Borg Warner or Garrett? - Competition Diesel.Com

Commonrailracer · 10-06-2019, 02:40 PM

I’m thinking about running a 75/76 mm single turbo. Is a Garrett ball bearing turbo worth the extra cash over a bw?

Average_Ass_LB7 · 10-06-2019, 03:09 PM

I use to wonder why Garrett's were so expensive compared to Borg's but after going from a big Borg compound kit to a big Garrett compound kit the Garrett's absolutely take the cake.. spool up is second to none (IMO) but can't say Borg's are terrible either. If you go BW i'd at least do a modded FI one. Had good success with it

Empty_Pockets · 10-06-2019, 04:25 PM

I've always ran borgs. Forced inductions definitely has makes some nice units they will be getting my money next. But I've made decent power with cast wheel box borgs too. Tbh I've never had the money for garrett's

Poulina · 10-06-2019, 05:18 PM

Dollar for dollar, most Borg units with a proper aftermarket comp wheel will make as much...but not more power than any comparable Garrett.

If you don't have 2-3k to spend on a turbo, do what 90% of the diesel community does and run which flavor of Borg you like best.

jasonc · 10-06-2019, 06:23 PM

Not much option for primarys over 88mm, gt55 where it's at. Just expensive

zachu812 · 10-07-2019, 07:01 AM

Doesn't even have to be a ball bearing charger, I've had some good results with journal bearing Garretts. Look into the GT4202 or any variant of that, real fun charger.

*zfaylor* · 10-07-2019, 02:22 PM

It all depends on the use. Borgs do the job on most trucks but for competition I lean towards Holset and Garrett.

nwpadmax · 10-07-2019, 08:04 PM

The Garrett 83mm turbine will absolutely kill the same size BW turbine. Use at least the 87mm BW turbine on a compressor of that size.

Commonrailracer · 10-21-2019, 06:40 PM

Thank you guys for all the input. I never wanted to spend the money on a Garrett turbo, but it sounds like it is worth it. It’s probably stronger with a ball bearing center section to than the bw.

*Smokem* · 10-21-2019, 07:24 PM

Your question is far too vague to give any type of intelligible answer. There are several instances that one may be better suited than the other and vice versa. The S400 frame covers a wide range in comparison to Garrett including the equivalent of GT42, GT45, GT47, and GT50. Only one thing is for certain, it's hard to beat the performance vs cost of an S400 frame turbocharger.

tall boy · 10-25-2019, 02:51 AM

Based on size or dimensions you can not always compare BW with Garrett. Better look @ the data sheet or flow maps and not fool you by the idiotic HP numbers Garret places on the products but OK.
Looking @ 4 main criteria like performance durability and installation and cost over this all BW comes out on top for the most of it and yes ball bearing is marginal faster in spool-up but as for compressor side they now on the same level and turbines side I leaver open for discussion. Big downside on some Garrett unit is coolant line has to run to the turbo for cooling the centre section giving massive downtime on turbo replacement and they are more sensitive than BW on bearings. As for cost and performance best deal is BW for us and our games. We sold some G25 units and they are marginal better than the GTX versions and are more popular over the BW EFR series but that manly used on things with sparkplugs.

10-06-2019, 02:40 PM	#1
Commonrailracer Name: Commonrailracer Title: Green Behind the Ears Status: Not Here Join Date: Oct 2019 Member`s Gallery Posts: 44	Borg Warner or Garrett? I’m thinking about running a 75/76 mm single turbo. Is a Garrett ball bearing turbo worth the extra cash over a bw?

10-06-2019, 04:25 PM	#3
Empty_Pockets Name: Empty_Pockets Title: Undercover Epa agent Status: Not Here Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Va wv line Member`s Gallery Posts: 870	I've always ran borgs. Forced inductions definitely has makes some nice units they will be getting my money next. But I've made decent power with cast wheel box borgs too. Tbh I've never had the money for garrett's __________________ NIC R Too many trucks Last edited by Empty_Pockets; 10-06-2019 at 04:28 PM.

10-06-2019, 05:18 PM	#4
Poulina Name: Poulina Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Norcal Member`s Gallery Posts: 795	Dollar for dollar, most Borg units with a proper aftermarket comp wheel will make as much...but not more power than any comparable Garrett. If you don't have 2-3k to spend on a turbo, do what 90% of the diesel community does and run which flavor of Borg you like best. __________________ 2008 QCLB 6.8 48re Suncoast PCS, DDP supermentals, forcedinductions 467/87, Hamilton 188/220, Carrillos, studded mains w/stock girdle

10-07-2019, 07:01 AM	#6
zachu812 Name: zachu812 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Apr 2016 Member`s Gallery Posts: 419	Doesn't even have to be a ball bearing charger, I've had some good results with journal bearing Garretts. Look into the GT4202 or any variant of that, real fun charger. __________________ 1995 RCLB 4x4: H-pump, 5x.012s, HX35 2001 RCLB 4x4: H-pump, 6x.013s, S472/S488 EdzGarage, Matt's Diesel Supply, HTS Transmissions

10-07-2019, 02:22 PM	#7
zfaylor Name: zfaylor Title: Comp Diesel Sponsor Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: P-TOWN!, Indiana Member`s Gallery Posts: 5,024	It all depends on the use. Borgs do the job on most trucks but for competition I lean towards Holset and Garrett. __________________ 2015 half ton heavy chevy 81 Fairmont LS project Many yard ornament projects... North American Turbo

10-06-2019, 03:09 PM	#2
Average_Ass_LB7 Name: Average_Ass_LB7 Title: Big Time Small Timer Status: Not Here Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Illinois Member`s Gallery Posts: 41	I use to wonder why Garrett's were so expensive compared to Borg's but after going from a big Borg compound kit to a big Garrett compound kit the Garrett's absolutely take the cake.. spool up is second to none (IMO) but can't say Borg's are terrible either. If you go BW i'd at least do a modded FI one. Had good success with it

10-06-2019, 06:23 PM	#5
jasonc Name: jasonc Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2009 Member`s Gallery Posts: 4,412	Not much option for primarys over 88mm, gt55 where it's at. Just expensive

10-07-2019, 08:04 PM	#8
nwpadmax Name: nwpadmax Title: Turbo Geek Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Out in the shop Member`s Gallery Posts: 3,128	The Garrett 83mm turbine will absolutely kill the same size BW turbine. Use at least the 87mm BW turbine on a compressor of that size. __________________ "What I said does equate too what can happen....Alote."

10-21-2019, 06:40 PM	#9
Commonrailracer Name: Commonrailracer Title: Green Behind the Ears Status: Not Here Join Date: Oct 2019 Member`s Gallery Posts: 44	Thank you guys for all the input. I never wanted to spend the money on a Garrett turbo, but it sounds like it is worth it. It’s probably stronger with a ball bearing center section to than the bw.

10-21-2019, 07:24 PM	#10
Smokem Name: Smokem Title: Turbler Status: Not Here Join Date: May 2006 Location: Iowa Member`s Gallery Posts: 5,565	Your question is far too vague to give any type of intelligible answer. There are several instances that one may be better suited than the other and vice versa. The S400 frame covers a wide range in comparison to Garrett including the equivalent of GT42, GT45, GT47, and GT50. Only one thing is for certain, it's hard to beat the performance vs cost of an S400 frame turbocharger. __________________ Infinite Performance

10-25-2019, 02:51 AM	#11
tall boy Name: tall boy Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Sep 2012 Member`s Gallery Posts: 797	Based on size or dimensions you can not always compare BW with Garrett. Better look @ the data sheet or flow maps and not fool you by the idiotic HP numbers Garret places on the products but OK. Looking @ 4 main criteria like performance durability and installation and cost over this all BW comes out on top for the most of it and yes ball bearing is marginal faster in spool-up but as for compressor side they now on the same level and turbines side I leaver open for discussion. Big downside on some Garrett unit is coolant line has to run to the turbo for cooling the centre section giving massive downtime on turbo replacement and they are more sensitive than BW on bearings. As for cost and performance best deal is BW for us and our games. We sold some G25 units and they are marginal better than the GTX versions and are more popular over the BW EFR series but that manly used on things with sparkplugs.