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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHLow mile 996 without IMS replacement
Leading reported evidence
Inspect dual row ims bearing
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I inspected the dual row IMS bearing which was like new, so I pulled the seal off it and left it well alone, as per Hartech'a advice on a serviceable dual row bearing.
Check brakes, do a brake fluid flush and, depending
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion
Then get the hydraulic system for the top sorted, check the brakes, do a brake fluid flush and, depending on the date codes on the tires, you may need to address them as well.
Leading evidence: 'Inspect dual row ims bearing' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check brakes, do a brake fluid flush and, depending' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Install (and clutch change, while it was already out)
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I owned it a week before I had the LN Engineering IMS Retrofit bearing installed (and clutch change, while it was already out).
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The problem was the leaking hydraulics, and I had them replaced a couple weeks ago.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Check brakes, do a brake fluid flush and, depending
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Suggestion
Then get the hydraulic system for the top sorted, check the brakes, do a brake fluid flush and, depending on the date codes on the tires, you may need to address them as well.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Check brakes, do a brake fluid flush and, depending
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Then get the hydraulic system for the top sorted, check the brakes, do a brake fluid flush and, depending on the date codes on the tires, you may need to address them as well.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I inspected the dual row IMS bearing which was like new, so I pulled the seal off it and left it well alone, as per Hartech'a advice on a serviceable dual row bearing.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
If you wind up buying it, after the inspections results say it's good to go, you should plan on an additional $15K for stuff like IMSB, RMS, AOS (or UAOS), coils, plugs, water pump, hoses, Trans and differential fluids, oil change, blah, blah, blah.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
14 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
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Generation: 20261027T000231Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Looking at a 2001 Cab4 with 15,800 miles.
Am I buying trouble? It has a hard top and when I removed it there is a thick layer of dust on the plastic rear window. It doesn�t appear that this hard top has been removed lately. I was wondering how those hydraulic cylinders will hold up after not moving for a long time. And how does this sitting affect the chances of IMS bearing failure?
I bought a 2001 with 34,000 miles about 7 months ago. I owned it a week before I had the LN Engineering IMS Retrofit bearing installed (and clutch change, while it was already out). About 2 months ago the convertible top started making a squeaking noise when opening, and the top would stop above the latch and not latch properly. I could grab it from the driver's seat and pull down to get it to latch properly, but that's not a long-term solution. The problem was the leaking hydraulics, and I had them replaced a couple weeks ago.
You can count on having to replace the top hydraulics, and for peace of mind the IMS bearing.
My 2001 has 51k miles. I inspected the dual row IMS bearing which was like new, so I pulled the seal off it and left it well alone, as per Hartech'a advice on a serviceable dual row bearing.
The previous responder is in the UK and model year designations might be different.
My understanding is that all 99's had dual-row bearings and 2000 was a transition year that could have either but I've always been under the impression that in the US the 2001+ all had single row.
To answer your original question I'd actually be a little concerned (mechanically) with a car that's been driven that little and has apparently sat around a lot.
Does it have maintenance ppwk that shows checks were occurring regularly on some kind of time schedule before it started sitting? That would help allay some worries but sitting around and not being used is not great, even more so if fluids werent changed out, etc.
I also have a 2001 C2 with 37000 miles. Imsb was changed out at 32,000 miles. It had a single row imsb. The oem original imsb came out looking good, spun smooth but no grease was left in it. So just a matter of time till it started to shed/wear-out.
IMSB are not something to play around with in my opinion. Ya, some never seem to go bad. Many do go bad and take out the engine. Guess it depends if you're a gambling man. Just keep in mind that gamble is an expensive one equal to the cost of the car....
Most of us don't want too chance a steel bearing start shedding its metallic abrasive particles all thru your engine. Even if you catch that early, the damage has been done and only 1 solution for that, total rebuild.
If imsb is a double row, they still fail but at a lower rate for a complete imsb failure. And when they do start to go bad, it takes lot longer for them to completely fail so they have a prolonged period of shedding twice as much debris into your engine. So long before double row completely fails they have shed/contaminated/destroyed your engine bearings/shafts/etc...
About your cab top. The rams will need to be rebuilt on every 996 cab if they already haven't been rebuilt... The 25 year old oem Porsche quad seals are made out of a poly material that has a 5 year shelf life. They ALL go bad eventually. Sooner than later. If your top is repeatedly working now, chances are its already had the rams rebuilt with new seals. If not, it will need that done.
jmo
Mine was one of the last dual row cars, but as others have stated, the changeover was not from a specific engine number and I've heard of cars 6 months earlier than mine with a single row.
Yes, they can all fail, however Hartech state that if you hacve a dual row that on inspection shows no perceptible wear, you can do more harm than good by replacing it.
YMMV etc, etc.
You can tell which bearing you have by the cover plate, however you need the trans or engine out to gain access to view.
1999 c2 with 70k miles....( this one is actually my Sons car, mine has 194K miles)
I was replacing the 2nd gear Syncro's and refreshing the clutch while the trans was out, then decided to also install a roller bearing IMSB ...
Yep, the dual row bearing was failing ...IF I had just listened to Hartech....lol
You Tube
Yeah, that's toast!
Just for clarity, Hartech only recommend leaving them if there is no perceptible wear. Mine felt like the volume **** on a classic 90's high end home audio amplifier.
I had already decided to install a more robust NUP6204 Roller Bearing IMSB in there regardless.....and even with only 70k miles it was too late.....So I put a LOT of magnets in the Sump and on the oil filter to collect all the metal IMSB debris that had already been distributed....
Nothing had been done except oil changes and tires. I was going to have to do IMS/RMS as well
as cooling tank replacement and top ram seals and then who knows what else.
I do not understand why people buy these cars and then just let them sit!
With the OP in SW Florida there are a lot of resources available for all your questions on the IMSB and cabriolet hydraulic cylinders: There is PCA Everglades, Paradise Region Gruppe, and the well-known cylinder repair in Tampa, Cabriolet Hydraulics. All very easy to find and discuss your 996 questions. /X3
Slider, you are looking at a lot of "catch up maintenance" to make sure you have a decent running 996. I would highly recommend a PPI before you exchange any money. If you wind up buying it, after the inspections results say it's good to go, you should plan on an additional $15K for stuff like IMSB, RMS, AOS (or UAOS), coils, plugs, water pump, hoses, Trans and differential fluids, oil change, blah, blah, blah. Then get the hydraulic system for the top sorted, check the brakes, do a brake fluid flush and, depending on the date codes on the tires, you may need to address them as well. You can save some $$$$ if you do some of the work yourself.
If you take care of all that, your only concern will be oil changes, brake pads and tires for a very long time. Just my 2 cents.
Good luck and show us some pics !
