turbo rebuild, has anyone attempted it?? Options

[celicaGT96]

has anyone tried to rebuild their ct26???
Im planning on getting a turbo soon, and wanted to rebuild it with a rebuild kit from I forgot what site.
I know its not recommended, but I really dont want to pay all that money to have it rebuilt.
The main thing Im concered about is the balancing.
Can it be built by me, and then taken somewhere to be balanced, or does balancing just consist of actually lineing everything up during the rebuilding process?
Also please dont suggest a pre-built turbo because of other reasons that dont matter.
Just so some of you know, NO I have never done anything like this, but I do have a rather good understanding of mechanical work, and things of that nature.
any help or advice would be great....

[97sccelica]

i did it with a t3 turbo with a kit i got off of ebay

would i do it again? no

there is more to rebuilding a turbo than just replacing the oil seals and bushings(usually the whole center cartridge is replaced with a rebuilt core).

it didnt last too much longer after the rebuild. for a little bit it didnt burn oil, but it got worse and worse every day. i ended up just buying a new turbo after spending like $100 on a rebuild kit plus my time and down time with the car

and i know you dont want to hear it but if you wanna get cheap with the turbo, you might as well give up now because turboing your car will nickel and dime you to death. unless you spend good money, or really know what you are doing and shop around for a long time, you will have problems left and right when you go the cheap route which will only end up costing you the money you saved.

do things right the first time. it saves a lot of time, money, and heartache

[lagos]

and i know you dont want to hear it but if you wanna get cheap with the turbo, you might as well give up now because turboing your car will nickel and dime you to death. unless you spend good money, or really know what you are doing and shop around for a long time, you will have problems left and right when you go the cheap route which will only end up costing you the money you saved.

man speaks the truth !

[presure2]

i did it with a t3 turbo with a kit i got off of ebay

would i do it again? no

there is more to rebuilding a turbo than just replacing the oil seals and bushings(usually the whole center cartridge is replaced with a rebuilt core).

it didnt last too much longer after the rebuild. for a little bit it didnt burn oil, but it got worse and worse every day. i ended up just buying a new turbo after spending like $100 on a rebuild kit plus my time and down time with the car

and i know you dont want to hear it but if you wanna get cheap with the turbo, you might as well give up now because turboing your car will nickel and dime you to death. unless you spend good money, or really know what you are doing and shop around for a long time, you will have problems left and right when you go the cheap route which will only end up costing you the money you saved.

do things right the first time. it saves a lot of time, money, and heartache

read those last two paragraphs OVER AND OVER, till your head hurts.
really hit the nail on the head with that one.

[OOBE]

I rebuilt mine TWICE in less than 500 miles...it's that damn oil pressure. I need the oil restrictor bad. Anyway, the rebuild is easy but like they said, do things right the first time.