turbo apparently only my comp and tubine housings were reused i found the bearings were oversize by 0.005" and the turbine shaft had been machined so a 0.010" oversize diameter and 0.010" oversize width piston ring was needed staggered gap seals arn't avalible in this size so a normal type seal was used. Dont get me wrong i had no trouble with this turbo but it made for an interesting rebuild sourcing out of spec parts. In fact i'm seathing now i write this but what can i do these companies send out all sorts of stuff and rely on the fact that normal people will not have any idea they've got secondhand parts!

intresting you say that as the turbo i have spare is a turbo dynamics re-furbed turbo, it was on my car when i bought it, it was leaking oil, i used the actuator of it on a standard turbo i was using on my coupe now, i need a uprated one as iv got no cat on the car now

If you are going to refurb it don't by a refurb kit off ebay before you've stripped it down because as it is a refurb unit it most likely has got oversize internals. This is not a problem as cr turbos sold me oversize parts even a stagger gap seal, but it means a kit from ebay will not fit and give you within tolerance clearances. I'll post up some measurements later so you have something to ref against.

just spoke to ITS turbos and they sound pretty good

they will collect the turbo, assess the damage, quote you a price and if you not happy then will send the turbo back to you! all for free

did also speak to cr turbos and im waiting for a reply back

i got a call back,they can refurb and add a 360 bearing for £245
Hummmmm......

You still need to check the shaft and rotating assembly are balanced or you are taking a big risk.

sent the nakard turbo off today, should get a call soon on my opions

Just got the call, this turbo needs a new core, and would cost with a 360 thrust £500 so I'm gonna have to send the good standard turbo off the be hybrid-ed up now

I told them to bin the one they've got or put it to good use