99 Spec Turbo Qs
 

Asked on another forum - but got no answer. Does anyone here know the answer to these questions?

I went to see a low mileage set of 99 Turbos.

The seller was very cool and I would have bought them there on the spot but...

1. Neither of the pinwheels would freespin in the housings. The most freewheel I could get out of them was about 3/4 of a turn. I am not sure if this was normal in the 99s with the abraidable material in place?
   
2. On the secondary, as I turned the shaft by the nut, there was no lateral motion, however one of the vanes (just one) of the compressor wheel would scrape the abraidable material. That seemd to indicate to me that either the ab liner was somehow out of alignment, or the turbo had one vane that has a larger radius than the others and is therefore out of balance? Is this possible?

Anyone have any idea what might have been going on with this set of turbos?

fwiw, I once tried to spin the primary and could not. I'm running 99 twins.

That's worth a lot. It is good to know that is not a unique situation.

The 99 twins use journal bearings so without oil there is lateral shaft play which could allow the compressor wheel to touch the abraded seal. Both my primary and secondary turn freely.

Dan

Thanks also. This seems like a warning sign to me.

i don't know about the 99 spec turbo's but most all turbos i've ever messed with including my stock twins and single turbo all spin freely