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, the turbine housing defining a chamber surrounding the turbine wheel for receiving exhaust gas and for supplying the exhaust gas to the turbine wheel, the turbine assembly defining a nozzle leading from the chamber generally radially inwardly 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; a variable-vane assembly comprising a generally annular nozzle ring and an array of vanes circumferentially spaced about the nozzle ring adjacent a first face thereof, the vanes being disposed in the nozzle such that exhaust gas flows between the vanes to the turbine wheel, each vane being rotatably mounted to the nozzle ring and connected to a rotatable actuator ring such that rotation of the actuator ring rotates the vanes for regulating exhaust gas flow to the turbine wheel; an insert disposed in the turbine housing, the insert defining a nozzle portion axially spaced from the first face of the nozzle ring such that the vanes extend between the nozzle ring and the nozzle portion; and characterised by a plurality of spacers connected between the nozzle portion of the insert and the nozzle ring for maintaining an axial spacing between the nozzle portion of the insert and the nozzle ring, wherein the spacers are structured and arranged to mechanically stop the vanes from rotating in one direction past a maximum-open position and to mechanically stop the vanes from rotating in an opposite direction past a minimum-open position. 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, the turbine housing defining a chamber surrounding the turbine wheel for receiving exhaust gas and for supplying the exhaust gas to the turbine wheel, the turbine assembly defining a nozzle leading from the chamber generally radially inwardly 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; a variable-vane assembly comprising a generally annular nozzle ring and an array of vanes circumferentially spaced about the nozzle ring adjacent a first face thereof, the vanes being disposed in the nozzle such that exhaust gas flows between the vanes to the turbine wheel, each vane being rotatably mounted to the nozzle ring and connected to a rotatable actuator ring such that rotation of the actuator ring rotates the vanes for regulating exhaust gas flow to the turbine wheel; an insert disposed in the turbine housing, the insert defining a nozzle portion axially spaced from the first face of the nozzle ring such that the vanes extend between the nozzle ring and the nozzle portion; and characterised by a plurality of spacers connected between the nozzle portion of the insert and the nozzle ring for maintaining an axial spacing between the nozzle portion of the insert and the nozzle ring, wherein the spacers are structured and arranged to mechanically stop the vanes from rotating in one direction past a maximum-open position and to mechanically stop the vanes from rotating in an opposite direction past a minimum-open position.