u dnt want any shaft play backwards and forwards, i dnt kw of anyway u could tell if the seals are fukt without running it. i would also look 4 cracks and see if exhaust wheel is chippd and if compressor wheel is fukt b4 buying
Yeah, look for cracks around where the wastegate flap shuts on the exhaust housing, some shaft play is normal, so thats' not a good indicator. It always pays to get any turbo rebuilt when you get it anyway, for piece of mind. New oil seals installed cost me $300, with a new exhaust housing, expect to pay a bit more at Turbo tech etc.
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check the eshaust housing and turbine wheel, if they are 'wet' looking or have a bit of build up of black carbon etc it is not a good sign,
the best way to tell if a rotary turbo is good, is the exhaust wheel will be a goldy brown
this also applies a lil to piston turbos, but it will not be as gold.
a black exhaust turbine in a rotary turbo indicates its oil seals are gone.
is it a roller bearing t28? or a bushed type, from what ive been told the roller bearing ones are not rebuildable