Inspection of my double row IMS bearing - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

WhipE350 · 01-09-2012, 08:08 PM

I took some pics and disassembled my double row IMS bearing tonight. When I was doing the job a LOT of old nasty oil came out of the tube, easily more then a cup. I'm thinking how the heck did that get in there. I figured it must be coming from the far side because the bearing looked like brand new. Well as I took the bearing apart I discovered the reason, oil was making it past the bearing seal freely, the bearing was full of fresh oil. The oil in the bearing was a lot cleaner then that I found in the tube.

There is no way any grease packing in these bearings would ever hold up, my bearing was lubricated solely on engine oil. It's almost like I could have taken the seal off, expose it to engine oil and just left it in. The LN bearing is like this, seems like the correct design to me. I can also see why making sure your oil is fresh and clean makes sense. It would also make sense to me that the more mileage on a car the less bearing failures one would see, I say this because it would seem oil would more easily move in and out past the seal into the bearing as it ages.

I took as much apart as I could, my bearing was strong and seems it could function even if it was missing the bearing guides. No bearing pitting at all. From what I can see if all forces on the bearing are equal and balanced that the only way these things could self-destruct is if pitting occurred.

feelyx · 01-10-2012, 12:50 AM

Hi Whip,
I have a few questions... "The bearing was full of fresh oil" OK, when you pulled the bearing out of the shaft to when you pulled the seal off, how much time elapsed? Hrs, days, etc.

In that elapsed time, did the bearing leave any oil puddles where the bearing was at rest?

Was there any signs of grease was in there at al? ie, stuck on the cage anywhere, around the seal edge and so forth?

What material was the cage made of? steel, nylon etc.

Do you have more pics of the seal?

AND... has anyone that has changed a double row bearing, found any grease in any of them? the foul smell oil reminds me of gear oil
Thanks

WhipE350 · 01-10-2012, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feelyx

Hi Whip,
I have a few questions... "The bearing was full of fresh oil" OK, when you pulled the bearing out of the shaft to when you pulled the seal off, how much time elapsed? Hrs, days, etc.

Too funny I was thinking the exact same things this morning. It was days

In that elapsed time, did the bearing leave any oil puddles where the bearing was at rest?

Just oozing. Which implies it takes some pressure to keep it full, and it was completely full and oil was clean

Was there any signs of grease was in there at al? ie, stuck on the cage anywhere, around the seal edge and so forth?

No, none at all. Just 5W40

What material was the cage made of? steel, nylon etc.

Steel

Do you have more pics of the seal?

I do but I'll have to post them later, on other PC

AND... has anyone that has changed a double row bearing, found any grease in any of them? the foul smell oil reminds me of gear oil

The smell of the oil in the tube was a strong gas smell. The oil in bearing smelled just like engine oil
Thanks

I'll post the pics shortly.

feelyx · 01-10-2012, 05:14 AM

Great info keep it comming!
Thanks!

WhipE350 · 01-10-2012, 06:36 AM

Seals and cages:

Bearing full of oil:

san rensho · 01-10-2012, 02:16 PM

Thanks for the pictures. How many miles?

thstone · 01-10-2012, 03:11 PM

Excellent info and great pic's! Was there any "play" in the bearing? Any thoughts about whether it would been ok as-is or was it in need of replacement?

WhipE350 · 01-10-2012, 04:30 PM

It is came out of my 2000 'S' with 57k miles on it. There was no play at all, I took the cages out and still can't get the bearing apart. It is solid, but it was also well lubricated. I'm not a bearing expert but it was good as-is, no replacement was necessary...for now

I'm not sure how it stayed so well lubricated since the oil didn't leak out after several days of sitting around my shop. I also took it with me to some friends and it never leaked. As you can see it was full of oil. Guess there must be enough pressure and leakage as the shaft spins.

Assuming I installed the LN bearing correctly it should be bullet proof, only time will tell.

feelyx · 01-11-2012, 10:39 AM

Whip,
Was there only 1 seal? if so, was it on the inside, or outside?
Also, if 2 seals are the numbers the same or different? ie 6204 and 5204?
Thanks

MileHighBoxster · 01-11-2012, 10:49 AM

Very clean looking.

WhipE350 · 01-11-2012, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feelyx

Whip,
Was there only 1 seal? if so, was it on the inside, or outside?
Also, if 2 seals are the numbers the same or different? ie 6204 and 5204?
Thanks

It was sealed outer/inner. Though I wonder if one could snake a tool in there like the surgery they do on humans and pull the outer seal off

(through the chain tensioner). I donno if the cage would stay in place though

.

I'll check but I think they are the same. If not I'll reply back tonight.

feelyx · 01-11-2012, 01:35 PM

Thanks, I guess I could give it that 50 yr old lower probe camera shot

blue2000s · 01-11-2012, 01:49 PM

This is the same condition that I found my double row bearing in when I pulled it at ~40,000 miles. Still tight but oil leaking out (in my case, Royal Purple which has a very distinct smell) for a couple of days.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/bellylint/Boxster/HPIM1828.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/bellylint/Boxster/HPIM1827.jpg