Worth it to 'check' IMS bearing during clutch? Clutch recommendations?

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Simple: They don't have to. They have done their homework, patented the design, and have the reputation with more than 25,000 units successfully installed.

Actually, from their own website, only "...3,000 IMS Solutions installed since 2008".

https://lnengineering.com/products/ims-bearing-kits-for-porsche-m96-97-engines/ims-solution/ims-solution-for-single-row-ims-my00-05.html

Of course they've sold other products, but we're talking about the "IMS Solution."

Like I said, I'm sure it's a great product and I'm not trying to take anything away from it or from you. I have a great deal of respect for you and your vast knowledge on these cars.

But you seem to have more confidence in it than LN Engineering does.

[tonythetiger]

Originally Posted by piper6909

Actually, from their own website, only "...3,000 IMS Solutions installed since 2008".

30,000...what a difference a digit makes
:+)

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by tonythetiger

30,000...what a difference a digit makes
:+)

I did a triple-take to make sure I didn't read it wrong. It actually says 3000.

Copied and pasted from their site:

WHY BUY AN IMS RETROFIT FROM LN ENGINEERING?


As of 2020, with 35,000 IMS Retrofit and 3000 IMS Solutions installed since 2008, our IMS bearing replacements are the most trusted and used by hundreds of independent mechanics and dealerships worldwide.

[Porsche9]

Haven’t been on the site in some time. IMS bearing talk makes me not want to be on the site.

[Homeoboxter]

Originally Posted by Porsche9

Haven’t been on the site in some time. IMS bearing talk makes me not want to be on the site.

Totally agreed. These arguments are completely pointless, a complete waste of time. Yet, you can’t help yourself commenting on it, it’s like an addiction.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by Porsche9

Haven’t been on the site in some time. IMS bearing talk makes me not want to be on the site.

No worries, bud! We can always change the subject to oil and tires!

[Homeoboxter]

Originally Posted by piper6909

I did a triple-take to make sure I didn't read it wrong. It actually says 3000.

Copied and pasted from their site:

WHY BUY AN IMS RETROFIT FROM LN ENGINEERING?


As of 2020, with 35,000 IMS Retrofit and 3000 IMS Solutions installed since 2008, our IMS bearing replacements are the most trusted and used by hundreds of independent mechanics and dealerships worldwide.

I wonder how many of these 35000 Retrofits failed. If you scroll up in this thread there`s a report of a failed one. I came across other reports here and there on the web. Considering that 20 year old Boxsters way over 100k miles are out there running happily with the original 2-row bearing, still many of these were preventively replaced to a similar but hybrid bearing with a 25k miles warranty is more of a concern than the solution`s 5 year warranty. The Solution is overpriced (and overkill IMHO), but at least there`s no reports of any of them failing yet.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by Homeoboxter

... The Solution is overpriced (and overkill IMHO), but at least there`s no reports of any of them failing yet.

I'm just now reading up on an old Pelican Parts Forum thread from 2012 where this guy Tim, going by the handle 'feelyx' developed the same type bearing as the LN "solution" and said he could sell the bearing for $200 plus $50 for the oil feed setup. So, yeah. way overpriced. I'm halfway though the 18 page thread. Very interesting.

Who has done an IMS change (New Oil Fed Design Idea) - Page 9 - Pelican Parts Forums

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by piper6909

I'm just now reading up on an old Pelican Parts Forum thread from 2012 where this guy Tim, going by the handle 'feelyx' developed the same type bearing as the LN "solution" and said he could sell the bearing for $200 plus $50 for the oil feed setup. So, yeah. way overpriced. I'm halfway though the 18 page thread. Very interesting.

Who has done an IMS change (New Oil Fed Design Idea) - Page 9 - Pelican Parts Forums

That is absolutely nothing like the IMS Solution, regardless of what he describes as the cost. It uses a steel insert in the shaft and a ball bearing in the flange, and is held together with a center bolt. The Solution has no ball or roller bearing components.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

That is absolutely nothing like the IMS Solution, regardless of what he describes as the cost. It uses a steel insert in the shaft and a ball bearing in the flange, and is held together with a center bolt. The Solution has no ball or roller bearing components.

No, he doesn't use ball bearings. Did you read the thread? It's a solid bearing.

I believe I saw on rennlist that he sold his patent to Jake Raby, which linked me to the aforementioned thread.

Read page 7. Post #126 actually has photos of his prototype. On Page 17 he says he can't talk about IMS anymore because he sold the patent. This was 2012. In 2013 LN introduced the "solution".



EDIT: My bad, somehow the prior link sent you to page 9 where he talks about a DOF to set of ball bearings instead of the bushing. He was working on several versions at the time, including a grease-fed bearing.

Use this link:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/boxster-cayman-forum/649905-who-has-done-ims-change-new-oil-fed-design-idea-7.html

[Homeoboxter]

Originally Posted by piper6909

I'm just now reading up on an old Pelican Parts Forum thread from 2012 where this guy Tim, going by the handle 'feelyx' developed the same type bearing as the LN "solution" and said he could sell the bearing for $200 plus $50 for the oil feed setup. So, yeah. way overpriced. I'm halfway though the 18 page thread. Very interesting.

Who has done an IMS change (New Oil Fed Design Idea) - Page 9 - Pelican Parts Forums

Yeah, remember that. A super lengthy post about basically DOF with a ball bearing. Solution is a plain bearing with DOF.

[maytag]

Originally Posted by piper6909

I'm just now reading up on an old Pelican Parts Forum thread from 2012 where this guy Tim, going by the handle 'feelyx' developed the same type bearing as the LN "solution" and said he could sell the bearing for $200 plus $50 for the oil feed setup. So, yeah. way overpriced. I'm halfway though the 18 page thread. Very interesting.



Who has done an IMS change (New Oil Fed Design Idea) - Page 9 - Pelican Parts Forums

But was he trying to run a business? Or just kicking out a few on the side as an enthusiast?

My 986 trailer hitch: I had many people contact me, asking if I'd make one for them. I told them all no: there's always inferred liability, which means I'd have to line up all of my ducks in neat little rows. Ultimately, to do it as a business, with such a limited customer base, you'd have to pay me nearly $3k to make it make any sort of sense at all. But I built mine for about $250

I'm not disparaging what somebody decides to charge for their product. Rather, I'm disparaging someone who exploits a way over exaggerated failure and the accompanying fear, and then tells everyone that nobody else is smart enough to do it..... or even install his product.... and then all of his minions climb aboard and point fingers and throw rocks at people who decide to try their own path.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by maytag

But was he trying to run a business? Or just kicking out a few on the side as an enthusiast?

My 986 trailer hitch: I had many people contact me, asking if I'd make one for them. I told them all no: there's always inferred liability, which means I'd have to line up all of my ducks in neat little rows. Ultimately, to do it as a business, with such a limited customer base, you'd have to pay me nearly $3k to make it make any sort of sense at all. But I built mine for about $250

I'm not disparaging what somebody decides to charge for their product. Rather, I'm disparaging someone who exploits a way over exaggerated failure and the accompanying fear, and then tells everyone that nobody else is smart enough to do it..... or even install his product.... and then all of his minions climb aboard and point fingers and throw rocks at people who decide to try their own path.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

I believe he had mentioned selling the kit but later stepped back from that, and later on he mentions that he sold the patent. So it's obvious to me that he walked back selling the kit because he was in negotiations. It's a very long thread and I don't remember everything verbatim, sorry.


EDIT: Check post #168 for pricing on the solid bearing.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/boxster-cayman-forum/649905-who-has-done-ims-change-new-oil-fed-design-idea-9.html

And here he talks about his oil fed ball bearings he had intended on selling:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/boxster-cayman-forum/649905-who-has-done-ims-change-new-oil-fed-design-idea-10.html

So he had full intention on selling these himself at first.

If he was willing to sell it for $200 and still make himself a profit, it pretty much reaffirms what I said earlier that the "solution" costs less $100 to make. And they sell it for $1850. With only a 5 year warranty.