Made up a tool and removed bearing,all 16 accounted for ,very smooth shavings inside tube,nothing in pan or pick up tube ,used magnet and vacuum to get out and cleaned out with lots of brake clean , will vacuum out again once is dry and use magnet again.This 996 engine was running fine with no audible noises,after looking into the filter seeing specs and then dropping pan to find only a very small piece of rubber,I was just about to button up do the oil and filter change and drive,good thing I wanted to look at the bearing just to make sure..after hearing about the IMS bearing problems.I will "Not" be going with the LN bearing for now(as per above post) but will go with Waynes from Pelicans,will run the engine up without transmission installed till operating temp , change oil and inspect and change oil and filter a few times in this state . here are the pics of the bearing
there was NO noise.when removed the seal the bearings fell out,when first looked at the bearing inside the IMS shaft thought there were only four ,but all 16 are there just worn ,ready to cause a major failure.
