Quote:
Originally Posted by Cbonilla
Here is how my shop responded. I'd welcome your informed views
Basically, the tool that LN Engineering sells you to install the “superior” bearing is not very good (and yes, we do have the newer bearing tool). We have installed a couple of the “Single Row Pro” kits on cars and had some issues with the tool and fitment in which we didn’t feel comfortable with either the installation process or with that tool. Additionally, there is a very fine (thin) lock ring wire which that tool installs with the bearing that is impossible to tell if it has seated properly. The bearing may have more load capacity and a longer service interval but if it doesn’t install correctly that really won’t matter. We like and trust LN Engineering and their products as theirs is the only replacement IMS bearing that we will sell and install. The “Single Row Classic” bearing is of a better design and material than the stock bearing and we feel it will go farther than the suggested 4yrs, 50,000 miles given the fact that there are a larger percentage of cars on the road still with the stock single row bearing that have exceeded that mileage range and time window without failures. We feel that the suggested time and mileage from LN Engineering is to their benefit, same goes for the limited warranty. ... I might add that most, if not all, Porsche dealerships won’t install that bearing either choosing instead to install Porsche’s own bearing which is of the single row design.
I chose to raise the missing sticker in my response to this email, so it could not have been addressed here
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I find that response difficult to process. We also have both tools, and quite plainly have never had
any issues using it on any of the LN bearing styles. The Faultless Tool is just that; it is so much better than using a dead blow hammer to try and drive in a refrigerated bearing, and never ends up cocking the single row bearings. It is also the only tool that can install the Pro bearing without potentially damaging the unit. As for knowing if the lock ring on the Pro bearing is seated, that also has never been an issue as you can hear the ring click into place, and we also mark the inner shaft for the expected install depth before starting the install, so there is also a visual confirmation as well.
As mentioned earlier, given a choice, all the techs in the shop will reach for the Faultless tool over the original IMS tool kit, because it is easier, quicker, and simply does a better job every time.