LN Engineering Engine Bearing Kit

LN Engineering Engine Bearing Kits: The Original IMS Solution for Porsche

When it comes to protecting the heart of a Porsche M96 or M97 engine, few names carry more authority than LN Engineering. Engine bearing kits from LN Engineering are purpose-built to address one of the most consequential failure points in modern Porsche history: the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing. Since the company's founding in 2002, LN Engineering has stood at the forefront of this challenge, developing patented solutions trusted by independent mechanics and dealerships worldwide.

The IMS Problem — and LN Engineering's Patented Answer

The factory IMS bearing used in Porsche Boxster, 996, and early 997 models equipped with the M96 and M97 engines was a sealed, non-serviceable unit with no factory-prescribed replacement interval. Engine bearing kit failures in these engines can be catastrophic — requiring full engine rebuilds that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. LN Engineering pioneered two distinct solutions to this problem:

• IMS Retrofit: The original ceramic hybrid ball bearing replacement for the Porsche M96/M97 engine. IMS Retrofit kits feature custom-made, ceramic hybrid ball bearings manufactured exclusively for LN Engineering using Japanese races, ball separators, and Coors Tek Cerbec sintered silicon nitride balls. Genuine kits are laser etched, engraved, and serial numbered for authenticity verification. The patented Single Row Pro version even allows installation of a dual-row bearing in place of the factory single-row unit — doubling load capacity without any engine modifications.
• IMS Solution: A more comprehensive fix that eliminates the ball bearing entirely, replacing it with a pressure-fed plain bearing similar to those used in Porsche's legendary Mezger engine. The IMS Solution is designed to last the lifetime of the engine with no future service interval required.

What Sets LN Engineering's Bearing Kits Apart

LN Engineering's engine bearing kits are not off-the-shelf adaptations — they are the result of original engineering research and a patented procedure developed by LN Engineering's Charles Navarro and Flat 6 Innovations' Jake Raby. The IMS Retrofit was the first and only patented solution to IMS bearing failures, and it remains the benchmark against which all others are measured. Both the IMS Retrofit and IMS Solution kits are backed by a 5-year, unlimited-miles warranty, underscoring LN Engineering's confidence in their design and materials.

LN Engineering further supports its customers with detailed installation guides, pre-qualification procedures, and a dedicated IMS Database for warranty registration — resources that go well beyond what any factory service manual provides. Whether you're performing preventative maintenance on a high-mileage Boxster or preparing a 911 for track duty, LN Engineering's engine bearing kits represent the gold standard in IMS protection.

Coverage Across Porsche M96 and M97 Families

LN Engineering offers bearing kit variants to cover a wide range of Porsche applications, including dual-row bearing engines (1997–2001 M96), single-row bearing engines (2000–2005 M96), and oversized IMS bearing engines found in M97-equipped 997 models. Each kit is engineered to the specific geometry and load requirements of its target application — no one-size-fits-all compromises. Browse the full selection of LN Engineering products or explore all available Engine Bearing Kits to find the right solution for your Porsche.