I picked up a cheap Garrett T25 that's in good shape but has a little shaft paly, needs a rebuild. I tore it down and found that it is a carbon seal unit which makes sense cause the guy I bought it from was into VW stuff. What all is entailed in changing this back to a piston ring style compressor seal? Will a rebuild kit convert it over?

 

I don't think you can unless you get a new center plate. I had to have a carbon seal put in my new turbo and the guy that did the work said he has to mill the plate to install the new carbon seal.

I told the guy three times that I needed a carbon seal because I have a drawthrough system to be sure to take note. I get the tubo back and install it and low and behold I pump about a half a pint of oil through my engine in two pulls. Send the thing back and low and behold, he did not put a carbon seal on it. F-ing idiots.

Anyway all is good now.

My question is why would you want to change over? You can run a carbon seal turbo on anything. I just can't go the other way and it cost me $$$$$ to go to the carbon seal with my setup.

 

You would a new seal plate and a new thrust collar. And you might has well rebalance it while you got it apart. But like jaredsamurai said no reason to change it out. They will work on anything. I would use the money for something else.

 

yeah its only about $20 more to get a carbon rebuild than a regular rebuild. If I have to replace the backing plate that will quickly negate the savings. Thanks guys. I'll probably just stick with the carbon seal