I wonder if anyone else has experienced this problem...........
When draining the oil in preparation for doing a IMS bearing upgrade, we noticed a small metal piece stuck to the magnetic drain plug we always fit to the M96 motors as a precaution.
It is a piece from one of (2) thrust plates or thrust washers used at bearing journal #3 to limit the crankshaft end play. The PN is 996-101-129-51 which supercedes to 996-101-129-52.
We have dropped the oil pan and found the remaining piece of the half-moon or crescent shape thrust washer or thrust plate laying in the pan.
The vehicle is a 2001 Boxster S 3.2 with about 45k miles. It has been fitted with a belt driven supercharger and is driven on the track on a regular basis.
It runs & drives as if there are no issues at all. No strange noises or clunks. The crankshaft moves back & forth with about 1/4in end play. We believe the 2nd thrust plate is still somewhere up inside the motor waiting to drop down onto the pan.
Again, the motor ran as normal. However, its likely it won't for much longer.
Anyone with lots of track miles experience anything like this?
Len at Autosportengineering dot com