When I originally opened up my IMS cover (over 2 months ago!!!) and pulled the bearing, it was held in with a circlip, had no spacer, and was a
SINGLE row bearing, however, the cover was a shallow,
DUAL row type like the one in the pic below (photo is from LN, but it's the cover I have):
From looking at it (pic below), it appears that someone must have previously been into my IMS before, from all of the sealant they left behind. Maybe they changed the dual row to a single?
When I put the whole thing back together, I used the circlip and no spacers and reinstalled the new bearing just as the old one was in there with OEM stud. Once assembled it made a nasty squeaking noise under engine load (as in my thread of misery
here).
I now have the IMS cover off (again!) and want to absolutely get this right. Does determination of single vs dual have to do with the cover, or with the shaft itself? If it's just the cover, then I will reinstall using pelican kit, spiroloc and dual row spacing. If not, then I will use single row spacing.
Thanks everyone for reading the facts carefully and giving your best advice. Although I'm still up the creek right now, I really appreciate everything so far. I wish it were possible to buy everyone a beer. I've got a week to get this done, because I have no free time after Sept 6. Can't wait to get my car back on the road!