What Is a T-44 Garrett Turbo?

By Cars & Vehicles Last updated Sunday, May/12/2024

T-Type: Ball Bearing Cartridge

Conventional wisdom leads us to bearings that maximize contact or bearing area to minimize vibration. That is why so many ball bearing designs have been abandoned for elongated roller bearings and other designs. However, Garrett's design embraces the smaller contact surface of ball bearings and relies on a cushion of oil. Their claim is the cushion of oil dampens vibrations and adds to bearing life. It is a claim proven in multiple wins at the prestigious 24 hour endurance road race, LeMans, one of the world's best proving grounds for engineering endurance.

Each turbo is defined by a number of measures. Each is appropriate for a specific range of applications due to their differences. The T-44 is one of many large-body turbos. In practice, the body size of a turbo unit tends to correspond to the engine displacement and maximum horsepower of the engine it's matched with. The Garrett T-44 can be used for street or racetrack and is suited for larger, high horsepower applications.

Don't be misguided into thinking bigger is always better when it comes to turbos. As with carburetors, it's not true. There can be a general correlation but you should think in terms of making the correct turbo match, not choosing the biggest. Define the performance attributes you're seeking, then work backwards to find the turbo best suited for your application. This process is both art and science and it is one place where manufacturers can be very helpful. Also, consider a turbo kit designed for your engine. T-44s are used in a variety of kits which may eliminate a lot of guesswork.

Sports cars and racing spawn a lot of small, racing engineering shops. Often, an enthusiast will turn his idea into a business. The racetrack has produced dozens of great brands through this process. Garrett is not a mom-and-pop race shop. It is a subsidiary of a Fortune 100 company, Honeywell, that is a leader in transportation, aviation and aerospace technology. The nature of the company may give you more thorough engineering, but not quite as much hand-holding as some smaller resellers or manufacturers. However, you needn't worry that Garrett will try to match their T-44 to every application you dream up in order to make a sale; they make hundreds of models. They'll just point you to the one they think is the best match.