986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - IMS

thom4782 · 07-23-2017, 10:23 AM

Sealed bearings are great until...

Over time acids and other contaminants in the oil cause IMS bearing seals to degrade. When this happens, leaking oil causes the grease to wash out. When the grease is gone, splash oil isn't sufficient to lubricate the bearing because not enough oil gets through the seal to adequately lubricate the bearing. With too little lubrication, the bearing fails eventually.

BTW: if you don't buy what I've said, why do you think aftermarket suppliers like LN and TuneRS use unsealed bearings as their fixes to a design flaw?

07-23-2017, 10:23 AM	#34
thom4782 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Foster City CA Posts: 1,099	Sealed bearings are great until... Over time acids and other contaminants in the oil cause IMS bearing seals to degrade. When this happens, leaking oil causes the grease to wash out. When the grease is gone, splash oil isn't sufficient to lubricate the bearing because not enough oil gets through the seal to adequately lubricate the bearing. With too little lubrication, the bearing fails eventually. BTW: if you don't buy what I've said, why do you think aftermarket suppliers like LN and TuneRS use unsealed bearings as their fixes to a design flaw? Last edited by thom4782; 07-23-2017 at 10:33 AM.