Turbo wheel, steel or ceramic ?

[Jay23]

How can I know if my turbo's wheels are steel or ceramic ? I know the guy had the engine before me did some upgrade but I didn't know what it is. Maybe there's a way to identify the wheel by the bolt or something ? Thanks

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[MarusGTR]

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/topic/276643-how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-ceramic-and-steel-wheel-turbo/

You were on the right path with the bolt being a differenciating factor.

[bobbo]

Reading further into that post (nice find btw Marc) where they talk about the inconel being ferrous or magnetic... It is not.

[Skym]

Compressor, exhaust wheel is alot larger on hybrid RB20 or RB25 turbo if you put it next to a stock RB20 or RB25 turbo. The exhaust wheel is nearly as big as the opening on rear of turbo. You can see it still has a bit of meat around exhaust wheel, so would think ceramic exhaust wheel.

This is the size differences between stock, bigger hybrid turbo exhaust wheel -

RB20, RB25 stock exhaust wheel = 51x43

Hybrid RB20, RB25 turbo exhaust wheel = 58.9x48.7

High flow turbo is porting exhaust manifold to turbo flange entrance, etc, polishing internals of housings, backcutting blades, etc.

Hybrid turbo is using another CHRA (centre part of turbo), bigger wheels to suit, machined stock compressor, exhaust housings to suit the bigger wheels. Neat part about a hybrid turbo is it looks stock, but with RB20 hybrid turbo it produces 20hp more at same boost level. Good for around 350hp (engine) at 1bar with supporting mods to suit.

Many say a highflow turbo is a hybrid turbo, but they are 2x different ways to modify a turbo.

[Jay23]

Great really nice to know this all, thanks for the links and the nice information Skym, but actually my engine is a rb26 i should mention it. So i plan to change my wheel because they aren't steel as you've seen, what should I do ? Problem with Ebay kit or it should be good ?

[bobbo]

There's a guy in Australia that sells an upgrade kit for the R32 turbos on eBay upgrading them to steel wheels. I've spoken to him on the phone a few times and he is very knowledgeable. Probably a good way to go.

[Skym]

You're welcome. If it's a RB26 turbo they have part numbers on compressor, exhaust housing, etc that allows you to find out what turbo it is. I remember there was photo's someone on here posted of the differences between stock, N1, etc turbo's.

As far as I know, stock R32 GTR turbo's are 270 degree thrust bearings and have ceramic exhaust wheels. You'll need to balance them after rebuild, so they last.

This link shows why you need to balance them properly -

http://www.turbo.co.nz/alltech/service.php?Page=Turbo

Local turbo rebuilder that can make hybrid stock turbo's -

http://www.cherryturbos.com/Hybrids.html

You can fit a GTi-R or SR20DET stock turbo CHRA (or similar CHRA from Garrett) and machine housings to suit bigger wheels (both SR20 and GTR turbo's use T25 flanges). Stock turbo's are made by Garrett Japan for Nissan.

[steveo1502]

There's a couple different kits on eBay, one has the steel exhaust wheel and another has both wheels, I've heard they should still be balanced after install, I have rebuilt stock turbos, it was one of those eBay kits, but installed and balanced by a company here in Calgary, can see on the end of the nut holding the new wheel, the corner is ground off, but I wish I had spent a little more and bought something a little better, but they were super cheap

[beacher1B0]

Cherry turbos. Bout $800 a piece rebuilt R32s with steel wheels.