Everything You Need to Know About Choosing the IMS Bearing Upgrade Kit at ArborMotion

If you own a 1997 to 2008 Boxster, Cayman, or water-cooled 911 model Porsche, then you’ve most likely heard about the potential issue with your engine’s intermediate shaft bearing. 

The good news is the bearing doesn’t fail at the rate the internet would like you to believe. The bad news is that IMS bearing failures do happen and when they do, it’s catastrophic, leaving you with a vehicle that has little value and not worth installing another new or used engine.  

 

The better news is with an IMS bearing upgrade you mitigate this potential issue, and you can enjoy your Porsche for many miles to come.

 

M96 engines (996, 911, & 986 Boxster) have two different serviceable IMS bearings (Dual or Single row). We must see the actual bearing to determine which style your car uses. The approach we use for the M96 engines upgrades your sealed roller bearing to a direct oil fed plain style bearing that uses oil pressure from the oil filter housing. The 997 and 987 vehicles were introduced in 2005 with the new M97 engine, yet some early models still used used the M96 engine with a serviceable bearing. There’s no VIN split, so looking at the stamped engine code is the only way to verify whether you have an M96 or M97. 

 

The M97 IMS bearing is not externally serviceable, but there is an option to minimize the chance of failure. The M97 IMS upgrade we use is an oil fed cover that uses oil pressure from the cylinder head. Sebastian Gaeta, the owner of ArborMotion & Rennstatt, uses this cover for his personal car and he's quite happy that the option is now available to protect the non-serviceable bearings.

 

In summary, the proper solution for your Porsche will depend on which engine model you have. Learn more about the IMS Bearing failure here.

 

Porsche Service in Ann Arbor for IMS Bearing Upgrade: We’re the Experts!

At Rennstatt, we’re passionate about offering high-quality care for your daily driver, summer toy, or race car. Your Porsche is our shared focus. Our Porsche technicians work to ensure your vehicle is performing at its best.

 

The IMS Bearing Upgrade Kit allows you to enjoy driving your Porsche worry-free! If you're ready to schedule your upgrade, call or book your appointment today for Porsche service in Ann Arbor!