Turbo side-play - Too much?

[WZCF]

Hello - I'm new to the group. I have a 2014 RS7 that I'm replacing the oil separator on and I took a look at the turbos while I'm waiting for parts. There is no fore/aft or axial play, but there is quite a bit of radial play in my opinion. I've been building engines for years but I'm new to the turbo game. Please take a look at the video in the link below and tell me what you think - should I replace them while I have it apart? Thanks very much for the input!

https://youtu.be/JBVZstNOjIA

I've ordered the filter screen relocation kit from JHM so I'm removing the factory screen (Audi did the TSB a year ago when I bought the car - 50k miles at the time). Point being, the car went 50k with the original screen.

[Audisthesia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKC5pGfgX70

[WZCF]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKC5pGfgX70

Awesome - that's what I was looking for! Thanks!

[Burkeomatic]

Yeah, probably fine. Look for front to back play that's the killer. Mine were worse and had a little front to back, still not contacting the housing, and most would have probably went away with oil pressure, but you don't have the luxury of wiggling them with oil pressure!

I'd guess mine had some life left, but I was running stage 2 and figured I might as well upgrade them. I used that as an excuse to do such, actually. Ball bearings are so much better!

[WZCF]

Yeah, probably fine. Look for front to back play that's the killer. Mine were worse and had a little front to back, still not contacting the housing, and most would have probably went away with oil pressure, but you don't have the luxury of wiggling them with oil pressure!

I'd guess mine had some life left, but I was running stage 2 and figured I might as well upgrade them. I used that as an excuse to do such, actually. Ball bearings are so much better!

Thanks - there is zero front to back play. I guess I'm just spooked because the screen recall wasn't serviced until I bought it at 50K miles. Assuming no oiling issues, how long do turbos last?

Also - since I'm just learning about turbos, are ball bearings only used in the high-end expensive units?

Edit - just found these https://sillyrabbitmotorsport.com/au...t-stage-1.html but not sure if it requires a tune or not. I'm not planning on tuning it any time soon (I tend to go WAY down the rabbit hole so... staying clear of that).

[Burkeomatic]

Thanks - there is zero front to back play. I guess I'm just spooked because the screen recall wasn't serviced until I bought it at 50K miles. Assuming no oiling issues, how long do turbos last?

Also - since I'm just learning about turbos, are ball bearings only used in the high-end expensive units?

Edit - just found these https://sillyrabbitmotorsport.com/au...t-stage-1.html but not sure if it requires a tune or not. I'm not planning on tuning it any time soon (I tend to go WAY down the rabbit hole so... staying clear of that).

Ball bearings spool better, and have better boost threshold in lower gears. They last about the same i think. Ball bearings need less oil, so if there is an oil issue i guess it would take longer to kill the turbos.

The real predictor of longevity aside from maintenance would be balance. An out of balance turbo will die quick as the increased loads will wear the bearings. That's why the chinese turbos either last 5k miles or forever.

My screen wasn't serviced until 80k I don't think, somewhere thereabouts.

A turbo should last near the life of the engine in theory. Think of all the diesel trucks with 300k on them with factory turbos.

I ended up going with these turbos, you'll need a tune to optimize for them, I'd just run what you have until you decide if you want to tune it or not.