turbo rebuilds costs

[rshuwy]

i have been ringing around for prices on to rebuild my turbos (ct12a),

ive had quotes between $550 to $750 per turbo for new seals, bearings and balancing.

is this a reasonable price? what have other user paid?

is there a cheaper way?

[MWP]

DIY

Im rebuilding my CT26 as i type (its soaking in petrol for cleaning atm).

You can pick up rebuild kits on ebay for around $100.
They will have new seals & bearings.

As for balancing, if the comp & turbine wheels are in good shape, it isnt required if you make sure everything is aligned as it was before the rebuild.
... well so ive been told anyway, we'll see if this is the case with my turbo in 10,000kms

[rshuwy]

is rebuilding that involved?

there isnt too many parts haha!

[kickstartRA28]

The hardest part, I found, is getting the turbo off the manifold with so much heat there it easily becomes seized.

[MWP]

is rebuilding that involved?
there isnt too many parts haha!

It took me ~4hrs to rebuild it last night which included a really good clean.
I had a couple of issues pop up, like i couldnt use the new compressor seal ring as it was too large.

Now it has almost 0 play, spins freely and is clean.
Should be good for a few more years

[rshuwy]

thats good to hear.

where did you get your kit from?

[MWP]

you can pick up rebuild kits on ebay for around $100.
They will have new seals & bearings.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I will say though that doing a rebuild does require a decent amount of assorted tools, and some mech knowledge.

Read through this...
http://www.supramania.com/forums/printthread.php?t=3934

[thechuckster]

mwp: assuming you followed the supramania thread, how much did you pay for getting the turbo re-balanced? and did you have to do much to get the thrust washer flat?

btw - great thread/link

[MWP]

Yeah, it is a good article.
Should really quote it or something in here just in case it disappears from that forum.

I didnt get it rebalanced.
The parts already had alignment marks on them from the last time it was rebuilt by ATS, so i just lined those back up

My turbo actually looks like it had only been rebuilt a few years ago.
It was quite clean and the back of the compressor wheel still had writing on it from ATS.
Strange that the bearings wore so quickly. I wonder if the high boost levels contributed to that, or maybe it was pushed too hard when cold by previous owners.

[Z2TT]

Which shop from ebay sells the rebuild kit?
$100 is pretty cheap

Is the quality as good as genuine Toyota rebuild kits?

[MWP]

It came from this guy:
http://myworld.ebay.com.au/japan_precision

The kit had a couple of issues.
The front seal ring was slightly too large, easy fixed by filing the gap larger.
The kit also didnt have a oil supply/return gasket, but instead had 4 (??) water supply gaskets.
Otherwise it all looked good

Turbo has next to no shaft play at all now.
Ive got about 30mins more work to do on it before its back on the road.

Hmmm, maybe i should do a write up.
I did take a few photos along the way.

[rshuwy]

he doesn't have any for ct12a's

but he lists the applications for the ct12 kit as

"# CHASER/CRESTA/MARK II TOURER V
# SOARER
# SUPRA
# VEROSSA
# CROWN"

then goes on to say "Please note this kit is not suitable for CT12A and CT12B variants."

so that begs me to ask, what is the difference between ct12a and ct12 turbos? i thought it was too do with 1g and 1j?

[MWP]

Why dont you send him a message on ebay and find out?

[rshuwy]

just did, all i got back was "there completely different" LOL

[chris davey]

ct12's are 1g
ct12a's are 1j

If he has the option of supplying kits I would be doing the ct12a's as there are a hell of a lot more of them around than 1g's.

[Mr89Cressida]

last time i had my turbo rebuilt and that way by GCG (not going to them again as they cant put gaskets in with out stuffing them) cost me just under $1300 and that was bearings balancing polishing machining of the housings etc but that was due to the fact the turbo ran out of oil as the oil pump went, so can be rather $$$$

[rshuwy]

just got the turbo i was going to rebuild.

will proberly crack it up to have a look at it on the weekend. at this stage i think i will be buying a rebuilding kit and putting it in myself.

but i guess ill see how i go :S

[auto351]

I saw the kits on EBay but how good would they be, there is another kit which is $380.00 each

The picture to the right is a kit from china, which looks different to the local $380.00 kit

The CT12 turbo bushes local_____________________________ Items from china


Would there be a difference in quality / service life ??

[MWP]

Would there be a difference in quality / service life ??

Probably... but who knows what the difference will be until the turbo wears and needs another set again.

If your that worried about it, buy the kit from a turbo rebuild shop, or toyota (i think they sell them).

[02JZE]

Geez for that price id go a big single. You could even save money buy ebay single turbo. if thats not an option id go 2nd hand replacements off a low k front cut. My 2j has done next to no work and im pulling the twins off to go single and once my twins are off (ct20s are they ??) im not expecting to get much for them but just to help someone replace theirs. Pulling the turbos off is payment enough you wouldnt want your wallet to hurt as well.