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(s) 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.