Excessive wear on which bearing is said to cause the compressor wheel to contact the compressor housing?

Excessive wear on which bearing is said to cause the compressor wheel to contact the compressor housing?

• A. Thrust bearing wear
• B. Center support bearing wear
• C. Both thrust and center support bearings
• D. Neither bearing wear is implicated

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how the rotor’s axial position is controlled. The thrust bearing sets the end-to-end (axial) position of the compressor wheel relative to the housing. If the thrust bearing wears, the rotor gains axial play, allowing the wheel to inch closer to the compressor housing. That increased clearance can lead to the wheel actually rubbing or contacting the housing, which damages both parts and disrupts compression. Wear in the center support bearing, by contrast, mainly affects radial stability—keeping the shaft centered and reducing wobble. While that can cause vibration or misalignment, it doesn’t directly create the axial movement that would push the wheel into the housing. So excessive thrust bearing wear is the scenario that explains the wheel contacting the housing.

The key idea here is how the rotor’s axial position is controlled. The thrust bearing sets the end-to-end (axial) position of the compressor wheel relative to the housing. If the thrust bearing wears, the rotor gains axial play, allowing the wheel to inch closer to the compressor housing. That increased clearance can lead to the wheel actually rubbing or contacting the housing, which damages both parts and disrupts compression.

Wear in the center support bearing, by contrast, mainly affects radial stability—keeping the shaft centered and reducing wobble. While that can cause vibration or misalignment, it doesn’t directly create the axial movement that would push the wheel into the housing. So excessive thrust bearing wear is the scenario that explains the wheel contacting the housing.