Ok, so I'm running an S4 turbo engine, after setting up my new A/W intercooler, new turbo, new setup, I went to test it out. wastegate line blew off, I got a little over-zealous, and the rear iron cracked at the dowel landing. I have a brand spanking new rear iron with thicker land, but now I need to rebuild.



My question is this, anybody have experience doing just the rear iron on the bench? I've seen pictures of people doing it in parking lots at drag events (a little hardcore), but so long as both rotors are still making great compression (which they are), I don't really see a reason to take apart the front stack and front rotor, or even mess with the clearances on the rear rotor. As long as the water seals between the rear rotor housing and center iron don't separate, I should be good to go right?

how many miles? my friend used to C clamp the front stack together, so he could do the rear. if its been run much at all, i'd plan on new inner water seals.



for the outer water seals, lynns cut and silicon back together method works quite well. silicon at the top, so you can see it if it leaks

Less than 2000 miles since a full rebuild, all new housings, mazda gaskets, etc. I have a new set of Mazda water seals for the rear iron only, so I just need to make sure I don't split the stack anywhere else. The C-clamp is a good idea, I'll see if I can get it to work. Otherwise, I was thinking bolting a bracket on either side of the rear rotor housing, and using a ratchet clamp around the engine stand.



So, are Mazda water gaskets re-useable to any extent? I think while I have it apart I will use the new ones, and keep the old ones for spares, or at least check them out, but I thought after they were heat-cycled they couldn't be re-used...

the outer ones are, they grow a little, so you have to trim em and silicon or glue the joint.



the inner ones are multi-piece, so they usually aren't. although ive been using Mr Hanover's technique of putting a bead of silicon on them, and then i'm finding they actually DO come out in one piece