1998 Boxster modification/fixes/advice

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Cunningr

I would make the IMS a priority, mine was done already when I bought it. Not sure of the failure rates, but it may not give warning. I supposecthere is a way to have it checked. When you do the clutch consider a lighter flywheel. Good luck!

Replacing the IMS bearing on a '98 is not really necessary. There's a 99% chance it will not fail.

Stay away from lightweight flywheels unless you plan to have the crank/flywheel balanced. The 986 does not have a harmonic balancer. Crank balance is achieved with the dual mass flywheel, so installing a lightweight flywheel could result in vibrations and even broken crankshafts.

[Cunningr]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Replacing the IMS bearing on a '98 is not really necessary. There's a 99% chance it will not fail.

Stay away from lightweight flywheels unless you plan to have the crank/flywheel balanced. The 986 does not have a harmonic balancer. Crank balance is achieved with the dual mass flywheel, so installing a lightweight flywheel could result in vibrations and even broken crankshafts.

Learn stuff everyday! My 996 turbo owner said that was a good thing for more performance.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Cunningr

Learn stuff everyday! My 996 turbo owner said that was a good thing for more performance.

I considered one years ago...until Jake Raby posted pictures of broken crankshafts and the resulting carnage.

BOOM! The tale of the two piece Crankshaft

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by Anker

Why not address the understeer with simpler measures like:

Firmer sway bar in front.

no. You want a stiffer bar in the rear to decrease understeer.

Originally Posted by particlewave

Replacing the IMS bearing on a '98 is not really necessary. There's a 99% chance it will not fail.

Stay away from lightweight flywheels unless you plan to have the crank/flywheel balanced. The 986 does not have a harmonic balancer. Crank balance is achieved with the dual mass flywheel, so installing a lightweight flywheel could result in vibrations and even broken crankshafts.

No. The DMF doesn't balance anything. It simply absorbs some vibrations and lessens the shock to both the engine and transmission.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

No.

Crank imbalance is compensated for by the DMF. Bad wording on my part, but the end result doesn't change, nor does the point I was making.

[Sammyj]

I'm looking to buy the short shifter soon and I was just wondering if the Ball bearing version that ben makes is worth the extra $100 bucks. 45 on eBay vs 145 for ball bearing? Has anyone tried both?

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Crank imbalance is compensated for by the DMF. Bad wording on my part, but the end result doesn't change, nor does the point I was making.

well, kinda. You don't want people thinking that they need to have their new flywheel balanced.