I didn't do enough research beforehand and did not realise that the Pelican IMSB kit only comes with a single row bearing plus spacers if you started with a dual row. Everything I have seen so far regarding swapping the dual for a single is "don't do it", but I am wondering if anyone has done it and what their experience is? If you started with a single and expect to replace the bearing with every clutch then it seems people think this is a good "peace of mind" solution, but if you start with a double then it suddenly becomes really risky. The only difference between a 2000 S and a 2001 S (assuming the 2000 came with a dual and the 2001 came with a single) is the outer cover that either fits the dual or single and spacers can accommodate this change. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I think I will open mine up (this weekend hopefully) and unless I see something that really convinces me that my dual row is in excellent condition I will swap it for the single. Or I will look at the part numbers and try to match it with an SKF dual row.

 

Why not just get a duel roll to replace it

 

Know of anyone that sells a dual row replacement? The bearing shouldn't be more than $50. I am fine with the idea of replacing it with every clutch replacement.

 

Not sure that would have worked for me. I drove my 2002 Boxster 317K miles on its original clutch. Can't imagine how people can drive one of these cars to require a new clutch every say 50K miles to then use the need to replace the clutch to justify renewing the IMSB.

 

Never understood the reasoning for using a replacement bearing of the same materials known to fail, Assuming the original bearing didn't fail and isn't failing, why not take the low probability of the original? And the single row has more load and the spacers are problematic to me. And if the bearing did fail, then do you really have the capability of removing all the debris from the engine so any of the bearings don't fail soon going forward?

 

First Boxster for me. I assumed this was a pretty standard timeframe for their clutch, but I'm glad to hear that may not be the case.

 

It is known to fail, but still has a lifespan. The reason I am hesitant to trust the original is I do not have any maintenance history. I just bought the car from the original owner (88k km) and it has sat for the last two years. I have started it up, moved a few feet in first and reverse and that's it. My reading suggests that this car would be ripe for a failure if it was a single row.
I don't think there is a problem with an improved single row (better seal than the original) if it is treated as a wear item. Has anyone had a Pelican kit bearing fail? I wouldn't be surprised if there have been some, but it seems that people are happy with it and I would venture a guess that the failures could be attributed to poor installation.
I appreciate the comments though.

 

 

Delete

 

 

Got the tranny out. Found one torx head bolt with the rest being allen head bolts holding the pressure plate on. I assume this means that the clutch has been removed before. The PO told me the clutch was original, but the IMSB had been replaced, but after looking into it a bit on my own I figured the IMSB replacement was a lie. I'll get the flywheel off this week and see what I find.
As for the IMSB replacement, I am still undecided what to replace it with. I still can't see any scientific reason for not swapping to the improved (better seal and better grease) single row. I haven't come across a single story of someone claiming their Pelican kit bearing failed; I'm sure the stories are out there, but I haven't seen them and I've looked. I would also like to clarify that I am not looking for a lifetime replacement. Replacing it again in 50k miles is fine with me. The other option that I'm leaning towards is replacing it with another dual row that is "off the shelf".

 

Flywheel is off. Grime around the RMS. Shallow dish on the IMSB cover. And I just read about FVD Brombacher's IMS kit, including a dual row. But I have found very little information about it. Anyone hear of any problems with it? It sounds like it is exactly what I've been wanting.

 

 

Guess I didn't read close enough. I was sure I came across the reference to it from a Boxster forum.