IMS BEARING RETROFIT SERVICE

Story and pictures by Jake Raby 

All content within this article is copyright 1997-2010 Raby Enterprises Inc. Duplication or redistribution is strictly prohibited without written permission from Raby Enterprises Inc.

 I will begin this article by stating that it is not our goal to "scare" anyone into an IMS Retrofit procedure. As you read these pages you will constantly see the words "catastrophic" and "failure" and we'll be pointing out that these things can happen to your car; because they can and they do. Please do not mis-understand the main objective of this article as it is not our goal to "scare" anyone into the IMS Retrofit procedure. If you choose not to update your Porsche's IMS Bearing thats fine, just drive the vehicle and enjoy it. The words you will be reading here are firm, because the failures are real and they happen more often than most people can imagine. In short, its not our goal to scare you, but rather to provide you with very clear, easy to read and comprehend information to best inform you of the reality associated with the IMS Bearing failure.

The intermediate shaft retrofit is one of Flat 6 Innovations most common procedures carried out at our Cleveland, GA location. The IMS retrofit procedure is one that can be done on MY97 through MY05 Porsche Boxster and 911s to improve the longevity of the engine and hopefully prevent future catastrophic engine failures associated with the intermediate shaft bearing. If you have a MY06 through MY08, you can stop here. None of what is written here applies to you. Your IMS requires a complete teardown to be serviced due to its design. This also pertains if your vehicle is outfitted with a Porsche REMAN or NEW engine that was purchased after 2006 as these engines also feature non-serviceable IMS bearings.

Having developed the procedure, tools, and ims retrofit kit itself in conjunction with LN Engineering, there is no facility better equipped or no team as experienced to service your Porsche's IMS. Flat 6 Innovations also has experience in resurrecting engines with catastrophic IMS failures and as such, many have shipped their Porsche Boxster or 911 to us from around the United States for our specialized service. Our ability to improvise, adapt, and overcome is what separates us from the rest when it comes to a catastrophic failure of your Porsche engine.

If you are reading our website, you are probably already familiar with the procedure and retrofit kit itself. The LN Engineering website provides an excellent description of what the ims retrofit kit is, why it was developed, and how it improves upon the original IMS bearing design. The purpose of this page will be to explain when and why you should consider sending your Porsche to us to have the IMS retrofit procedure done by our expert staff and state of art, specially prepared facility. If you haven't read about the IMS retrofit procedure, visit http://www.LNengineering.com/ims.html 

Having pioneered the idea of do-it-yourself engine kits, as sold by Aircooled Technology and the Type 4 Store, which are fully blueprinted, balanced, and even pre-fit to ensure easy and successful assembly by even the most novice of enthusiast, we understand that some will choose to do this procedure themselves. Given our level of experience with a wide range of obstacles encountered, Flat 6 can also troubleshoot the most difficult of IMS retrofit procedures and guide you to a successful do-it-yourself IMS retrofit installation. We provide a per-incident support plan available separately or with purchase of the LN/Flat 6 Innovations IMS bearing retrofit and tool kit. However you must understand, this procedure is not for the average do-it-yourselfer; improper execution can lead to engine failure. If you are interested in a DIY procedure, this article is not for you as it pertains to the Flat 6 Innovations complete IMS Retrofit procedure specifically.  

Generally, the intermediate shaft bearing's life expectancy can be directly correlated to how a vehicle is driven and maintained. Lower mileage cars not driven hard or often enough are typically the cars that experience IMS failures. Most of these cars also do not get the oil changes as often as cars driven year round, daily. But even cars that are driven like they are stolen and have had oil changes every 3,000 miles since new can and still do experience IMS bearing failures. Every M96 engine needs an IMS bearing retrofit kit, or at least those to which this technology can be applied. 

Just because your Porsche has been exceptionally maintained will not keep it from falling prey to the IMS bearing failure, all M96 powered vehicles are susceptible to the IMS failure, even those with exceptionally low mileage, have never been tracked and etc. The IMS Bearing failure is not prejudice, it can happen without symptom when driving 55 MPH, or it can happen at 130 MPH at wide open throttle on the track. We are often asked "what year cars had the issue?" My answer is "all of them".  

Now we will go over some reasons why the Flat 6 IMS Bearing Retrofit Service is unparalleled. The procedure developed by Flat 6 Innovations and LN Engineering was the first of it's kind to be made commercially available to the general public in "kit" form. We have a more thorough understand of the IMS, its issues and both primary and secondary failures associated with it than anyone else in North America. This is due to our R&D coupled to our exposure to failed and failing engines in all stages of IMS Bearing failure.

Avoid catastrophic failure with the Flat 6 Innovations IMS Retrofit Procedure!

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