Oil fed intermediate shaft bearing upgrade?

[rennbod]

While researching another problem with my Boxster, I noticed a company is advertising an oil fed intermediate shaft bearing kit, which seems to use a modified cover and a hose to feed oil to the intermediate shaft bearing..

the kit is here..

http://tunersmotorsports.com/?page_id=103

Has anyone installed it or know if it is any good?

My old 986 Boxster had an upgraded IMS bearing installed when I bought the car, and I thought it was a worthwhile thing to do.. But was told the 987 needed an engine teardown to replace the bearing.. This kit seems to just feed engine oil into the bearing, which from what I have read would solve the problems with failure.. But really.. should this kit do the trick?

[JFP in PA]

While researching another problem with my Boxster, I noticed a company is advertising an oil fed intermediate shaft bearing kit, which seems to use a modified cover and a hose to feed oil to the intermediate shaft bearing..

the kit is here..

http://tunersmotorsports.com/?page_id=103

Has anyone installed it or know if it is any good?

My old 986 Boxster had an upgraded IMS bearing installed when I bought the car, and I thought it was a worthwhile thing to do.. But was told the 987 needed an engine teardown to replace the bearing.. This kit seems to just feed engine oil into the bearing, which from what I have read would solve the problems with failure.. But really.. should this kit do the trick?

We do not use them, but simply remove the rear seal on the OEM bearing. We have more than a few customers running this way with no issues.

[rennbod]

So you take off the rear cover with the 3 bolts (obviously once the transmission and flywheel is out of the way), then hook the seal out of the bearing and put the cover back on? Or do you have to take the engine apart to do that?

[JFP in PA]

So you take off the rear cover with the 3 bolts (obviously once the transmission and flywheel is out of the way), then hook the seal out of the bearing and put the cover back on? Or do you have to take the engine apart to do that?

A little more complicated: you need to prep the engine as though you were pulling the IMS (engine locked at TDC, Cams locked down, tensioners removed), then the cover comes off and a pick is used to pull the rear seal.

[da888]

So the ims failure isn't a hoax to sell solutions ? I've been wondering since my 01 Boxster has been doing just fine with 63k on it. But I've always done yearly oil changes.

This is a serious question. Do that many fail ? Or just a few without knowing the service history of the car.

[JFP in PA]

So the ims failure isn't a hoax to sell solutions ? I've been wondering since my 01 Boxster has been doing just fine with 63k on it. But I've always done yearly oil changes.

This is a serious question. Do that many fail ? Or just a few without knowing the service history of the car.

Depending upon the IMS design (there were three styles used, all of which are known to fail), the failure rate is between 1% and 8%, with the single row bearings (used 2001-2005) being the biggest offenders.  The biggest issue here is that they typically fail catastrophically and without warning, taking the engine with them, which is why the aftermarket replacement as a preemptive fix has developed.

[da888]

Thanks JFP. But having to remove the muffler and tranny to get at it, hmmm, very expensive. Those are pretty low odds. I almost wish I needed to do the clutch so I'd have a reason. Guess I'll keep crossing my fingers.

[JFP in PA]

Another alternative is to install one of the Guardian alert systems to warn you if it starts to go south.

[britairdog]

I have owned a 987-1 from new (June 2005 delivery) . Can you please provide a link to the Guardian warning system JP?

Thanks!

[JFP in PA]

I have owned a 987-1 from new (June 2005 delivery) . Can you please provide a link to the Guardian warning system JP?

Thanks!

 

In the UK: http://www.wrightune.co.uk/imsguardian.html

 

North America: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/ln-engineering-oil-contamination-warning-ims-guardian-sr.-p4034453786lne/10814439-P