Ball Bearing Vs. Journal Bearing
09-10-2018, 09:28 PM
#1
Ball Bearing Vs. Journal Bearing
Some good reading for the "Gearhead" in all of us.
We get a lot of questions from our clients about ball bearing versus journal bearing turbos, here are the ins and outs and why and why nots.
Hopefully our post in the “Under Boost” section on our site will help unravel the mystery.
Thanks for reading!! Click this link:
Pros & Cons of Ball Bearing Turbochargers
We get a lot of questions from our clients about ball bearing versus journal bearing turbos, here are the ins and outs and why and why nots.
Hopefully our post in the “Under Boost” section on our site will help unravel the mystery.
Thanks for reading!! Click this link:
Pros & Cons of Ball Bearing Turbochargers
Last edited by ProSystemsTurbo; 09-11-2018 at 01:00 PM. Reason: clarification
09-11-2018, 04:41 PM
#3
Mezger 997 yes. Porsche is known for its reliability in design. You'll notice they never push products too hard so you can drive them 100K miles etc HARD and they will still be ready for more. Hence the employment of Journal bearing design turbos.
09-11-2018, 04:54 PM
#4
Three Wheelin'
Nice read, and up until reading this I was looking at upgrading my UrS6 turbo to a larger Garrett ball bearing model. I will have to rethink that and maybe stick with the RS2 style turbo instead.
Ed
Ed
09-11-2018, 05:24 PM
#5
Yes, always look at the Pro and Cons. When a ball bearing turbo goes, it really goes too. We had a 488 Ferrari Turbo in here off a race car and it had a bearing failure. When the bearing goes (unlike a Journal design) it allows so much movement that it just chews up the turbo. Floating Journal designs don't do that.
Trending Topics
09-11-2018, 07:57 PM
#8
Intermediate
I gave the article a read and I am also an Engineer. From a performance stand point, yes the ball bearing is better. But from a reliability and maintenance stand point oiled shaft is the best option.
09-12-2018, 09:39 AM
#9
Rennlist Member
09-12-2018, 09:59 AM
#10
It looks like Slate Grey Metallic to me, nice color!
But like the article states, you have to choose what is right for you. Hopefully the data shed some light on the reasons for the designs and which you should incorporate into your program.
We recently had a Ball bearing turbo off a 488 Ferrari race car in our shop. It had a ball bearing failure and because the shaft was allowed to move such a large distance side to side (due to ball bearing loss), the turbo was a complete loss. Housings, impellers, shaft... totaled.
A journal bearing does not allow such movement as there are no ball bearings to fall out to allow such a large shift left to right to allow the impeller to contact the housing and tear it up.
BUT if you never have a bearing failure, that will never happen... but as we all know... parts fail... its only a matter of time.
Thanks for reading.
But like the article states, you have to choose what is right for you. Hopefully the data shed some light on the reasons for the designs and which you should incorporate into your program.
We recently had a Ball bearing turbo off a 488 Ferrari race car in our shop. It had a ball bearing failure and because the shaft was allowed to move such a large distance side to side (due to ball bearing loss), the turbo was a complete loss. Housings, impellers, shaft... totaled.
A journal bearing does not allow such movement as there are no ball bearings to fall out to allow such a large shift left to right to allow the impeller to contact the housing and tear it up.
BUT if you never have a bearing failure, that will never happen... but as we all know... parts fail... its only a matter of time.
Thanks for reading.
Last edited by ProSystemsTurbo; 09-12-2018 at 12:02 PM.
09-12-2018, 11:55 AM
#11
Intermediate
09-12-2018, 04:27 PM
#12
ill take my borg warner efr ball bearing turbos any day. oil AND water cooled. good enough for the indy car series good enough for me huge spool down low and handles 1100 hp. best of all worlds
09-12-2018, 05:43 PM
#13
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Rennlist Member
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
For those wanting power levels over 800HP the Borg Warner EFR turbochargers are great (as Steve mentioned). It's tough to reconfigure ball bearings turbochargers and keep the stock VNT turbine section.
09-13-2018, 11:33 AM
#14
Originally Posted by Kevin
For those wanting power levels over 800HP the Borg Warner EFR turbochargers are great (as Steve mentioned). It's tough to reconfigure ball bearings turbochargers and keep the stock VNT turbine section.
09-13-2018, 12:01 PM
#15
Three Wheelin'
Looking at those BW turbos, I had to sit down and process spending $9K for two of them. I was trying to justify $1500 - $2K for 1 turbo on a UrS6, so this would be quite the stretch (for me at least).
Ed
Ed