The Truth About Porsche IMS Bearing Failure and How to Fix It

Porsche technician Sean Mickle tells us the truth about the Porsche IMS bearing failures and shows us the solution to this issue from LN Engineering. Sean works at the Nort Northam Collection, located just outside Orlando, Florida.

Check out the build thread for our Boxter S here:

Thanks:
CRC Industries:

Tire Rack:

Simpson Racing Products:

Koni:

LN Engineering:

Porsche Classic:

The Nort Northam Collection:

[Shadowfdath]

An IMS bearing from NSK can be had for $37 thats stronger than the one LN engineering supplies at $800+...its just a standard 5204-2rs bearing! We use them in 45, 000lb winches at work and they last DECADES under that stress

[FredLarracuente]

Great video! I'm not in the habit of recommending anyone anything but I've come to trust the EPS roller bearing oil-fed IMS solution. One of the most affordable ones ($579) and, after having fitted three cars with them and hard-driving over 100K miles among them, I've come to that conclusion. Easy DIY with the right tools during a clutch service, which is every 30-40k miles with my driving style. I like the fact of it being internally oil-fed through the IMS tube directly from the oil pump (no tapping from the head or filter oil supply), very high-quality and thought-out design, and I can easily be removed and inspected during said clutch service. Just get it freakin' done and enjoy the damned car! LOL. In regards to bore scoring?, just replace the oil every 5K miles with high-quality oil and inspect the filter every time and, not the way-too-long Porsche recommended interval. I personally use 5w/40 or 5w/50 as is always hot where I live. Anyways, my humble DIY mechanic opinion and happy 'Porscheing' everyone!

[DanielRamirez-osbg]

IMS solutions oiled bearing kit it pretty easy he just trying to scare you off it took me a day with care measures and saved thousands

[NateBz]

Good info, and there are videos that show the process of the repair as well... The Wheeler Dealers episode was actually pretty clear "How to". PCA has a video as well.

[joedirt]

Just Buy a 98 to 2000 dual Row 996. I bought mine well driven and maintained 99 with 86k. Pulled the bearing out and it was mint, Replaced with Dual row ceramic. Avoid the 20 year old garage queens with 30k. These cars are Reliable. Xar has 120lk and for the price wrap it around a tree and walk away. Value.

[Akartavor]

I have the IMS Solution in my 997.1 and so far so good. I am pretty sure that the LN Engineering IMS Solution was invented by Jake Raby at Flat 6 Innovations. I also have the LN Engineering Nickies cylinder sleeves in my car. Love it!

[timdillon]

Well that being said there are thousands of Porsche out there for sale with 70 80 hundred thousand miles on them granted it happens in a very small percentage of vehicles it just doesn't happen there is warning signs

[manilanoakes]

I don't know why Porsche engineers did not fit roller a roller bearing for the IMS bearing they can withstand a much greater load.

[stevehurt]

Have to agree with John Morgan. The oil bush type (bearing?) has been used by Porsche on their air cooled engines. I found the ceramic bearings (IMS) were hard on the outer race of the IMS and they would eventually wear to a point where they have to be replaced. This was apparently the situation on my Boxster S (2002) and I had to find another solution for correcting the LN Engineering Ceramic bearing which had about 50-52K miles on it. I believe the right solution is using a fresh oil supply type bearings whether another ball bearing/ceramic bearing is used OR Raby engineering solution (oil supplied bushing type oil bearing). Almost nothing on PCA except a couple of video films. Did research both within PCA members and the internet. I found via the sources that I could use an oil supply from a port near the oil filter, route a line to a modified IMS bearing external housing, and using the normal Porsche bearing would solve my problem; found sources for making the changes and adapted my IMS to these changes. Had to remove one seal from the Porsche bearing which is a single row ball bearing. Have the engine under oil sampling, etc to make sure the changes are working.

[profuse]

The LNE ceramic bearings are better on paper but there’s no empirical evidence that it last more than OEM. they’re trying collect data as we speak to prove it, but now there’s a permanent solution for pressure lubed.

[zdc]

How long have you been working with Porsche? And how many failed bearings have you seen? Would be good data to support this video. My local Porsche specialist said he had only seen 4 failures in 21 years.

[adamsangels]

Total crap just drive it ….if it dies it dies…buy another one…..8.5 k purchase price is annual devaluation on most cars anyway

[FueledBy.Passion]

Shawn is the Man! Has worked on both of our Boxsters.

[paulparnitzke]

isn’t it true that the ims bearing and the rest of the motor must be in perfect order to use the ims solution? i read that any oil contamination won’t work because tre holes for the oil on the repair will plug

[jacksabbath]

TOTAL BULLSHIT by another Porsche mechanic who makes a living today, replacing these bearings. You will "NEVER" get him to admit, that replacing the IMS must, must, must be done, as millions of these cars do not have a bearing replacement and they have 200k miles on them. He needs the money.

[don-cwyz]

Porshe vehicles are not cheap. The IMS bearing is a known issue. So why isn't Porche recalling and fixing the faulty IMS bearings at no charge?

[ianseaman-qxyt]

Too much life story not enough mechanics

[roxximusik]

I find it interesting that the US-produced Bentley workshop manual on the 986 series contains no guidance whatsoever on inspection, or replacement, of the notorious intermediate shaft bearing (IMS). Porsche presumably thought it to be an effectively sealed for life item. 👽🔰

[stephenfazekas]

Porsche ims is like the f355 valve guides, can they fail? Absolutely! will it fail ? 93% chance that youll be fine. Its like doing a water pump at the time of a timing belt, you’re already in there the parts aren’t much, the labor once you’re in there isnt that much so its cheap insurance.

[TsunauticusIV]

A YouTube channel called Top Line Racer just got a Porsche and they have NO idea what they are doing. Could you guys give them a hand? Would be a benefit to your channel and they probably would even pay you for your help. Idk. But they are doing internet research and I’m worried they will mess it up.