Porsche Club of America

Established in 1955 by Bill Sholar, the Porsche Club of America (PCA) serves the purpose of providing an opportunity for owners to get together socially and share their knowledge about their Porsches. For over 50 years Sholar’s vision has lived on with the PCA being committed to enriching the Porsche ownership experience. Since its founding in 1955, the PCA’s close-knit community of Porsche owners has grown to 147 regions throughout the United States and Canada with over 145,000 members and is the largest Porsche club in the world. The Porsche Club of America caters to the needs and interests of the Porsche owner with its main mission to heighten the experience of owning and driving a Porsche. Whether you are interested in the social aspect, technical knowledge and understanding, or have a competitive nature, Porsche Club of America has something for everyone. “It’s not just the cars, it’s the people!” Whether you are a current Porsche owner or simply a fan, we highly recommend you join the PCA now!

Porsche Club of America Spotlight on the IMS

There’s no shortage of content on the PCAHQ YouTube Channel. Sit back and watch cinematic mini-documentaries, track tests, tech, or DIY videos — there are nearly 300 to choose from! Be sure to subscribe to the PCA channel today @PCAHQ or https://www.youtube.com/@PorscheClubofAmerica. Now sit back and watch as the PCA puts a spotlight onto the IMS.

“The 996-generation 911 and 986-gen Boxster are undoubtedly great entry level Porsches, and your dream of owning one may be closer than you think. Twenty-grand can purchase a nice 996, while 986s often go for less than $10,000, and there are steps you can take to avoid purchasing one in disrepair. Find out how to tell the good cars from the bad with our video pre-purchase inspection guide. This video is half an hour and fully covers what goes into a detailed pre-purchase inspection”:

“One of the most contentious subjects in the Porsche world is the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing used in water-cooled 911s and Boxsters and Caymans from model years 1997 to 2008. So when our test drive and inspection videos of a 986 Boxster and 996 Carrera collectively achieved nearly 50,000 views, the PCA decided to follow up with an in-depth series to dispel myths surrounding the problematic IMS bearing these Porsches were equipped with from the factory. The first video explains what an IMS assembly is, where it resides in the engine, and how it changed through the years:”

“Last year we(the PCA) took a trip out to Flat 6 Innovations research and development facility in Georgia to learn all about the intermediate shaft (IMS) and the IMS bearing in Porsche’s first water-cooled flat sixes. These two engine components have proven problematic in some Porsche 911s, Boxsters, and Caymans from model years 1997 through 2008. In this video, we explain the four stages of IMS bearing failure:”

“In our last video, we covered the general subject of what the intermediate shaft (IMS) and the IMS bearing are and the functions they serve in Porsche’s first water-cooled flat-six engines from 1997-2008. In our second video, we show you ways you can reduce the wear of an original IMS bearing in the chance that you still have on in your 911 or Boxster.

In our last video, we covered the general subject of what the intermediate shaft (IMS) and the IMS bearing are and the functions they serve in Porsche’s first water-cooled flat-six engines. In this second video, we show you ways you can reduce the wear of an original-style IMS bearing in the chance that you still have one in your 1997-2008 911 or Boxster.

Keep in mind that any mechanical part will fail with use over time, and the IMS bearing is no different — even if you take extra care of it. However, if you’re in a situation where you cannot or do not want to replace your original-style IMS bearing, watch the video above for some tips on how to reduce bearing wear and extend its life:”

“We’ve covered a lot of ground regarding what an intermediate shaft and IMS bearing are, how to extend the life of your original IMS bearing, and the bearing’s four stages of failure. In the fourth and final video of this series, we explain the different types of IMS bearing retrofit kits available on the aftermarket:”

PCA Related Coverage of Intermediate Shaft Issues

The best known technical article covering intermediate shaft issues was published by the Oregon Region PCA. The Infamous Intermediate Shaft (IMS) Saga provides an excellent overview of the problem and solution to intermediate shaft bearing issues.

A short read about ims bearing issues can be found on the Green Mountain Region PCA website covering the topic of potentially catastrophic failures of intermediate shaft bearings.

Written by the editor of PCA’s Panorama magazine, Rob Sass’s article published on Hagerty’s website titled Achilles heels: 5 pain points to watch for in your next Porsche discusses the need for replacement of the IMS bearing as preventative maintenance for affected Boxster and 911 models from 1997 through 2005.

The Upper Canada Region Porsche Club’s article IMS Anxiety discusses the non-serviceable IMS bearing used in 2006-2008 Porsche Boxster, Cayman, and 911 models and the preventative maintenance required for those particular models.

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