[colman]

While pulling downpipes to do inlets I noticed my front wastegate flapper is completely loose from the arm. The retention feature (clip?) has disappeared. They still boost great but for peace of mind, I'd like to fix this. Would something like an E-Clip work here or is there a better option?



These are VTT OEM turbos with 40k miles. The previous owner had them installed by a reputable shop so I'm not sure if the retention clip just deleted itself or wasn't there to begin with. I reached out to VTT and they said "It is easily fixable"...

Thanks!

[iqraceworks]

How in the heck is that turbo still "boosting great"? Can that waste gate flapper even close when it's positioned like that?

I could be wrong, but I don't think there is a clip that holds the round part to the arm...I think it's either welded, or maybe they press it in there and flair it out so that it's wider than the hole in the arm.

Either way, I would fix it ASAP...if that thing comes off of the arm, it could fall into the turbo and eat up the turbine wheel.

[colman]

I put a mity vac on the wastegate, and yes it still closes somehow. The flapper still finds a way to seat itself. I wasn't able to pull the flapper out as the arm won't extend open far enough. So it won't fall out until when/if the wastegate arm loosens over time. Just gotta find a way to retain it again.

[iqraceworks]

If you knew someone with a mig welder, they could get up under the car and put a tack weld on the flapper shaft where it goes through the hole in the arm.

[colman]

Ended up getting a cheap flux welder from Harbor Freight and tacked a washer on there. Tested with a mity vac and all is well. Still can't believe that either the retention feature came off or was manufactured that way.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by colman

Ended up getting a cheap flux welder from Harbor Freight and tacked a washer on there. Tested with a mity vac and all is well. Still can't believe that either the retention feature came off or was manufactured that way.

Nice!!