FD/rear wheel how much play is acceptable?

[Gizmo*]

Took my 07 GS for its MOT on Friday (14000 miles) and got an advisory note from tester re play on rear wheel

Got it home and I can definitely feel a small amount of play but only if you grab it at 6 and 12 o clock positions, everywhere else it seems solid. Spoke to the dealer and he tells me a little bit of play is normal ????

Reading here it seems to me I'm looking at the beginnings of an FD big bearing failure and if the play gets worse potentially it could trash the internals of the FD as well. So, how much (if any) play is the norm or acceptable please? TIA

 

[rocky burns]

There's another thread on this if you have a look quite recently, Im sure someone will send you a link to it.
If i remember right i think up to around 2mm of play in some bikes was the norm. Have a look on here you may find the thread!!!!

 

[rocky burns]

Page 17 (play in the rear wheel) Dont know how to send the link sorry

It says bmw alow 1mm in the rear hub

 

[Rasher]

Mine has zero play, and I really would not want to ride any bike that has a wobbly rear wheel!

I would also assume once some play is evident the thing will wear very quickly as it crashes about - start saving or trade it in quick.

 

[swissrob]

. Spoke to the dealer and he tells me a little bit of play is normal ????

FIND YOURSELF A NEW DEALER... play is only normal because the final drive is starting to die!

bmw max limit is 1mm at the outer edge of the wheel

 

[Beemerman59]

As stated, the max allowable is 1mm. BMW will tell you this is a manufacturing tolerance and is not a sign of impending doom. I had this amount of play for a good 10K miles (ever since I started checking it so may have been forever) and the dealer kept saying no problem. Eventually though, along came an additional rumbling in the bevel drive and at that point it became an FD failure. However, it was not all bad - the fix cost me a total of £260 (new crown bearing) and a month later I got a cheque from BMW back for the full amount with the bike 6 months out of warranty. So don't assume you are on for a £1K bill even if you have a failure on it's way. Mine has been solid ever since - apparently on an improved bearing.

If you spin the wheel as fast as you can and place your hand on the upper part of the drive you should not feel any rumbling. If you do - get it checked out.

 

[st247]

Mines had 1mm of play for the last 13k miles. Oil is changed every 6k miles and it always comes out as clean as it goes in. I might strip it and replace the bearings this winter, then again....

 

[R17GSR]

Mine has no play at 51000 miles (2007), but does have a leaky seal, but only on sharp corners, 700 miles of motorway........no leaks.......10 miles of twisties.......leaks.
I can also feel a slight rumble from the fd when cornering but goes on the straights
Ride it and enjoy
Gary

 

[BlueBird]

I too had play in the rear wheel and in the pinion shaft for the last 40k,now on 65k.

I stripped the fd coz of a few weird feelings ( sliding like on diesel) and paranoia.

The bearings on each end of the pinion were gone the roller cage on the thrust bearing was in bits and the needle roller fell apart when I pulled the shaft out with the inner race badly pitted,I was well lucky it didnt shit itself and take out the gears.

The axle shaft bearings were showing signs of wear but were ok.

 

[Gizmo*]

thanks for the info, looks like a dial gauge is needed before it goes back to dealer to check I'll also see if i can feel any rumbling with the wheel spinning. Looked at service book last night and it doesnt show whether fd oil was changed, bike has full BM dealer service history so I'd assume it will have been done to the correct oil change service intervals but might drop the oil myself pre dealer visit just to see what state its actually in.

 

[CuzGS]

Just had mine go and, I shit you not the movement was an inch !

Sadly my riding skills are so poor I didn't notice, Jono at ABW to the rescue (twice)

 

[st247]

Mines had 1mm of play for the last 13k miles. Oil is changed every 6k miles and it always comes out as clean as it goes in. I might strip it and replace the bearings this winter, then again....

Jinxed it. Bearings now being looked at, at a french dealers, after failing on the Peage

Oh, and when they go, they go quickly.

 

[Stahlgewittern]

ditto

Took my 07 GS for its MOT on Friday (14000 miles) and got an advisory note from tester re play on rear wheel

Got it home and I can definitely feel a small amount of play but only if you grab it at 6 and 12 o clock positions, everywhere else it seems solid. Spoke to the dealer and he tells me a little bit of play is normal ????

Reading here it seems to me I'm looking at the beginnings of an FD big bearing failure and if the play gets worse potentially it could trash the internals of the FD as well. So, how much (if any) play is the norm or acceptable please? TIA

My 2007 has got some play at the 6 and 12 positions but non at the 3 and 9 position, its about 1mm at the rim. Paranoid now, wonder if I could get a good deal on the new Triumph.

 

[mikeyboy]

my advice would be to overhaul the fd as soon as any play is noticed or if any metal is in the oil when drained,i have done a few now ,the parts from the dealer are about £220 plus £100 labour to strip clean and rebuild, despite what you read in this forum its not the end of the world,

 

[Rasher]

my advice would be to overhaul the fd as soon as any play is noticed or if any metal is in the oil when drained,i have done a few now ,the parts from the dealer are about £220 plus £100 labour to strip clean and rebuild, despite what you read in this forum its not the end of the world,

The thing is why do some do 3k and others 80k Has anyome who repairs these noticed any reasons why they fail? I know BMW have failed to find a fix, but I would not trust them to fix a stamp to an envelope.

Is a rebuilt one likely to last any longer, or still be a lottery?

£320 is still a lot if the thing fails again 5k down the road.

 

[mikeyboy]

The thing is why do some do 3k and others 80k Has anyome who repairs these noticed any reasons why they fail? I know BMW have failed to find a fix, but I would not trust them to fix a stamp to an envelope.

Is a rebuilt one likely to last any longer, or still be a lottery?

£320 is still a lot if the thing fails again 5k down the road.

i think the failures are down to the quality of the bearings,as well as the small quantity of oil in the unit . high mileage units probably got lucky with all four bearings being "gooduns".mike

 

[greg12]

rear wheel play

Are you sure its the fd bearings ??? the play on my wheel was caused by the rear wheel carrier wearing. see my posts its all in there