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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHMy IMS story comes to an end- just missed the big one
Leading reported evidence
Replace with the ln bearing
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Well, I finally took my car to my local P-car dealer and had the bearing replaced with the LN bearing.
My IMS story comes to an end- just missed the big one
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Leading evidence: 'Replace with the ln bearing' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean oil/drain or do something' (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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Suggestion
Shouldn't you flush the crankcase with clean oil/drain or do something to get all of that fine metal out of the motor to limit any possible damage?
My IMS story comes to an end- just missed the big one
Clean there
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Suggestion
Yep, I would want to at least drop the pan to know that it is clean there.
My IMS story comes to an end- just missed the big one
Inspect oil filter at frequent intervals, perhaps 3-5k miles, looking
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Suggestion · Original poster
It would be a good idea to tear open and inspect the oil filter at frequent intervals, perhaps 3-5K miles, looking for ferrous metallic glitter like bits.
My IMS story comes to an end- just missed the big one
Replace oil (5w-40) every 5k
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Suggestion
I have thus far 11k miles on the LN, drive about 8k miles/year, change oil (5W-40) every 5k.
My IMS story comes to an end- just missed the big one
Inspect oil filter at frequent intervals, perhaps 3-5k miles, looking
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported fixes
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1
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Suggestion · Original poster
It would be a good idea to tear open and inspect the oil filter at frequent intervals, perhaps 3-5K miles, looking for ferrous metallic glitter like bits.
My IMS story comes to an end- just missed the big one
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23 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261027T075545Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
A while back I posted pics of my opened up oil filter showing lots of metallic glitter sized bits (they were ferrous) from my �99 C4 w/ almost 100K miles. In terms of the IMSB many advised that the end was near. After that discovery I hardly drove the car and when I did I worried a lot. Well, I finally took my car to my local P-car dealer and had the bearing replaced with the LN bearing. It turns out the bearing was just shot. The tech could not believe the bearing was still in one piece (a testament to the ultra strong NKG bearing-ha). There was a ton of movement in the bearing and the thing sounds like a jingle bell when I shake it. The tech told me I should buy a lottery ticket as this was my lucky day. Seeing the bearing there is no doubt I dodged the bullet. Here are some of the things I found after all of this:
Its hard to believe, but the P-car dealer was $400-600 less than all the indy shops I had quote the install. My car was done the next day and I had a new Audi A4 as a loaner. The price was under $1800 and included an oil change. Had I hung around the dealer I could have had cookies and probably could have taken a test drive in a new Boxster. I should have had the install done when I had the same dealer install a new clutch a few years ago but at that time I was in �this is not a big issue and won�t happen to my higher mileage car� camp.
The tech said he has done at least 300 LN bearing installs and the service manager said they do 5-10 per year.
My car sounds different when I start it up. I�m sure I had the growl but just did not notice it as it happened over time.
It would be a good idea to tear open and inspect the oil filter at frequent intervals, perhaps 3-5K miles, looking for ferrous metallic glitter like bits. This would cost an oil filter, a � qt of oil and � hour of time.
Yea, I can drive my car again.
Shouldn't you flush the crankcase with clean oil/drain or do something to get all of that fine metal out of the motor to limit any possible damage? I'm happy for you in preventing catastrophe.
I try to stay away from these threads because I hate to add fuel to the fire, but its Friday and I'm bored.
The indy I go to has a motor on a stand right when you walk in the office door with the shredded bearing pieces sitting on top of it. It seems to be a pretty common issue around here in central texas. Not sure about the rest of the country.
I'm sure there are tons of these that don't fail. I personally think swapping it out with a clutch is cheap insurance.
You took a big gamble even to drive the car after you first discovered the debris in the oil filter. I will keep checking mine until I need a new clutch and do the fix then.
+1 on dropping the pan and cleaning it out. I'm surprised the dealer didn't do that, as it is fast and easy for them. That's the sort of thing I'd hope the Guardian would pick up before it got to a critical point.
Hallo Jake. It was surely worth the money to me to have your bearing retrofit, especially as I needed a clutch anyway, and mine is a single-row bearing.
But now I am hearing that you feel the single-row LN bearing is inadequate, and have developed a new design, but that it will not be generally available for perhaps a year or more. LN's website lists five total failures, but does not specify how many total single-rows have been placed in service. Is your Solution because of your desire to reduce failures to zero (as is the case with the double and triple-row LN bearings) or are the single-row LN bearings failing a lot? Do you think the single-row LN (because of ceramics and thicker spindle) is as durable as the large single-row MY2006-2008 Porsche steel bearing, or less? I have thus far 11k miles on the LN, drive about 8k miles/year, change oil (5W-40) every 5k. How serious is this problem? Thanks.
Hardly any of the bearings have failed, but those that have failed are ALL single row, because the bearing is simply not robust enough. The ceramic technology makes for a better bearing much more resilient to wear, but its the best that can be done while retaining the original bearing design, maximizing the real estate that Porsche gave us inside the IMS tube assembly.
The five total failures is correct, we know that at least two of them were due to installer error and possibly a third.
Hear this:
There are
no issues
with the current LN bearing; we simply know that the OEM single row design is inadequate no matter what when using a ball bearing. This is the reason we have been working since January of 2009 on the true solution that does not utilize the original design.
This solution does not require further maintenance after installation.
Hmmmm... what is THE "solution???" I know you won't say so let's guess. First one to get it right gets a free install at your shop...
I'll go first:
How about... roller bearing instead of ball bearing?
It's not up for discussion fellas.. Please don't guess.
We will be revealing he technology and offering it to the owners of my engines first. Then those we have carried out a single row IMSR will be able to learn about and take advantage of it. The rest will have to wait till the Excellence feature.
It's not even mentioned on our own website, because it doesn't need to be discussed at this point. I never should have mentioned it here, so lets keep from hijacking the post and just move on ;-)
I love developing things and procedures but I hate the rest of it with just as much passion.
Sorry for instigating trouble Jake. Just trying to have fun. I won't say another word. But... many of us are closet gear heads, so it does make for thought provoking discussion.
Wow, I bet you feel like the cat that just ate the bird. Thats really awsome.... I cant even tell you how awsome. I am so tired of hearing the Oh Sheet stories. Its really nice to hear an actual save.
Yes I dont think our community has yet realized how important people and companies like Jake and Flat-6 are. Yes I wish Jake was a little more "fuzzy" but I think he has been beaten up by so many he is giving up. This car is the 928 all over again and it is going to take people with a passion for the car to keep it going.
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