Turbo Tech: Turbo Bearings

Turbo Bearings

We like turbos at MotoIQ.  Why?  In the phrase made famous by Tim Allen, "more power!"  In order for a turbo to cram air into an engine, it has a pair of wheels and a shaft spinning at incredible speeds.  Depending on the size of the turbo, they can spin anywhere from 100,000 rpm (big turbos) to 300,000 rpm (small turbos).  300,000 rpm equals 5000 revs a second.  Put another way, if you rolled a compressor wheel on the ground, it would go about six football fields a second.  That's about 1.7 times the speed of sound.  Wrap your head around that!  The rotating assembly consisting of the shaft, turbine wheel, and compressor wheel encounter axial and radial loads that want to push the wheels into the housings and rub parts together.  To keep the rotating assembly supported and freely spinning, turbos currently either use a journal or ball bearing system.  There are variations on each theme, but we're going to go over the most common designs.  First, we need to discuss the loads they encounter.

berrings1 berrings2

Check out the rest of the article at Moto IQ

Related Articles

All Weather vs All Season Tires: Toyo Celsius II Unboxed All Weather vs All Season Tires: Toyo Celsius II Unboxed
All Season tires are great for your everyday drivers, but when it comes to snow and ice, the term "all season" can be a little generous. Enter the "...
PASMAG's 25th Anniversary: Celebrating with Expanded Tuning365 Tour @ Formula Drift Events and PAS365 Rally Series PASMAG's 25th Anniversary: Celebrating with Expanded Tuning365 Tour @ Formula Drift Events and PAS365 Rally Series
As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, PASMAG is thrilled to announce the first details of an expanded lineup of events in 2024. This milestone...
Wilwood Announces Wilwood Corvette Challenge + Speed Ventures Partnership 2024 Wilwood Announces Wilwood Corvette Challenge + Speed Ventures Partnership 2024
Wilwood Disc Brakes is proud to announce a continued partnership with Speed Ventures on the Wilwood Corvette Challenge for 2024. Wilwood’s sponsorship...
Whiteline Expands Suspension Upgrades for EVs Whiteline Expands Suspension Upgrades for EVs
As the electric vehicle (EV) market continues its rapid expansion, the demand for specialized aftermarket parts grows. Whiteline, a revered name in...
Still Got It: A V6-Swapped MR2 Too Special To Relinquish Still Got It: A V6-Swapped MR2 Too Special To Relinquish
The Toyota MR2, one of Japan’s most prolific mid-engine sport compacts, has left a mark on enthusiasts since its debut in 1984. The moniker "MR2"...
Hot Wheels Elite 64 Porsche 928 Safari Launching April 25 Hot Wheels Elite 64 Porsche 928 Safari Launching April 25
Set your clocks, Hot Wheels and off-road racing enthusiasts! Hot Wheels is set to launch a remarkable new addition to their prestigious Elite 64...