Turbo Rebuild Kits

[Swap_File]

I recently got a Garrett T3 (TA0301) turbo off of a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300SD at the local junkyard.



While the turbine side’s bushing seems solid, the compressor side has a bit of wobble. The compressor was also incredibly oily before I cleaned it up.

Before I use this turbo for anything, I figure it would be a good idea to rebuild it.
I see both major and minor kits rebuild available on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=8011958022
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=8010918688

Is the full kit worth it? It looks like all the important parts are covered in the minor kit.
Is there a better place than ebay to buy rebuild kits?
Has anyone here rebuilt their own turbo and care to comment on the process?

I know I will also have to replace the hose leading to the wastegate, it is brittle and cracking.

Thanks for any input you may have.

[AccordEpicenter]

i rebuilt mine and it had carbon deposits in the centersection making it belch out oil out the turbine like nobodys business. How much of a wobble does it have? Take some 10w-30 motor oil and pour a little into the oil feed port and try this: pull the compressor wheel in and out, It should have no in-out shaft play, if that is good, see how much side to side play there is. It can have quite a noticeable amount of shaft play before its bad shaft play. Basically as long as the compressor wheel fins dont scrape the housing and there is no in out play (i dont see any oil in the turbine) then the turbo should be ok to use as is. What youd need to replace when rebuilding depends on how badly it needs to be rebuilt and how much you care about the longevity of the turbo

[Swap_File]

Well, there no in and out play, there is some side to side but not so much that it touches the sides.

The one other problem I thought the turbo might (probably) has an oil leak. You really cant see it in the pictures since I cleaned up the outside of it, but check out the inside:



The outside of the compressor had a similar ammount of oil over it, as well as the compressor's fins. I assumed this came from the compressor leaking, but it could have gotten in at the junk yard.

I only paid $30 for this turbo, so if I have to pick up a rebuild kit it isn't too big of a deal. I almost expected I would have to.

[AccordEpicenter]

its tough to say, i mean, it is alot of oil and crud in there, but ive seen on quite a few diesels, the air intake and pcv hoses and all that stuff seem to dump a load of oily deposits right into the compressor housing. If i were you, id just rock it as is, at least to start with. If it ends up being funky, take it out and overhaul it. I gave my friend a 150000 mi dodge t3 that had a fair amount of shaft play in it, and the turbo works great, no smoke, good power... His other turbo however, had massive in and out play and he needed the one i gave him

[white ricer]

yeah swap file im in the same boat as you. I bought a t-3 and its in the same shape. No in and out shaft play but some considerable up and down play. Its plum full of crap and all the seals are bad so im just thinkin im gonna rebuild it. I think i would go with what epicenter said and just rock it and see what happens