Seeing that my stock frame turbo is in need of a rebuild over the winter, I have begun to look at the possibility of switching to an aftermarket wastegate actuator.

I run 26psi, and since adding my wastegate dump, I can hear the WG flapper starting to open during WOT before peak boost. I must be loosing some spool-up with that exhaust escaping.

The (fairly) recent release of the Turbosmart Wastegate Actuator for the Evo 9 has received my attention!

I have searched, and only few are using them on their cars, and none have done a proper review!

Any input on these? The 22psi version seems like it would fit my needs nicely.

Thanks!

 

I would like some info as well since my 4 year old FP wastegate bit the dust last week...

 

I too decided to swap to a turbosmart WGA. I guess I will have to wait and see what pops up here...

 

Have you used the Turbosmart yet? Or just have purchased it?

 

I'm interested in how it failed because I'm on an FP 25psi WGA. Care to share?

 

Either the rubber diaphragm can tear, or the spring deteriorates or breaks. The spring can rust over time due to moisture entering the canister. The diaphragm can tear if the actuator rod is improperly rotated instead of rotating only the turnbuckle.

The guys at Spec-Ops are fairly extreme though and subject the actuators to heavy use. They tend to run high levels of spring preload and modify the actuators by cutting the length of the actuator rod and other crazy stuff!!

 

This... I had the FP 18 PSI WGA with threads cut off and preloaded to 33 PSI... I did a boost leak a few weeks back and it was billowing out of the WGA... After I replaced it with the stock IX, I shook the FP WGA it was like shaking and rattling a skeleton, it was bad!!!

 

The 25# FP actuator is designed with a heavier rate spring than the 18# unit. I am assuming that FP had to have made the rubber diaphragm proportionately stronger to compensate for the increased spring rate.

Your 25# unit should be fine if you do not exceed sane levels of spring preload. Also, when adjusting preload be sure to loosen the backup nut and only rotate the turnbuckle and NEVER rotate the actuator rod itself.

 

I'm suprised I don't hear of these WGA failures more often, especially considering the heat the diaphram is subjected to, being mounted to the turbo.

 

^ this... I rarely hear about failures. I wish it was easy to do an external wg on a stock frame turbo

 

Is anyone exp peculiar boost characteristic loading up in higher gears at lower rpm with the 18# or 25# gates? ie overboosting.

 

Is the boost spiking? How high does it spike over your preset peak boost level? Which of the two do you have on your turbo? Is it the 18# actuator or the 25# piece?

 

neither, I was speaking hypothetically, I have seen other members on here post about such issues.

 

When dealing with overboost issues, it is helpful to distinguish between boost spiking and boost creep. Since they are distinct although often related phenomena. So, by asking I merely wanted to make sure what we were discussing.

Boost spikes are often times related to actuator problems . Boost creep on the other hand, is more commonly a result of inadequate bypass flow.

 

Im gonna ask this Q that I prolly know the answear, can you just run the Turbosmart 22psi WG without a boost controller ? since Im pushing 22psi with the stock WG and a Forge mbc. Now the Turbosmart 22psi is rated at 22psi max or can you get more with a mbc later down the road ?