Diagnosing the Causes of Porsche IMS Bearing Failures

Porsche vehicles are well known for their great speed and excellent engine performance. However, they are also known for their IMS-bearing failures. Many Porsche drivers have experienced various engine problems influenced by an IMS bearing failure.

As a Porsche owner, understanding the cause of this issue in Porsche models can help you take action to prevent your car from being affected by it. Hence, this guide has compiled some common causes of IMS Bearing failure and the best way to protect your car.

The IMS Bearing in a Porsche Vehicle Common Reasons for Failure

Before we move on to the causes of failure, let us first discuss what the IMS bearing is and its function in your Porsche vehicle. The Intermediate Shaft (IMS) bearing supports the intermediate shaft, an essential part of a vehicle that drives engine function.

For your car’s engine to run smoothly, it needs perfect timing for its crankshaft and camshaft to synchronize. The IMS is a metal rod that helps to aid this process by driving off the camshaft from the crankshaft. Hence, if the bearing that holds this metal rod in place fails, you can expect the affected car’s engine to not function as needed.

Here are some reasons why the IMS bearing fails in most Porsche vehicles:

1. Poor Maintenance

Lack of maintenance is a leading cause of most system failures in vehicles. If you want to prolong your car’s lifespan, simple maintenance actions such as frequent inspections, lubrication, fixing faults early, and many more can be key to keeping the IMS and its bearing in good shape. However, failure to do all these makes it easily susceptible to failure.

2. Natural Aging

Natural wear and damage are another common cause of failure to a Porsche’s IMS bearing. This usually happens with continued use, where certain vehicle parts start to break down or wear out. In this case, your car may experience loose IMS sitting or the metal rod breaking into fragments, all to indicate wear and tear. However, good maintenance habits can help slow aging and keep your car in good shape for longer.

3. Excessive Engine Heat

The engine’s running could also be another reason for failure in Porsche vehicles. Porsches are known for their speed and great performance, which suggests that the engine undergoes a lot of work to keep up with this performance. One thing that comes with engine power is excessive heat, and the more your car’s engine works, the hotter it gets.

Over time, the effect of the frequent heat puts undue stress on the car’s IMS bearing, leading to its degradation and failure.

4. Other Human Factors

While many car failures stem from mechanical issues, this is not always the case. The way you handle your car can also cause problems, like an IMS bearing failure. Above, we spoke about poor maintenance, and another common cause of this problem is poor driving habits.

The more you use your car’s accelerator or drive at higher speeds, the greater the pressure you put on its engine. This can affect how the IMS and its bearing work. Over time, the compounding effect could put a strain on the bearing and lead to its failure.

Regular oil changes, inspections, and quick repairs of faults can help you prevent further or future bearing failures in your Porsche.

The Best Car Care Shop in Michigan for Your Porsche’s IMS Bearing Failure

Fixing or replacing a faulty IMS and its bearing in a car requires a certain level of skill and expertise. This is why, whenever you notice the signs of an IMS-bearing failure in your Porsche, you must find someone with the skills and experience to handle the issue.

Nikolas Motorsport is a top choice for many Michigan BMW, MINI, and Porsche car owners. We have been serving car owners in the Southeast area for several decades and do not compromise on quality. All our mechanics are board—and brand-certified and can handle all your Porsche’s problems.

If you are in or around Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Troy, or Pontiac, MI, it is time to change the game for your vehicle and give it the best that it deserves.

* Porsche Macan S Sedan image credit goes to: Different_Brian.