I bought a used gt2554r from here awhile back, and it has quite a bit more shaft play than advertised, so I want to rebuild it before I put it on my car. The compressor wheel moves up and down/side to side/in and out, and about any way imaginable, not a lot, but it does move in directions I dont think its supposed to.

Where do I get a rebuild kit, I've been looking but I don't understand what I need. I've heard they can't be rebuilt and need a whole chra, which I understand is everything but the housing as a unit? Are there any upgrades I could do with the compressor?

I would rather not get/use eBay parts.

 

If it's a GT255R, you are done. You have to get a replacement CHRA, there is no way to rebuild it.

A replacement CHRA + an upgraded compressor is, in all likelihood, as much or more than the cost of just upgrading to the relevant turbo.

 

Just run it, It's going to last a lot longer than you think. Its normal for ball beraing turbos to devop play, as long as it spins smoothly and is not touching the housing you will be fine. I have a gt2554 in my mazdaspeed protege that has had excessive play for 30,000+ miles and still works perfectly.

 

I don't want to chip the compressor wheel and ruin a 1400$ motor over a busted turbo. Do the chips get into the motor or would they get cought up in the intercooler?

 

I'm wondering if it's possible to swap out the ball bearing chra with a journal one from a sr20 unit. I have a spare journal bearing chra that would cost $80 to rebuild. If you can remove the turbine wheel / shaft from the chra...measure it...length and diameter. I'll tell you if it's the same, and I'll sell you my chra cheap.
I have the wheel and shaft, but it's like .8mm different from sr20 to 2554. Something like that.

 

I'm not opposed to tearing into it, but I don't know the difference between journal bearing and a chra's ball bearing. If this doesn't pan out ill have to wait until next year to get a new turbo, no chance I'm gonna be able to come up with 7-900$ for a scavenge pump wheel...supposed to get married this year.

 

The turbine housing on a ball bearing turbo has 6 bolts where the chra bolts onto it, on a journal bearing it only has 4. You would need the turbine housing, compressor housings are the same as long as it has the same size wheel.

 

Please let me know if you are interested in selling it. I might be interested because I hear it's a perfect turbo for a 1.6 litre. Cheers.