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

[Matt Romanowski]

We used one from California Motorsports. It will be for sale this winter with a bunch of our 901 stuff. We killed 4th gear for the last time.....

We have the intermediate plate, side plate, bearing retainer, Tangerine shifter, and a Rennshifter.

[brant]

We used one from California Motorsports. It will be for sale this winter with a bunch of our 901 stuff. We killed 4th gear for the last time.....

We have the intermediate plate, side plate, bearing retainer, Tangerine shifter, and a Rennshifter.

Matt,

in all of the transmissions you have been through...
do all of the intermediate plates run a Porsche stock bearing ?
does the California Motorsports?

I keep having the bearing fail in the intermediate plate
wondered if any of the billet plates had gone to an aftermarket bearing that might be:

1)higher quality
2)not $400/more affordable (its still only a bearing)

[Matt Romanowski]

Matt,

in all of the transmissions you have been through...
do all of the intermediate plates run a Porsche stock bearing ?
does the California Motorsports?

I keep having the bearing fail in the intermediate plate
wondered if any of the billet plates had gone to an aftermarket bearing that might be:

1)higher quality
2)not $400/more affordable (its still only a bearing)

They have all taken stock bearings. I haven't had the bearings fail. It's usually part of the ring and pinion that starts going. If we miss the start and it chunks, it will hurt the bearings. Interesting that you have had bearing failures.

I would suggest you have the bearings, races, gears, ring, pinion, and anything else you can send cryo treated and REM polished. I would also suggest Amsoil gear lube. I think it was as good as the really expensive stuff.

[brant]

Matt,

in all of the transmissions you have been through...
do all of the intermediate plates run a Porsche stock bearing ?
does the California Motorsports?

I keep having the bearing fail in the intermediate plate
wondered if any of the billet plates had gone to an aftermarket bearing that might be:

1)higher quality
2)not $400/more affordable (its still only a bearing)

They have all taken stock bearings. I haven't had the bearings fail. It's usually part of the ring and pinion that starts going. If we miss the start and it chunks, it will hurt the bearings. Interesting that you have had bearing failures.

I would suggest you have the bearings, races, gears, ring, pinion, and anything else you can send cryo treated and REM polished. I would also suggest Amsoil gear lube. I think it was as good as the really expensive stuff.

I like the cryogenic idea.
I don't have the torque to tear out the ring/pinion. But my rpm still creates a lot of heat and the bearings seem to be the first thing for me