IMS Replacement

[Steve Tinker]

Jedi, you have a single row bearing if your car was manufactured in 2004.

[Luv2Box]

Isn't there a double row replacement for the single row IMS? If so wouldn't that be more prudent to install?

[clickman]

There are as many opinions on which IMS replacement to use as there are for type of oil to use.

Too bad there isn't enough data out there on the ones installed, without unknown external influences like the quality of the installer.

[mikefocke]

And the quality of the engine the kit was installed in.

Jake has posted on another forum of a tool he has developed to measure the relationship of the crankshaft hole and the IMS hole in the block. He is thinking, possibly after seeing multiple failures in a given engine and searching for the reason, that slight manufacturing variations make a difference. In his shop, he will now not install any IMS kit into an engine which fails his new test.

If this is true, then once you get in and see the condition of your current IMS, you can predict how your replacement will fare.

[mikefocke]

LN makes 3 bearing replacement kits for your car. In order of price, the LN single row, the Single Row Pro which is the double row and the IMS Solution which is the flat bearing (like is used on the other end of the IMS shaft) version with added externally supplied oiling.

[token 00]

Just had the single row pro installed with clutch, RMS, flywheel and AOS at Chris' in Seattle. New oil and filter - yes! Lucky to have one of the preferred installers in my backyard. Only have a couple hundred miles on the new bearing - so far so good.

I'd get the clutch done too if you're going in for the IMS. At the very least you should be saving yourself a new flywheel purchase and an additional 8 or so hours of labour in the future.

Cheers,
Token

[BobRickel]

I used the EPS IMS solution after doing extensive research on all of the options available. Mine has been in for about 9K miles at this point. I run the heck out of my 1997 and thus far no problems. It only had 40k miles on it but I was concerned about dependability so I replaced all the rubber coolant hoses, the front motor mount, the Air/Oil separator, the water pump (was starting to wobble), the plugs and plug tubes, the rear main seal and the fuel and air filter and anything else I could think of. Here is a video with a cutaway of the EPS IMS solution.