Variable-nozzle assembly for a turbocharger

A turbocharger having a variable-nozzle turbine, comprising:

• a turbine assembly comprising a turbine housing and a turbine wheel mounted in the turbine housing and connected to a rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, and defining a nozzle through which exhaust gas flows to the turbine wheel;
• a compressor assembly comprising a compressor housing and a compressor wheel mounted in the compressor housing and connected to the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith;
• a center housing connected between the compressor housing and the turbine housing;
• and
• a generally annular nozzle ring and an array of vanes circumferentially spaced about and supported by the nozzle ring and disposed in the nozzle such that exhaust gas flows between the vanes to the turbine wheel;
• wherein a radially inwardly facing surface of the nozzle ring directly contacts a radially outwardly facing surface of the center housing to radially locate the nozzle ring relative to the center housing, and wherein one of the radially inwardly facing surface of the nozzle ring and the radially outwardly facing surface of the center housing is configured to reduce a contact area with the other of the radially inwardly facing surface of the nozzle ring and the radially outwardly facing surface of the center housing.