billet intermediate plates, experiences? and specifically bearing question Options

[brant]

So I pulled the stack out of the race car this weekend for intermediate plate bearing inspection. Of the 4-5 tranny's I've lost racing over the last years... its always been the intermediate plate bearings that have failed.

I realize this may be due to a combination of factors
-old bearings
-flex in the intermediate plates, causing the bearing failures


So this weekend, I had good news... no impending bearing failure that I could visually detect

still I think its time to upgrade to a billet intermediate plate before too long.


1) I'd love to know which brands of billet intermediate plates people are using?

2) I'd really love to know, if anyone makes a billet plate that takes an aftermarket (much more affordable) bearing. I see PMS has the factory Porsche bearings at $400+, but wouldn't it make sense to produce a billet intermediate plate that took a more cost effective non Porsche bearing? maybe its out there, I haven't researched much yet.... thought I'd start here with the brain trust.

tia
brant