fpb111

Has anyone seen or have info on the roller bearing IMS "kit" shown in the VERTEX ad on pg 39 of the 2013-2014 Excellence buyers guide?
European Parts Solution (EPS) makes it. According to the ad there is an installation video at the EPS site, couldn't find it??

relinuca

I saw that ad, too, and was intrigued. But the lack of tech data at their web site, etc., is troubling. Until such time or until an in-depth article appears in a reputable publication, I think the LN/Flat Six solution is the de facto standard.

relinuca

fpb111

Agree about LN/Flat Six.

It appears that they are "pre-loading" thrust against the far end bushing. Wonder what that does to the bushing end.

EIB

They are not preloading the bearing against the far end bushing.
There is a hardened plate on the inner ring mounting bolt that with the mounting flange, controls the end float in the IMS. There should be little or no thrust load on the bearing. I've looked at a lot of IMS bearings for a supplier of a "fix" for the problem. The Lack of good lubrication seems to be the major issue, but there is a heavy radial load on the bearing. A pressure lube system will help.
There is a lot of discussion on Pedro's Board on the IMS issue.

I would like to see some tech and test data on this roller bearing upgrade, too.

Ed B
Retired bearing engineer
PCA DE instructor & Steward
Six Porsches including a '00 Boxster S

Ahsai

Ed, as a retired bearing engineer, what bearings do you use on your M96's?

EIB

I knew someone would ask that!
I haven't replaced it yet. The Boxster only has 35K miles on it, mostly track. I'm tending toward the roller bearing, but I'd like some technical and test data first.
Recommendations for the ball bearing retrofits suggest changing them every 35-50K miles.

Ed B

alpine003

Ed, Have you done any kind of vibration analysis before in your line of work previously?

I'm wondering whatever happened to Mark Jennings(PCA member) that was doing vibration analysis on the m96 motors. That would've been a "true" engine guardian IMO if he could've packaged that into a nice neat electronic package.

Capt. Obvious

I think he's still dabbling with his research. His son is a friend of a friend and he actually analyzed my old C4S and commented it was one of the quietest engines he had ever "listened" too (and that was with 97k miles on the original IMS bearing).

DaveCarrera4

Then there is the insaroims Spanish or Portugese house that has a two ball bearing solution, in case one fails. Second bearing rides inside IMS I believe... I give it an A for creativity. 2003 Carrera 4S Speed Yellow / 1955 356 Continental 1500 Rust Red

Ahsai

How about an electronic ear mounted on where the transmission meets the engine. Sound is transmitted to the FM radio. Tune to the channel and hear your bearing Probably a lot easier for a human to tell the diff between a good bearing and bad bearing noise, as opposed to an algorithm based on freq analysis.

Ahsai

Thanks, Ed. That tells me even a bearing engineer don't worried too much about the stock bearing. That says a lot.

Capt. Obvious

By the time a human could hear the bearing, it's already too late. There's a lot more to it than just "hearing" it. It's been explained to me before by Mark, and I understand it, but I don't understand it well enough to cogently explain it to someone else, unfortunately.

Ahsai

Even with electronic hearing device to highly magnify the noise, it will be too late? Or you meant w/o any hearing devices.

Try to hear with your ears in the driver seat is one thing. Putting a hearing device directly below the bearing is another...

Capt. Obvious

But are you going to just sit there and listen to the bearing noise every time you drive the car? To be truly effective (and sellable), it needs to be a passive device.

Ahsai

Agreed. I'd rather listen to my Fister mufflers