IMS Bearings...the Full Story, Awesome Job LN Engineering!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Thanks Jeff, I appreciate the compliment!

[ltusler]

Hey puppydog, these are the last sentences in the article, whats hidden about them?

Recommended Service Intervals:

The Classic Single Row IMS Retrofit has a 4yr or 50,000 mile service interval. Replacement is recommended at time of clutch service and upgrading to the new Single Row Pro IMS Retrofit is recommended.

The Dual Row IMS Retrofit and new Single Row Pro IMS Retrofit both have a 6yr or 75,000 mile service interval.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by ltusler

Hey puppydog, these are the last sentences in the article, whats hidden about them?

Recommended Service Intervals:

The Classic Single Row IMS Retrofit has a 4yr or 50,000 mile service interval. Replacement is recommended at time of clutch service and upgrading to the new Single Row Pro IMS Retrofit is recommended.

The Dual Row IMS Retrofit and new Single Row Pro IMS Retrofit both have a 6yr or 75,000 mile service interval.

It's not exactly in the forefront of the advertisement posing as an article, now is it? You could easily make the argument that replacing the OEM bearing every 50k would be just as effective of a deterrent to IMS failure.

[ltusler]

Grind, grind, grind.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

You could easily make the argument that replacing the OEM bearing every 50k would be just as effective of a deterrent to IMS failure.

Which is exactly what my mechanic recommends. Let's be honest, there are tens of thousands of those motors out there still going strong.

[ltusler]

Assuming you could by the bearing from Porsche.

[Sapientoni]

RE:2006-8 IMSB replacement. There have been only a few documented failures of these model IMSB. I rebuilt one of these and because of the expense of the case splitting for a $30 part, I designed, built, and have tested special tools to precisely enable changing the bearing with the engine in the car. Support flange and sealing also came into revision. The one I changed failed in the garage, on start up, and was gingerly driven 8 miles to the home garage for analysis, teardown, and service. Search under Sapientoni and I have posted several notes and pics to show what is found, and what you can expect under the same circumstances. I bought a wrecked 28,000 mile vehicle to prove the viability of my service.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Sapientoni

RE:2006-8 IMSB replacement. There have been only a few documented failures of these model IMSB. I rebuilt one of these and because of the expense of the case splitting for a $30 part, I designed, built, and have tested special tools to precisely enable changing the bearing with the engine in the car. Support flange and sealing also came into revision. The one I changed failed in the garage, on start up, and was gingerly driven 8 miles to the home garage for analysis, teardown, and service. Search under Sapientoni and I have posted several notes and pics to show what is found, and what you can expect under the same circumstances. I bought a wrecked 28,000 mile vehicle to prove the viability of my service.

I searched, there' a lot of links to click that may or may not explain anything.. So how do you remove a baring bigger than the opening and reinstall it ? Or do you repair it instead ??? Trade secret ? I've been waiting to hear something like that...

[Sicklyscott]

I've been eyeing up 06-08 Cayman S cars as a fun weekend / track car to replace my 911 (still on the fence about that). The 1 item holding me back (other than feelings) is the IMSB issue. I'm just afraid of having to dump $15-$20k into a car for a "repair". If it were in an accident and needed that much for a repair it'd be totaled and at the very least i could collect insurance money.

Truth be told this is the same thing I worry about with my 911. It's not that I can't afford the expense it just makes the car so much more expensive to own.

[Dan J]

Originally Posted by Sicklyscott

I've been eyeing up 06-08 Cayman S cars as a fun weekend / track car to replace my 911 (still on the fence about that). The 1 item holding me back (other than feelings) is the IMSB issue. I'm just afraid of having to dump $15-$20k into a car for a "repair". If it were in an accident and needed that much for a repair it'd be totaled and at the very least i could collect insurance money.

Truth be told this is the same thing I worry about with my 911. It's not that I can't afford the expense it just makes the car so much more expensive to own.

On the Cayman I think the cylinder scoring and rod chucking is a bigger issue then the
IMS bearing

[Jeff Alton]

This ^^^^ Cylinder scoring. But one can't create hype and market a reasonably priced fix so it gets limited exposure...

We just finished a 2nd 3.4 Cayman motor (now 3.8) and are part way through another 3.8 (will be 4.0) that have suffered this.

[HardDrive]

Feel free to make fun of me for being a worry wart, but the fact is the IMS issue was part of the reason I got rid of my 997s. Having a potential $20k repair bill hanging over your head is not my idea of a good time. If Porsche were out ahead of the issue and backing their product, it would be a different issue. My next fun car will be a mustang.

[g_vaxed]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Feel free to make fun of me for being a worry wart, but the fact is the IMS issue was part of the reason I got rid of my 997s. Having a potential $20k repair bill hanging over your head is not my idea of a good time. If Porsche were out ahead of the issue and backing their product, it would be a different issue. My next fun car will be a mustang.

This ^^^^
No way am I ever drinking from the 996/997 owner/seller koolaide... I live 5 miles from a Porsche only repair shop. The guys there can swap these engines blindfolded from doing so many. And, None of them own any as their personal vehicles. That tells you a lot right there.

Sure, Air cooled cars need work too - but since when did a top end cost $20k? It's too bad because I like the 997's looks.

[speeder]

The question that's never been answered for me is this;

HTF did this part ever get abbreviated IMS or IMSB? Who is the genius in the acronym department on the internet who thinks that "intermediate" is two words?

I may be a gear head but I also attended a very good elementary school, so you can't pull this one past me. English is also my first language, though I do speak a lot of Spanglish and jive.

Someone wants to make us all look stupid and they're doing a great job.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by g_vaxed

This ^^^^
No way am I ever drinking from the 996/997 owner/seller koolaide... I live 5 miles from a Porsche only repair shop. The guys there can swap these engines blindfolded from doing so many. And, None of them own any as there personal vehicles. That tells you a lot right there.

Sure, Air cooled cars need work too - but since when did a top end cost $20k? It's too bad because I like the 997's looks.

Just buy a 2009 or newer 997, or any turbo or GT3 variant. Problem solved.

[Sicklyscott]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Feel free to make fun of me for being a worry wart, but the fact is the IMS issue was part of the reason I got rid of my 997s. Having a potential $20k repair bill hanging over your head is not my idea of a good time. If Porsche were out ahead of the issue and backing their product, it would be a different issue. My next fun car will be a mustang.

Exactly this.

And to the comment about a 20k repair bill for an aircooled car, it happens but it's more of a "might as well" type deal. You know, broken head stud....well might as well 3.6 swap it. But why put in a tired motor, let's build it to 3.8 spec.......get my drift?

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Feel free to make fun of me for being a worry wart, but the fact is the IMS issue was part of the reason I got rid of my 997s. Having a potential $20k repair bill hanging over your head is not my idea of a good time. If Porsche were out ahead of the issue and backing their product, it would be a different issue. My next fun car will be a mustang.

Not making fun here. That's pretty much exactly how I've felt about my 996/986/987CS and why they are gone. (at the time there was no bearing replacement for the 996 - and it was not the prettiest car anyway). That's also why the damn 09+ are so much more money, the market has spoken !

[RF5BPilot]

I drank LNE's Kool-Aid and had a shop that had gone through their training replace the original (which seemed perfect) with their ceramic bearing which was touted as a permanent fix.

Then, LNE decided maybe it wasn't the perfect fix once they started on an alternative.

Then their own bearing was even less recommended as they proposed their new fix. So, we were supposed to kiss off what we paid for the first and install a new mod from them....which was now the new, perfect fix.

I sold the car....my 3rd 911. Unlikely to buy a Porsche product again.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by RF5BPilot

I drank LNE's Kool-Aid and had a shop that had gone through their training replace the original (which seemed perfect) with their ceramic bearing which was touted as a permanent fix.

Then, LNE decided maybe it wasn't the perfect fix once they started on an alternative.

Then their own bearing was even less recommended as they proposed their new fix. So, we were supposed to kiss off what we paid for the first and install a new mod from them....which was now the new, perfect fix.

I sold the car....my 3rd 911. Unlikely to buy a Porsche product again.

So you blame Porsche because you replaced a perfectly good OEM part with an aftermarket part that wasn't adequately supported by the aftermarket vendor? Maybe your blame is misplaced on this one?

[johnsjmc]

I just bought a 2001 Boxster S with 65k on it and installed the LN replacement bearing. I removed a perfectly good dual row original bearing. Did the work myself and resold the tools . Still cost about 10% of what I paid for the car but included the 60k service at the same time. Now I can sleep at night (LOL) for at least the next 70,000 mi. and 15 yrs like the original. Now I only need to worry about another dozen failure modes like the rest of my cars.