What Does An IMS Bearing Replacement Cost? (Explained)
If you have the inkling that your IMS bearings will need replacing, or perhaps you have been told that is the case, you are very likely wondering exactly how much the IMS bearing replacement cost is.
In short, the cost of IMS bearing replacement can be incredibly expensive to repair and given that’s the case it is a good idea to have a full understanding of what they are, why they need replacing, how much it is going to cost, and what some clever options are to maximize the value/reduce the cost of IMS bearing replacement at the mechanics or your Porsche dealership.
What Are IMS Bearings?
So, let’s kick things off by discussing what on earth IMS bearings are before we get into the nitty-gritty of why the heck they cost so much to replace. IMS bearing is an acronym or truncated initialism for Intermediate Shaft bearing.
The intermediate shaft bearing supports the intermediate shaft which runs through the motor of the engine. The intermediate shaft bearings we are concerned with are at the flywheel end of the engine not at the front so you will likely be unable to see it without being under the car. The intermediate shaft connects to the camshafts off of the crankshaft.
Why Are IMS Bearings Important?
IMS bearings ensure that the intermediate shaft can rotate smoothly without sticking/juddering and without them your crankshaft would not rotate smoothly. The crankshaft and camshaft are both connected to the IMS bearings indirectly and without them working effectively you will find that not only do the pistons fail to fire properly in a steady rhythm but there isn’t even a steady flow of fuel into the engine.
Hopefully, you now grasp how important IMS bearings are despite their small stature and relative lack of understanding from most car owners.
What Causes IMS Bearings To Need Replacing?
IMS bearings go through a lot of wear and tear so it’s only natural that they should need replacing eventually. However, many IMS bearings need replacing prematurely because the intermediary shaft isn’t properly lubricated which can cause it to grind and wear down far faster.
You may also find that your gearbox is a lot louder when the IMS bearings are not properly lubricated. When the IMS bearings start to fail you will also find that the internal components of the engine, crankshaft, etc., start to become contaminated with debris and foreign objects which act as catalysts that speed up the degradation of all parts of the internal mechanisms of a combustion engine.
What Does An IMS Bearing Replacement Involve?
IMS bearings are actually relatively small and are only made up of about four or five individual pieces. Swapping out IMS bearings isn’t necessarily the difficult part of the process. The problem is that IMS bearings are the bridge between the clutch/gearbox and the internal components of the engine.
So, the engine needs to be drained of oil (partially to remove any foreign objects or debris/contaminants as well as the gearbox removed to access the flywheel and the crankshaft.
There is a lot of manual labor involved and that naturally will drive up the cost. Once the IMS bearings are replaced with new ones the gearbox can be reassembled and the oil pan can be reconnected and new oil can be placed in the engine. You could see part of the IMS bearing replacement as the most long-winded and tedious oil change imaginable.
What Is The IMS Bearing Replacement Cost?
Unfortunately, an IMS bearing replacement is going to cost you several thousand dollars. Depending on where about in the United States you are it could range in price from $2000 to as much as $5500-$6000. Again, not cheap. The range of price accounts for the fact that there are a ton of different IMS kits out there that you might be interested in using.
The Porsche mechanic that you have contacted to perform the replacement likely has a recommendation based on their own experience and your budget. If you need to do extras like replacing the flywheel or even the crankshaft based on your preference or the degradation of the engine caused by an IMS bearing issue it could add $1500 to your bill. Even if you chose to go with the cheapest IMS parts.
Can I Perform An IMS Bearing Replacement Myself?
The cost of IMS bearing replacement can be a little daunting and it is natural to try and seek out a way to save some money. Labor is a huge factor in an IMS bearing replacement as there are so many factors to consider.
However, it is not feasible for you to perform the replacement yourself as you will have to be able to properly get under the car. Using a Jack to lift the car slightly isn’t going to be enough if you have to actually get under there and take the gearbox apart! Unless you have a home garage with a car lift you won’t be able to do it yourself.
Why Do People Suggest To Replace The Clutch And IMS Bearing At The Same Time?
An IMS-bearing replacement cost is pretty extortionate because there is so much labor involved. Similarly, when replacing your clutch or flywheel the largest cost is going to be labor. That’s true on any car not just on something elite like a Porsche.
If a clutch costs you a hundred bucks it’ll cost you five hundred in labor. If they are going to get under your car and take your gearbox apart any way you may as well spend a little more and have them replace the clutch and flywheel at the same time. It could save you hundreds, even thousands, down the line.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have found this article about IMS bearing replacement costs interesting and not too disheartening. Sure, it can cost a lot, but there are absolutely ways to extract more value out of the situation by doing something like swapping the clutch at the same time. It’s almost a silver lining. Almost. Thanks for reading and goodbye for now.
