[Cook&Dunning]

Great writeup - you have clearly built an impressive collection of tools for doing the work. How did you know that your 2005 had the earlier version bearing? I had thought that the change to the later larger version bearing that is only serviceable by splitting the case happened sometime in the model year 2005, but there is no firm data available on when.

I am asking because the 2005 997 with the earlier bearing seems like a sweet spot for price / performance - especially if you can replace the ims for peace of mind as you have done.