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cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 28 Nov 2012, 19:45
by lloydy
This part of my BY rebuild thread
http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/afn-r ... 77011.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
But i thought this section might be useful for some, as a individual topic...
Firstly removed the circlip from the actuator arm (this was actually so rusted it just disintergrated)

then removed the 3 bolts holding the actuator to the turbo

actuator removed!

Next step was to remove the remaining 3 bolts around the turbo

Once they are removed you can split the turbo in two, for this i used a cold chisel, braced the exhaust part of turbo and gave the bearing housing a whack

The result is a turbo in two parts
This spacer just pulls off, there is three in total

First part of VNT mechanism can be removed

Three hex headed bolts can then come out

Followed by the second part of VNT mech
one side

reverse side, these are the variable vanes

You are then left with three spacers in the turbo housing

Second part will be cleaning it all up, Mr Muscle or i might soak it all in coke overnight
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 28 Nov 2012, 20:00
by aruntaylor
I paid £350 to have my VNT cleaned and its been perfect for 50,000 miles. I doubt they did anything different to you. My vanes were getting stuck open and causing an over boost fault. Guess what VW said... "You need a new turbo sir, it's £1300 plus fitting"...
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 28 Nov 2012, 20:25
by lloydy
It's actually quite an easy thing to do, what you see above took 30mins. That doesn't inc removing turbo from engine.
This one is from my spare engine, the one fitted to my van I got fully reconditioned, with new bearings, seals ect for £250. Looked like a brand new turbo.
They do seem to soot up regularly unless you use the full rev range. I want to Split the compressor side off and see if I can get that all cleaned up to
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 00:30
by ringo
*you haven't put it back together yet and tried it.
Just sayin.....
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 06:38
by lloydy
Oh yea of little faith...
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 17:53
by westy-81
lloydy wrote:It's actually quite an easy thing to do, what you see above took 30mins. That doesn't inc removing turbo from engine.
This one is from my spare engine, the one fitted to my van I got fully reconditioned, with new bearings, seals ect for £250. Looked like a brand new turbo.
They do seem to soot up regularly unless you use the full rev range. I want to Split the compressor side off and see if I can get that all cleaned up to
Is there any where that sell the bearings and seals as im going to buy a S/H turbo shortly and if poss would like to give it a service before fitting it.
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 29 Nov 2012, 19:19
by lloydy
You probably can somewhere, but I think doing the bearings is a specialist job. You can buy the bearing housing on eBay, and probably other places
Here's a eBay one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GT1749V-VNT15 ... 60a&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
As this is a spare turbo for me and the worst that can happen is I have to buy a new bearing housing, I might see if I can do the oil seals
Here is a repair kit
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Garrett-G ... dd3&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 03 Dec 2012, 19:27
by lloydy
Step two, cleaning..
VNT mechanism now pretty clean
exhaust side of turbo de-sooted
I then split the compressor section from the bearing housing and gave that a clean
Then got onto the bearing housing
compressor side
before

after

and the exhaust side
before

after

Now just to re-assemble, and decide on whether i get a bearing housing
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 03 Dec 2012, 20:58
by ELVIS
westy-81 wrote:lloydy wrote:It's actually quite an easy thing to do, what you see above took 30mins. That doesn't inc removing turbo from engine.
This one is from my spare engine, the one fitted to my van I got fully reconditioned, with new bearings, seals ect for £250. Looked like a brand new turbo.
They do seem to soot up regularly unless you use the full rev range. I want to Split the compressor side off and see if I can get that all cleaned up to
Is there any where that sell the bearings and seals as im going to buy a S/H turbo shortly and if poss would like to give it a service before fitting it.
Pretty sure you can't go any further than Lloydy has without specialist kit ( Ok, you can if you wish) I think/thought if you disassemble any further to do bearings etc then it needs to be balanced and seeing as it spins at into six figures rpm then it has to be done pretty darn well or it eats itself.
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 03 Dec 2012, 21:16
by lloydy
that is correct...
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 03 Dec 2012, 21:57
by HarryMann
Fitting the bearings and seals fairly straightforward if you pay atention to detail and don't rush it
http://www.suzukituning.com/General/KKK ... ebuild.htm
But balancing is where it's at... the final frontier!
Re: cleaning and reassembling a VNT15 turbo
Posted: 04 Dec 2012, 21:14
by lloydy
think i'll leave the bearing housing to the pro's...
step 3 putting it all back together
Everything had a wipe in engine oil, as it's going to be unused for a while
spacers back in and held in place with a bit of grease

VNT mech dropped back in, taking care to get the orientation right so the actuator lines up (dowel hole at around ten oclock, to the right of hex head bolt is where the actuator locates in)

spacers X3 and locating pins fitted

video of the VNT mech, you can just see the vanes moving inside

turbo all back together

and a video of how 'free' it all is now
