Just a tidbit from someone who is doing the IMS now.... Tranny removal and bearing removal went fairly smooth. However the insertion of the new bearing hit a snag... I must have tapped it wrong at some point and didn't know it... it cocked a bit and I kept trying to drive it in. It's difficult to see what is going on... it is now stuck half way in... i was using a plastic dead blow hammer... prob need to go get a real plastic hammer with rounded heads. I called LN and they're sending me a hexogon extension that fits the new bearing shaft. Hopefully I can pull it back out. If I damaged the IMS I'm sunk...
Point is... Be careful when inserting the new bearing... I'm losing sleep over this small mistake. Side note: The bearing I pulled out was a double row in good shape (no wiggle, and turned smooth) but it was obvious that oil was seeping out after it sat on the bench for awhile. The internal grease prob washed away some time ago. Car has 83k on it. I also had one stripped tranny bolt. This car was completely dealer maintained before I got it so who know when/where that happened. I ordered a new bolt and will try a re-tap to see if it will hold at torque. If not, I'll see if I can get an threaded insert and bolt that will fit. Anything is better than nothing.
John