loose wastegate?
 

I took my turbo off my car today in preparation to install a TurboTony downpipe. while i had it off, i inspected it. I noticed that the little disk on the wastgate (the actual part that holds against the wastegate port) was real loose and that i could spin it around with it supposedly fully closed. I went ahead and tightened up the rod on the wastegate until it seemed to fully seat in place. I never heard it rattle or anything, but this just didn't seem right.

Did I screw this up? Also, i tightened it up by spinning the rod itself, and it did spin inside the wastegate. It never occurred to me as a problem until i read on here not to do that. Did i just screw up?

Thanks,
Trent

I'm pretty sure you do not want to spin the rod inside the wastegate. You want to tighten the rod by adjusting the bolt that attaches to the flapper arm.

well, unfortunately, that ship has sailed.

hehe, sorry I didn't read you already knew that. Well, I guess the only thing to do is to give her a little boost:bigtu: Just watch your boost gauge.

well, if it matters, it spun freely. it didn't bind or feel like i broke anything inside of it. I have no idea what black magic occurs inside of a wastegate actuator to make it do what it does, but i can't imagine i screwed it up THAT bad.

anyone have any comments to the first part of the post? is that little disk supposed to sit snug? I can't imagine why it would need to be a little loose. :shrug:

If it is loose i would assume that it is leaking which means you won't build boost as fast as you could.

that was my logic. I figured i would want that sucker CLOSED until the wastegate opened it.

Yep, that is actually a benefit of electronic boost control, it will hold the wastegate shut until you reach a preset boost value instead of allowing the wastegate to open slowly as boost increases.
Hope the wastegate is ok after turning the actuator rod. I have no experience with internal gates.

well, we'll see soon enough. i'm going to remove my MBC and run directly off the wastegate actuator. If I see I'm making more than about 6-8 psi, i'll back off. Then i'll start cussing.

you will probably be making less than 6-8 psi. if the WG if fuxxord GL man