Drive shaft U-joint question

flo3flo

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I'm in the middle of replacing the two rubber boots on my swing arm on my 2008 R1200GS. 20k miles.
I popped the drive shaft off today and inspected it.
The gearbox-end universal joint has no play and is smooth in both directions for the full range of motion.
The finaldrive-end universal joint is different.

The splined end piece is slightly stiff at each end of its range of motion. It prefers to rest in the centre. There is no play at all and it is smooth, but I can feel resistance.

Anyone else had this??
Time for a replacement???
 
The drive shaft on my 2011 GSA was recently replaced at 37,000 miles, I'd be surprised if there was something wrong with yours at only 20k.
 
The rubber boot had been letting in water for some time.

I have taken some photos but dont know how to load them on here.
 
3fdaea1b24.jpg


Rust on smaller end of shaft.
 
flo3flo said:
I'm in the middle of replacing the two rubber boots on my swing arm on my 2008 R1200GS. 20k miles.
I popped the drive shaft off today and inspected it.
The gearbox-end universal joint has no play and is smooth in both directions for the full range of motion.
The finaldrive-end universal joint is different.

The splined end piece is slightly stiff at each end of its range of motion. It prefers to rest in the centre. There is no play at all and it is smooth, but I can feel resistance.

Anyone else had this??
Time for a replacement???
Click to expand...

Mine is the same. I assume it's because it's range of articulation is small and so it tends to run
in the same place more or less and so there is more wear there than outside it's normal range of movement.
It's like steering head bearings "notching" i imagine. I'm not concerned by it at the moment.
 
Ive just taken another look inside the swingarm housing and just where the notchy U-joint would spin, there are lots of small black blobs of grease.
It appears the U-joint over heated, liquified the bearing grease which squirted out of the U-joint seals.
On closer inspection of the notchy U-joint photo, I can see black lines of grease leading out of the seals.
 
Just bite the bullet and let Mike do it. You will not get a better job at a better price. :thumb2
 
mikeyboy said:
Its@£160 for a pair of UJ kits fitted.
I'd have to see about availablity of the joints as supply can be sporadic,:comfort
Click to expand...

Sounds fair, cheers.
Don't order any for me yet though. I'm gonna have to wait for the Xmas credit card bill to bite me first.
Plus, the poor GS is in pieces at the moment so will give you a shout in a couple months when I start thinking about rebuilding.
If i spend anymore time in my garage I think my missus will move me out there..
 
mikeyboy said:
Its@£160 for a pair of UJ kits fitted.
I'd have to see about availablity of the joints as supply can be sporadic,:comfort
Click to expand...
Mike, what UJ kits do your normally fit please.
And does the £160 include your labour?
Cheers.
Flo.


Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk
 
He cuts off the old staked grooves, fits a new Hardy Spicer and then create new stakes with a centre pop. The job needs an alignment jig so not really a DIY fix.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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