I think my turbo is cooked

[spartanmisfit]

So I'm driving down the road today, not beating on my car or anyhting and I notice a strange noise comming from my motor. At first I thought my downpipe was comming lose or something because it kind of sounded like metal rattling. So I turn off my radio and roll down my windows and noticed it's making the noise when my car turbo spools up. So I got aon the throttle a little and that's when I realized my turbo sounds like shit...
I don't know how to explain the noise but it sounds like my exhaust is rattling, but in my turbo. It's still spooling and I still get my power. I don't know about all of my power because I didn't want to beat on it. It's a Greddy turbo and I don't know the size, but I will find out shortly. I know I should know the size but I havn't gotten any of the specs from the original owner so please the last thing I need to hear is that I don't know shit about my car, I just need help. Thanks

[TURBOMAN]

check for Shaft play. By removing the intake pipe on the turbo. if you can "see" the shaft moving, then it's probably time for a rebuild. If you can only "feel" it move, it should be ok. You shouldn't even be able to move it...only spin it. Its ok for it to have a little side to side play, but if you can pull the shaft IN and OUT, then its bad.....I think.

[Sileighty_85]

WHen you go into boost if the turbo makes a whiney/grindy noise then the bearing are worn out. The compressor wheel is making contact with the compressor housing, So your griding down the compressor wheel when you boost.

Check for side to side move ment on the compressor wheel thats the killer

But there will always be movement for the wheel but it will be only a TINY bit

[SoSideways]

It could be just as simple as the nuts holding your turbo or O2 housing have backed off, thus not creating a good seal.

It happens quite often.

Check the 4 nuts holding the turbo on, and the 3 nuts and 2 bolts (if your GReddy turbo is still the T25/T28 style turbine housing) holding the O2 housing on and make sure they aren't loose.

[luvsr20]

I had a similar problem and i found the 4 nuts holding the turbo and manifold together were loose. I have an idea of the sound you're talking about so make sure everything is tight as possible. Good luck bud

[KwKouki]

is it only at certain RPM or constantly during boost? if its only during certain RPM it might be the wastegate rod rattling around the WG casing. im having a similar problem. we took a wrench extension and put very little leverage on the WG rod, when I revved the car it stopped the rattling.

[shmiddy]

any smoke?????

[spartanmisfit]

Well it got alot worse and made it a whole lot easier to find the problem. My turbo , hopefully, is fine, but I think I have a hole or crack in my exhaust manifold. It's really freakin loud even at idle now. So I'm just gonna have it welded untill I can afford a new manifold, but I have to wait for my new gasket to arrive. Thanks to Tomei. oh and I found out the seller lied to me and I do not have a Greddy turbo, it's a Garrett AR60... I think that's a T3? Anyways I was wondering if they're any good.