IMS Retrofit is the solution to IMS Bearing Failure

IMS Retrofit For Your Porsche

The LN Engineering IMS Retrofit Kit for MY97-05 Porsche Boxster and 911 Models
Search Main menuSkip to primary contentSkip to secondary contentHomeIMS 101IMS Failures ExplainedIMS GuardianIMS Retrofit & Procedure OverviewMY06-08OilingPreventing an IMS FailureStop Fake BearingsWhat IMS do I have?Where to BuyProblem: IMS Failure. Solution: IMS RetrofitAll model year 1997-2008 Boxster, Cayman, and 911 models can suffer from IMS failures, with exception of Turbo, GT2, or GT3 models.

There is only one IMS Retrofit™! The IMS Retrofit™ is a registered trademark of LN Engineering LLC and the original ceramic hybrid ball-bearing replacement for the M96 and M97 engine. All other bearing replacements are just imitations. All genuine LN IMS Retrofit kits come laser etched, engraved, and serial numbered to validate their authenticity.

New for 2013, all single row bearing IMS Retrofit kits come with cryogenically treated bearings to further improve wear resistance and increase longevity!

The IMS Retrofit™ and patent pending IMS Retrofit™ Pro Toolkit was developed in partnership with Flat 6 Innovations. LN Engineering and Flat 6 Innovations are the co-developers of the IMS Solution.

OilingOiling is just one part of the problem.

As supplied by Porsche, the intermediate shaft uses a sealed ball bearing. The original bearing was grease filled, considered a “permanent” lubricant. However, the original bearings and seals used are rated only to 250F and over time, the seals become hard, allowing the grease under normal operation to be “washed” out of the bearing during operation. Additionally, as the intermediate shaft itself is submerged at times, the shaft can actually fill up with engine oil. With long drain intervals, contaminants in the oil find their way into the bearings and intermediate shaft. These worn out seals do allow oil in but they also limit the exchange of fresh oil.

The IMS Retrofit uses an open bearing, allow engine oil to freely enter and exit the bearing. A seal is kept on the side facing the IMS tube so as to limit the amount of oil that enters the intermediate shaft.

The ceramic hybrid bearing used is designed to function on splash lubrication from engine oil alone, but is submerged in oil as well, depending on operating conditions. The IMS tube itself will end up storing a sizable amount of oil that will centrifugally be fed to the bearing during operation as it leaks past the rear seal on the new IMS bearing supplied. This is another reason why frequent oil changes are a must – as this oil gets trapped and is one of the sources for lubrication of the new bearing!

Forced oiling of the ball bearing does not provide any benefit as the bearing does not require or benefit from additional oil. The bearing operates submerged in oil or partially submerged in normal operation, for example at idle, when bearing load is highest and need for lubrication is greatest. For those choosing to retain the original conventional ball bearing, it has been known for years that simply removing the grease seal will promote improved bearing life. Do not add pressurized oil to the ball-bearing. The LN Engineering IMS Retrofit kit should not be used with any forced oiling.

Another issue that added oil alone does not solve is over-loading of the ball bearing. The single row ball bearing used starting in 2000 through 2005 was replaced with a larger bearing in 2006 with double the load capacity, restoring the original load capacity the dual row bearing first used in the M96 engine. Insufficient load capacity leading to wear and fatigue is the primary problem with the single row bearing used in 2000 through 2005, not lubrication! It is for this same reason that the class action lawsuit settlement regarding the IMS only covers vehicles with the single row bearing as found in 2000 through 2005 model year vehicles!

It is for those reasons why we are currently developing a special narrow dual row bearing for the 2000-2005 single row bearing IMS which is in testing.

The IMS Solution provides a larger bearing surface area and uses forced oiling as well, but eliminates the problematic ball bearing by using a simpler plain bearing. Orifice size as well as oil source for lubrication of the IMS Solution has been engineered to ensure optimal operation while not causing side-effects from pressure losses, oil foaming, and crankcase windage that oil feeding a ball bearing could cause.