How To Tell If Ims Bearing Has Been Replaced

Here's All the Info You Need About the Porsche IMS Begetting

Written past: Bradley Hayes
Automotive Blogger & Managing director of Marketing, Autoscope European Automobile Repair

The Porsche IMS Bearing – Small Component,Large Trouble

Take questions about the infamous Porsche IMS bearing? You're non solitary. By at present, most (if not all) Porsche 911 owners accept heard about the Porsche IMS begetting bug that take plagued these engines for years. Still, if you own or are because purchasing a 996 or 997 generation Porsche 911 (excludingTurbo models), or a 986 or 987 generation Porsche Boxster, and aren't already aware of the "IMS bearing upgrade" then we urge you to keep reading because the information y'all'll detect here could very well save youthousands.

At that place are countless forum threads and search results on the web regarding this bailiwick, and many either accept conflicting information or only seem to confuse the topic even more than. Many readers are still left wondering nigh the real answers to their questions."What causes IMS bearing failure?" "How tin can you tell if your Porsche IMS bearing needs to be replaced?" "Can IMS bearing failure be prevented?" "What is the Porsche IMS bearing failure charge per unit?" We're here to aid clear the air and settle the matter for good. No hearsay, no 2nd-paw anecdotes, and no armchair engineering – merely the facts. You don't desire a dissertation or more dubious speculation; you lot desire to be informed and you want to know how to safeguard your Porsche from premature catastrophic engine failure caused by a failed IMS bearing. So, without further adieu, here is everything you need to know about the Porsche IMS bearing problem.

First things first, a footling bones information is in order before nosotros get downwards to the nitty-gritty…

What Is the Porsche IMS Bearing?

Failed Porsche IMS Begetting

If you read the words "premature catastrophic engine failure" to a higher place, your first thought might have been to wonder exactly how such a relatively minor component has the potential to lunch an entire engine, instantaneously, and seemingly with no warning. Without gettingbesides technical, we'll briefly become over what an IMS bearing is and what its part is.

For starters, "IMS" stands forinterthousandediateshaft. The intermediate shaft is basically a geared shaft that runs through and extends out from the front and rear of the engine. By way of those gears, the part of the intermediate shaft is to use the mechanical rotation of the engine's crankshaft to indirectly bulldoze the camshafts on either side of the engine. The actual intermediate shaft itself, still, is non the root of the at present well-known and infamous 996 and 997 IMS-related "engine problems." The basic design and use of an intermediate shaft was by no means a new development in the then-radical and new water-cooled "M96" engine adult for the 996. In fact, the intermediate shaft has long been a feature of the horizontally-opposed (also known as a "boxer" configuration) flat-six engines for which the Porsche 911 is so famed, as long as the 911 has existed, in fact. Upwards to this point in the long timeline of the evolution of the 911, the incorporation of an intermediate shaft on Porsche'due south flat-sixes, in both concept and practise, had been tried and true. With the advent of the M96 and the early production runs of the after-revised "M97″ engines, the rub (pun intended) is in the sealed cartridge-style ball-bearings that support the IMS, more just referred to as the "IMS bearings."

If Your IMS Bearing Fails, You're Going to Take a Bad Time

The chief weaknesses inherent to the manufacturing plant-original IMS bearings can be attributed to two glaring deficiencies: ane.) The material the ball-bearings are synthetic with is not quite strong plenty to withstand the physical and thermal loads exerted upon them, and 2.) the lubrication of the bearings is insufficient.

It has be en verifiably documented that some IMS bearings have failed after just iii,000 miles.

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More carnage from a failed Porsche IMS begetting.

There can be many contributory reasons for IMS begetting failure and ofttimes it is a combination of causes that ultimately results in begetting failure. The exact rate of failure of these IMS bearings is tricky to nail downwardly with whatsoever certainty. Claims of which, especially those fabricated by unqualified "experts" or ones found in the myriad forum threads about this topic, can vary drastically, nonetheless, reliable sources have reported the failure-rate of some of these original bearings to be estimated ashigh equally an astonishing 10% after an average of just 90,000 miles. Since it has also been verifiably documented that some IMS bearings take failed afterward just 3,000 miles, while others all the same have lasted for 200,000 miles or more, the only safety decision that can be fatigued is that all M96 and some M97 engines in Porsche 911's (996 or 997), and all Boxsters (986/987) from 1997 through 2008, are at risk of suffering IMS bearing failure at any fourth dimension, irrespective of mileage.

Motor wird dann sein kaputt!

One time an intermediate shaft bearing fails, options quickly become few and expensive. The accented best-case scenario (and least likely) is if only the intermediate shaft and bearings need to be replaced, and even that yet involves a complete engine removal, inspection, and disassembly.

In the worst-example scenario, IMS bearing failure can disrupt the cam timing causing impact between the pistons and valves, resulting in shattered valves, smashed pistons, and other extensive engine impairment. The majority of the fourth dimension then, your just option is to totally rebuild the engine or replace it in its entirety, at not inconsiderable cost for either.

Pictured: Worst-instance Scenario

How to Know If Your Porsche Is at Risk for IMS Bearing Failure

The IMS begetting for these engines went through multiple design revisions from 1999 – '06, including both single- and dual-row begetting designs, without ever adequately resolving the issue. Somewhen, the M96 and M97 engines were replaced by the "9A1″ engine, the kickoff 911-jump engine to completely dispense with the intermediate shaft organization altogether in favor of a system that drives the camshafts directly off the crankshaft. That'south great news if y'all bought a 911 from the 2009 model year or later which has the newer 9A1 engine, just what tin you do if you lot ain a 911 with an M96 or M97 engine to prevent IMS bearing failure? And what if you're looking to buy a pre-owned 911, how tin you protect yourself from falling victim to a failed IMS bearing?

A Porsche Expert's Professional Advice for Preventing or Avoiding Porsche IMS Bearing Failure

In whatever instance, fear not because fortunately there is a solution. And that solution comes from LN Engineering in the form of the "LN IMS bearing retrofit" upgrade. LN Engineering is the largest and almost reputable proper name in the manufacture of Porsche IMS begetting replacement upgrades and they are our exclusive source for the hundreds of IMS bearing upgrades and replacements that we have performed and go on to perform regularly. The design, materials, engineering, and serviceability of the LN IMS Retrofit upgrade well-nigh eliminates the run a risk of IMS bearing failure and the consequent gargantuan repair costs.

Communication for Owners

For 911 owners, our recommendation is to find a qualified Porsche repair specialist and have the IMS bearing upgrade performed on your automobile. We don't advise rushing out to immediately accept it washed before putting even one more mile on your engine, necessarily, but it's probably all-time to go ahead and exercise it at the aforementioned fourth dimension another procedure is done, like a clutch replacement, rear main seal, or whatever other job where there is a lot of overlapping labor involved that you can take reward of to save money. Planning in this style means you can still enjoy your Porsche without the looming anticipation of imminent engine failure with every squeeze of the throttle. In addition to your ain peace of mind, it volition preserve the resale value of the car when the fourth dimension comes to sell. Nigh savvy prospective buyers won't even consider purchasing a machine that doesn't take an IMS upgrade in its service history, and if they do, y'all tin can and should expect to have to significantly lower the asking price.

Communication for Buyers

For prospective buyers, our advice is to do your homework beforehand, and proper due-diligence when considering any i motorcar.E'er ask to see the service history of whatsoever pre-owned auto you're considering to buy, but it's especially disquisitional for someone looking at one of these pre-owned 911's to ascertain if an IMS upgrade has been performed. If it has, great! If it hasn't, that doesn't necessarily mean you should automatically pass on the car just it should be a major consideration to weigh. It's upwards to y'all if you determine to pursue information technology further and if you do, know that yous can reasonably expect a much lower price on the car for having to get the IMS upgrade performed yourself, besides as for the increased run a risk associated with a car that hasn't yet had information technology washed. In either instance, always find a qualified Porsche specialist to perform a pre-purchase inspection on the machine before you buy information technology. Walk away from any seller that seems hesitant, or apartment refuses, to permit a pre-buy inspection. Suspect, as well, is the seller who will agree to a pre-purchase inspection but only on the status that it is performed by a mechanic or shop of their choosing. And every bit always, exist wary of any deal that seems "too good to be truthful" because it almost always is.

To learn more than virtually the Porsche IMS bearing upgrade or to have ane performed on your Porsche 996, 997, or Boxster, give the European auto repair experts at Autoscope a call or set upward an appointment online today!

© 2015 B. Hayes & Autoscope European Automobile Repair
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Source: https://www.autoscopecarcare.com/car-repair/heres-all-the-info-you-need-about-the-porsche-ims-bearing/

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