a vane pack for a vtg turbocharger is provided . the vane pack includes a plurality of vanes pivotably positioned between an inner surface of an upper vane ring and an inner surface of a lower vane ring . clearances are defined between opposing cheek surfaces of the vanes and the inner surfaces of the vane rings . the vane pack is configured to minimize these clearances by applying an abradable coating is to the inner surface of the upper vane ring , the inner surface of the lower vane ring and / or cheek surface of one or more of the vanes . in this way , an essentially zero clearance can be established without interfering with the proper function of the vanes . as a result , there can be gains in efficiency . further wearing of the abradable coating may occur during turbocharger operation .