Charger squealing noise

[totq]

Hey Tim,
Got my charger back on again and I'm sad/disappointed to report the squeal is still there. Furthermore, its pitch is slightly different than before I sent it back up to you for re-adjustment. That is additional proof it is coming from the charger.

Where do we go from here?

I have a credible theory to the cause of the squeal. Is it possible, that when the engine is under torque, it is pushing the charger up against the bonnet such that it's stressing the charger in some way or form to cause the squeal from parts rubbing inside the charger? Because the charger has always been touching the bonnet and the squeal has always been there.

[redvs2]

strange that its still making the noise... the pressure from the bonnet sounds plausable to me. what do you think tim?

[fabz]

take your bonnet off and do a blockie? That will give you the answer? But i would think it would have to apply a great amount of force to the outside to effect the inside? Could it be the air filter? maybe your charger inhaled a small child that is now trapped and the only reason it has survived is on the bugs and rain water lol Is it possible the impeller is bent or a fin is bent ever so slightly? has a new one been tried? Good luck man!

[Raptorsc]

I dont have the faintest idea actually

That unit has 110% of the best of everything in it, the latest SKF bearings etc -

I had one unit do this (or similar) 3 weeks ago on Subaru 6 cyl, I supplied a replacement BOV (Greddy 32mm) and problem 100% sorted for that customer. In that instance it came on as power was gradually applied after a certain rev point

For this one, I have not a clue now. See what assistance and ideas others can put forward, collectively a way to solve this might be found

[VT-565]

Adopt a process of elimination.
remove the bonnet as mentioned and go for a spin, costs you nothing, might solve your problem.

However, if you're suggesting that pressure from the bonnet is causing the housing of the blower to deflect, then I would highly doubt that, based on my professional opinion.

[Raptorsc]

What I would do (not recommended for anyone else) is simply put the bonnet on the safety catch and then go for a short drive in 1st gear and apply some power against the brakes or maybe 2nd gear. That would tell me if the bonnet had any bearing on the sound.

I believe it wouldnt be the bonnet either but I have been wrong before


This is how the collective works - thanks for all input so far


I can lend you a NON intercooled air delivery pipe to test if you want, that is a system guaranteed to work without noises and then we can work from there

[Dr HaxZaw]

could just be the small vibrations in the blower are causing it to squeal while rubbing against the bonnet (ie the noise is coming from it rubbing not an actual problem with the blower) and thats why after you got it back the note changed cause the vibrations had been changed due to new parts and so forth
that would be my geuss

[totq]

Thank you all for ideas/comments/suggestions.

I have had this problem(noise) since the beginning when it started off as a non-intercooled kit.
Josh (redvs2) and I recently swapped our bovs, idler pulleys etc, everything that can be swapped over (but the charger itself) and test drive for every change, but the noise is still there.

I have disconnected the charger and test drive in NA and the noise is NOT heard.

Another raptor owner pm me that he also experienced a high pitch squeal that comes on at a certain rpm or load, like my problem. He eventually found the cause was that the breather hose connection on the intake pipe of the charger was not drilled.
I checked mine this afternoon and found it IS drilled through but not very tidy. So I tidied it up by drilling it again, went for a drive, still got squeal.
Disconnected the breather hose, test drive, still got squeal.

Squeal, squeal, squeal! It goes alright but just sounds sh*t when the squeal comes on.

[totq]

take your bonnet off and do a blockie? That will give you the answer? But i would think it would have to apply a great amount of force to the outside to effect the inside? Could it be the air filter? maybe your charger inhaled a small child that is now trapped and the only reason it has survived is on the bugs and rain water lol Is it possible the impeller is bent or a fin is bent ever so slightly? has a new one been tried? Good luck man!

Agreed about bonnet pressure or force. Have had a closer look today, it is pressing against the bonnet insulation and doesn't appear to be as high to wedge against bonnet itself. But then again, unsure if it is. Have had noise since new, have changed many filters since, charger recently rebuilt by Tim, no child found trapped inside.

[totq]

Adopt a process of elimination.
remove the bonnet as mentioned and go for a spin, costs you nothing, might solve your problem.

However, if you're suggesting that pressure from the bonnet is causing the housing of the blower to deflect, then I would highly doubt that, based on my professional opinion.

Agreed about bonnet force. See previous post.
Motor has just been rebuilt from a spun main bearing, still running it in, it feels like a check-tune wouldn't go astray, so instead of taking bonnet off for a test drive, I'll wait until it is on the rollers and we'll be able to have a human being standing right there to hear it, find it once and for all!

[totq]

I can lend you a NON intercooled air delivery pipe to test if you want, that is a system guaranteed to work without noises and then we can work from there

It was squealing when it started off non-intercooled, remember? I'll have it on the dyno soon, maybe in a few weeks or couple of months depending on when Chiptorque can book me in, and when I can make it.

IF it is coming from the charger, would you replace the charger? Given, its been squealing from the beginning and still squealing after your recent full rebuild.

Also, I would like to claim a refund for the full rebuild cost to replace all the "prototype" parts you did. Of course, less the cost to replace the broken belt that it was sent back for.

Did you give me a prototype charger instead, when I bought the kit?

[Raptorsc]

For the benefit of everyone here explain how the squeal starts

Does it happen if full throttle is applied from a standing start?

Does it happen only if throttle is gradually applied? etc

The only prototype chargers were serial numbers 001 and 002 which were used on my own vehicle in 2001, I still have one of them. They are easy to pick as the serial number is directly letter stamped into the backside of the transmission and no serial number tag was used.

We grooved pulleys for air breathing on the high speed side shaft from exactly the time you bought your kit, you were the first to get it with another person from South Australia with a V8, I call it a prototype part as it was simply the first of a modification roll out which all the chargers have now and since then.

You must first try a stock Raptor air delivery pipe between charger and throttle body, let me know the results from that. I have a pipe here I can send for this purpose. You can test by driving as you do now

[redvs2]

How about I try thauns charger on my car. If my car then squeals then it's the charger.

[Raptorsc]

If Thuan agrees and is comfortable with that plan then go right ahead, definitely has my blessing as plan.

Try vice versa as well to complete the experiment in totality.

[totq]

That has always been a plan in my mind but thought there was no chance you'd lend me another charger for testing, so I didn't bother asking.
Josh, I will really appreciate it if you are willing to put time out to do that. Let's keep talking to see when we can have a mutually free weekend to do it. I can't do it this w/end or the next though.

As I have always maintained, up to this point, it could still be something else other than the charger but all fault finding attempts so far indicate it is likely to be the charger.

Swapping the charger with another will be the best test of all.

[fabz]

Make sure josh has heard the squealing before you swap so you guys are both on the level. Not a chance of there being a intercooler air leak, while your under it check all silicon hose joins and tighten hose clamps. Nothing wedged into the front bar or cooler itself like road grime ie plastic bag or paper? I know these might be far fetched but just throwing the idea out there. If i was on the goldie i would swap mine into yours! If josh hasnt got time for ages let me know, ill send you my unit, seriously!

[totq]

Make sure josh has heard the squealing before you swap so you guys are both on the level. Not a chance of there being a intercooler air leak, while your under it check all silicon hose joins and tighten hose clamps. Nothing wedged into the front bar or cooler itself like road grime ie plastic bag or paper? I know these might be far fetched but just throwing the idea out there. If i was on the goldie i would swap mine into yours! If josh hasnt got time for ages let me know, ill send you my unit, seriously!

Yeah mate, he knows the noise well from the last time we swapped bits over and test drove. And thanks heaps for the offer, man.

[totq]

Hmm, seems some important questions of my post about refund and charger replacement (if proven faulty) have been deleted...

For the benefit of everyone here explain how the squeal starts

Does it happen if full throttle is applied from a standing start?

Does it happen only if throttle is gradually applied? etc

Ok, for the benefit of everyone.
When at cruise in 3rd or top gear (but does it in 2nd as well), if throttle is gradually applied, it squeals from 3500rpm when it starts boosting. As long as the throttle is applied such that it is loaded up WITHOUT gear kickdown, it squeals. But if gear kicks down, revs pick up past 4000rpm and squeal goes away.

This mobile vid shows cruising in top gear, then loaded up before gear kickdown.
IMG_0097.MOV - YouTube

This vid shows squeals until gear kickdown, then squeal goes away as revs jump higher with kickdown.
IMG_0095.MOV - YouTube

I initially thought it may have been the bov, but after cooling and upgrading to twin bovs, it still squeals the same. Swapped all bovs and pulleys with redvs2, but still the same, so definitely not bovs.

I've bought a new standard belt to run the car without the charger connected, although the entire intercooling system was still connected, just that the charger is not spinning, and NO squeal.

Which makes me think it may have something to do with back pressure onto the charger as it starts boosting and the squeal may be from air leak in the charger.

[VT-565]

Got a boost gauge?
Is it making this noise at the higher boost levels?

[Raptor Charged VX]

take the car for a run with the charger connected to its still spining but disconnect the cooler pipe so its running as NA, this will tell you if its a boost leak or bearing problem

another thing, on my old VX i had a squealing noise like your describing, it tunred out to be my water pump, there bearings were stuffed and the charger was putting that extra loud on it causing it to squeal

[totq]

Got a boost gauge?
Is it making this noise at the higher boost levels?

Yeah, got boost gauge, and not making the noise at open throttle (higher boost levels). I am assuming at open throttle, the motor is taking all the boost generated so there is no back pressure on the charger or cooling system to cause noise. Just my thoughts.

Chiptorque has tuned it twice since cooling went in, and they have confirm the boost gauge correlates with their boost gauge, ie. NO leak. Latest tune was with smaller pulley about this time last year.

[totq]

take the car for a run with the charger connected to its still spining but disconnect the cooler pipe so its running as NA, this will tell you if its a boost leak or bearing problem

another thing, on my old VX i had a squealing noise like your describing, it tunred out to be my water pump, there bearings were stuffed and the charger was putting that extra loud on it causing it to squeal

Yes, have done that before and NO squeal, even though the sound of gushing air coming out of the charger is very loud. The squeal is very distinct, it will still he heard over the charger free spinning, but it didn't do that.
Again, that leads me to think it may be cause by back pressure somehow.

Interesting about the water pump though. But, given it doesn't squeal at higher boost (revs), I suppose that's where it is copping even more load/stress. But the only way to eliminate the water pump is put in a new one..... I'll wait until redvs2 and I get a chance to swap chargers over and if it still squeals, I'll be willing to look at replacing the water pump then.
Would you agree with that?

[totq]

The only prototype chargers were serial numbers 001 and 002 which were used on my own vehicle in 2001, I still have one of them. They are easy to pick as the serial number is directly letter stamped into the backside of the transmission and no serial number tag was used.

We grooved pulleys for air breathing on the high speed side shaft from exactly the time you bought your kit, you were the first to get it with another person from South Australia with a V8, I call it a prototype part as it was simply the first of a modification roll out which all the chargers have now and since then.

Ok, but the charger was working fine. So, was there anything wrong with any of the internals in my charger to warrant replacing? It only went back for a belt replacement, and when it was completed, you said it was $400 or something (I've forgotten, correct me if I'm wrong, but I can dig out the bank statements to confirm), and when I questioned why it cost so much, you said it was because it needed a whole rebuild to replace the prototype parts. Which now makes it as good as other raptors out there - your own words.
That would make anyone think it is substandard (prototype) parts. And when it came back, it didn't go any better or develop any more power on the dyno when it went for a tune with the smaller pulley.
In fact, Chiptorque notes "Appears that supercharger is operating outside of its efficiency zone at current boost levels". Which you refused to answer what that meant when I passed it on to you after the tune.

[totq]

You must first try a stock Raptor air delivery pipe between charger and throttle body, let me know the results from that. I have a pipe here I can send for this purpose. You can test by driving as you do now

I really do feel being given the run-around for the past few years with this prob. When I first raised this noise with you 3 mths after buying the charger, all it had was just the air pipe from the charger to the throttle body. You just insisted it was something else instead of the charger kit.
But since redvs2 is going to swap charger over with me soon, we'll do this pipe test after, if it is still needed.

[Raptor Charged VX]

by all means do all the no cost testing firsting, last resort change the water pump . i have a standard dishcharge pipe in the shed if needed.