Yet another IMS "solution"

[schoir]

This one provides "direct oil feed to the original intermediate shaft bearing":

Direct Oil Injection for IMS Bearings | TuneRS Motorsports – Porsche performance, repair and restoration

No mention of cost here either.

Regards, Maurice.

[rp17]

Very Interesting! Do you know how long this has been available? Thanks for posting this.

[kelvin38]

Wow, I'd love to hear Jake Raby's feedback on this.
"We here at TuneRS Motorsports have designed and developed the perfect, final solution for the dreaded Intermediate Shaft Bearing failure" is a very bold statement.

[schoir]

This "solution" appears to address what everyone has stated, for years, was the main cause of IMS bearing failure, namely lack of lubrication once the factory seals became compromised and, it does not add another unknown to the equation.

I am curious to know more about the real world testing of this approach, including the 48 hours at Sebring with the 1999 Spec Boxster mentioned on their website.

Regards, Maurice.

[Stefan (Boston)]

This solution gives me a lot of confidence. Instead of just trying to beef up every component of the system at the car owner's expense, this solution jumps straight to addressing the actual problem. And it does it in a way that is simpler, cheaper, works on more cars, and doesn't require special tools or expertise.

As an engineer with over 25 years of experience, I've found that shoot-in-the-dark solutions show a lack of understanding and are the most unnecessarily complicated (and hence most unreliable). As the great Donald Knuth once said, "premature optimization is the root of all evil." This solution is just the opposite.

Bravo to TuneRS. I look forward to hearing more details.

[rp17]

Stefan I agree. This looks very simple and effective. This looks like the fix that a guy named felix detailed on Pelican. Very good thread. I like options!!

[thom4782]

I looked at this on the vendor's website. In fact, I even watched the video. What do others think? Will the oil reach the inner part of the ISMB so it can actually lubricate the bearings.

[Spinnaker]

Interesting approach to the IMS bearing issue. Just wondering where does the oil go after it enters the outer flange area. Is it forced through the bearing's inner seal into the IMS tube? Removing the inner seal is not an option, since removing the bearing with a puller will ruin the bearing.

[kelvin38]

How close is this to LN engineering's ims solution?

[tonycarreon]

there have been a few groups/people working on an oil based solution to this. i followed feelyx on pelican ( Who has done an IMS change (New Oil Fed Design Idea) - Pelican Parts Technical BBS )

who knows who started when, but i heard of feelyx's before jake's (though i'm sure jake was keeping his under wraps, so i don't mean to imply anything).

it's interesting to see, that's for sure.

[Jake Raby]

This retains a ball bearing. It does not share the art that makes the IMS Solution unique. Though oil is delivered to the IMS bearing area, it is not fed to a plain bearing like it is in the IMS Solution.

Oil is also robbed from a different point from the engine and there is a reason why we decided not to use that location to feed the IMS Solution.

I developed the IMS Solution because I did not want a ball bearing to reside within my engines. The ball bearing is the problem and the source of all evil. Anything else is just a band aid.

[Joe B]

Maybe it would be a good idea to use for the 3rd generation, larger, non-removeable IMSB for which Jake has not developed an IMS Solution.

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by Joe B

Maybe it would be a good idea to use for the 3rd generation, larger, non-removeable IMSB for which Jake has not developed an IMS Solution.

Actually we have developed a solution for that application. The installation of the unit offers a lot of installation compromises and because of that we have chosen to continue working on it before releasing it. I don't believe in compromise.

The majority of the issues that are found occur with the 01-05 engines, which is why we have made that IMS Solution the priority when bringing units to the market.

Having options on the market are good things for everyone from consumer right up to the guys at the top of the food chain. Without things like this, what I do would be very boring.

[schoir]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

This retains a ball bearing. It does not share the art that makes the IMS Solution unique. Though oil is delivered to the IMS bearing area, it is not fed to a plain bearing like it is in the IMS Solution.

Oil is also robbed from a different point from the engine and there is a reason why we decided not to use that location to feed the IMS Solution.

I developed the IMS Solution because I did not want a ball bearing to reside within my engines. The ball bearing is the problem and the source of all evil. Anything else is just a band aid.

The band aid comment cannot be too comforting to all of those who have had LN Engineering bearings installed either at Jake's shop, independent shops or DIY.

Having purchased an (double row) LN Engineering ceramic bearing myself, I sincerely hope that it's not just a band aid.

Apparently, the TuneRS direct oil injection solution can also be applied to LN Engineering bearings, so that may be the way to go. My reasoning is that since there have fewer failures than you can count on one hand with the LN Engineering bearing prior to direct oil injection, this approach might just make it bullet proof, without introducing any other unknowns or unnecessary complications.

Again, I remember everyone stressing that the lack of lubrication due to the failure of the factory seals was the main cause that had to be addressed.

Regards, Maurice.

[Boxtaboy]

Problem is, that still won't be bullet proof, as Jake indicates that there's like 20 other modes of failure for the M96 engine. It's all too dizzying for me. I gotta change all these internal parts to beefed up parts and/or add these nifty tricks so that my engine doesn't kaboom? Come on. For my 01 986 (now at 70k miles), I just have been doing the recommended maintenance items & changing the oil at its recommended intervals. Have added no band aids. Amazingly, the car is still running. At 12 yrs old now, even if the engine croaks (and it probably will cause there's a lot of modes of failure), I already got my grins, and will just move away from an M96. Now back to enjoying my Boxster, as I know its time is limited.

[Perfectlap]

^ Time is Limited? at 70K miles? Seriously? That sounds outrageous to me. Call me crazy but if your following proper maintenance, letting the oil temp come up before beating on it, did the LN retrofit and maybe are laying off a little during winter, then it seems nuts to think the engine won't last you another 10 years.
But then again...I don't fix engines. I thought I was buying a Porsche not a FIAT/Ferrari!!

[thom4782]

I don't think it's amazing at all that your car is running after 12 years with 70K miles. While there may be 20 failure modes, most are pretty rare so 95%+ of the M96 engines last a long, long time. So I'd stop worrying.

The probably of an IMSB failure is very low especially if you change oil more frequently than Porsche recommends. One can improve his or her odds by installing an LN Retrofit bearing when one replaces the clutch. Then the chances of a subsequent IMSB failure become vanishingly small. At worst, one might want to check the LN bearing at 50K miles use to see if it has any play or wear. My bet is that the Retrofit will last much longer than 50K miles.

Second, one might want to replace the chain pads and tensioners in high mileage cars especially if one sees pad debris in the oil filter or sump. Other than that, I'm not sure there is much one can do to guard against the other failure modes.

Hope my 2 cents helps put things perspective.

[Jake Raby]

The band aid comment cannot be too comforting to all of those who have had LN Engineering bearings installed either at Jake's shop, independent shops or DIY.

You are making something from nothing.. Anyone who we have installed a bearing kit for that wishes to apply an IMS Solution gets the full cost of the IMS Retrofit bearing (limited to the retrofit kit) knocked off the cost of their IMS Solution procedure, if we carry it out here. Of course, the only people who know that are those who are our customers already.

What I was referring to as a band aid was adding a device or a modification in lieu of proactive bearing replacements.

That means that even my IMS Guardian system is a band-aid. At least it is a non-invasive band aid that offers a symptom before failure and for a nominal cost when carried out as DIY..

The only way to avoid the common collateral damages related to ball bearing IMSB failure is to eliminate the ball bearing that creates the collateral and secondary damage.

[rp17]

Love the no bearing technology but this lube thing looks simple.

Searching fleabay for misc parts and behold.....Another bearing kit by ANH. After seeing this with my own eyes, I still think this is a joke. They provide no details and the cost is 630.00. Has anyone tried (jk), heard of this retrofit?

Updated Engine Intermediate Shaft Bearing Kit Porsche 911 Boxster | eBay

[rp17]

Interesting read. Got this from another thread here on the forum.


Re: I know Mike personally and professionally ...