I need some advice on turbo bearing play. I can grab the cold side nut and move it about a 1/16'', the vanes are not touching the case anywhere, just curious if that is normal? Also on the wastegate, truck off, should the little tab on bottom be paralell or 90* to the down pipe?

 

I would look at the high tech turbo web site, they have alot of info, or maybe better yet, give them a call.I believe the addy is www.htturbo.com

 

Some play is needed on the thrust bearings. If you can move the compressor wheel over to one side and turn it at the same time without the fins touching, you are okay. But, dont forget to check end to end play by pushing and pulling on the compressor wheel, you should have none.
Turbo bearings are not like some think they are. Basically, it is 2 bronze bushings with round holes cut in the middle. This is for the oil to seep around the bearing on the inside. It is a full float type bearing. That is, it floats on a film of oil to recieve its correct clearance. This is why the turbo is the first to recieve oil on any turbocharged diesel engine and also why you should prefill your oil filter during maintenance.

 

A 16th of an inch is too much play in the shaft, you should just barely be able to feel the play if you lift and drop the nut on the air compressor side. There should be zero play if you push the shaft toward the exhaust side and pull it back.

A very quick and reliable test of bearing clearance is to remove the oil line to the turbo, dump a quarter cup of new 30 wt engine oil into the turbo bearing housing, let it drain down for five seconds, and then spin the turbo just enough to get a good oil film, and then you should have virtually no play up or down.

Monty is right on, the bearings are bronze, and the shaft floats on an oil film. If the slop was a 16th of an inch, the ceramic carbon seal on the exhaust side would be knocked out and you would be burning oil like a mosquito fog.