OK, the verdict is in. My favored Indy is quoting me $2150 for RMS, Clutch and IMS retro. I think it is a no brainer at this point.

 

If that includes the IMS bearing upgrade then it is a good deal!

 

Yes it is. He is always reasonable.

 

Thank you. This is really good to know.

 

That may be the average, but they can easily last 100k or more for people that know how to shift a manual properly. I've never gotten less than 100k out of a clutch. And I drive my cars pretty hard!

That's incorrect, sorry. The problem is the seat for the seal is out of round. If it's too out of round, the engine has to be replaced or it'll just keep happening. The upgraded seal is designed to fit better and account for some irregularities in the seat shape versus the original seal that really couldn't.

While the 996's were still under factory warranty, Porsche had specs for how far out of round it had to be before they'll replace the engine. As I said, the seat can only be so far out of shape and then it'll always have problems. Obviously if you know what an RMS is and where the seal sits, you know there's no way to re-machine this area. I'm sure they've taken this lesson into the 997 and have specs for that too.

 

I'm with you on clutch life. I'll evaluate when it comes off, I just wanted to know worse case as far as price goes.

As far as what your saying about the seat being out of round, your description of the problem and mine match in my mind...just semantics.

Thanks for the input. I can't wait to get it fixed!

 

As to clutch life on 996's. I have had 6 Porsches (67' 911, 69' 911, 76' 911, 79' 928, 82' 928 and 00' 996) and the first 5 went over 100,000 miles on the original clutches. My 996 needed a clutch (and flywheel) at about 45,000. So I believe that the 96 clutches are as long lasting, but don't know why.

 

I have been working on 996's since new. The highest mileage I have seen out of a clutch was 75,000 miles. All the rest have been around 50,000 miles or under. I suppose if you do LOTS of highway driving you could get closer to 100k on a clutch.

 

That sounds reasonable to me!

 

Why would one need to replace the flywheel after only 45K miles? Is the 996 flywheel more susceptible to damage because it’s a dual-mass flywheel? If so, I may just replace it with a single-mass flywheel when it’s time to replace the RMS seal.

 

The absorbant coupling that holds to two parts of the dual mass wear out. That is usually why dual mass flywheels need to be replaced.

 

Update: The car is in the shop today and they gave me a call when they had it taken apart so I could go look at it.

Having a chance to see under there with the gearbox out was pretty cool since this is my first P-car. It really didn't seem very complicated.

Here's what I saw. The clutch plate was basically down to the rivets and paper thin so it is getting replaced, IMS bearing didn't have any play in it so it seemed fine, but was replaced anyway and the RMS was leaking at the bottom of the seal.

I come away knowing my new IMS bearing, according to LN Eng, has at least a service life 3X longer than stock and if my RMS leaks again, I'll be 99% sure it is the RMS and not the IMS and will live with the leak until I need another clutch. I also come away with some confidence that the IMS catastrophy has been prevented. I know there are no guaruntees in life, but $600 in parts is worth it.

I was quoted $2150 for clutch, RMS and IMS retrofit bearing, but I'll update tomorrow on the actual cost. He's never come in higher than quote before so I'm hoping this won't be any different.