I can't find any DIY sites online to installing ball bearings yourself on turbos.
Can it even be done yourself? What are you exactly paying $550 for that option anyways? Why can't you just buy ceramic ball bearings and slap them on a turbo that will allow that option.

From the Regal website:

 

this isn't much help but from what i've heard you cannot replace/repair ball bearing turbos unless you have the very very expensive machine that put them in there in the first place.

 

they shouldl slide in like normal bearings would in a turbo but.

there are specs of how much shaft play is allowed and i am sure they adjust that, then balance the whole assembly.

give them a call and ask mabey they will tell you.

 

Also i think a lot of it has to do with the harmonics generated ( as far as installing them yourself) I belive that was one of the biggest obstacles it was to make dual ball bearing turbochargers.

Though, i could be wrong, i don't work for garrett!

 

Theres a difference of magnitude between the speeds a distributor bearing sees and the speeds a turbo bearing sees. I would imagine the expense comes fromt the fact that the turbo bearings have to spin so damn fast. An engine might see 10,000 rpm, while a turbo can see more than 100,000 rpm. Not to mention the heat.

 

ok, completely different topic, but most likely a similar principle. model rc car engines can rev as high as 35,000+rpm. You have to heat up the crankcase enough so that it will expand in order to install the crankcase bearings. Once it cools, the crankcase contracts and the bearing is locked into place. Considering the rpms that the turbo will see, I would imagine a similar process. So most likely not something for the DIYer.