Deleted account 191119001
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Get The Sandwiches Ready - GSA Rear Wheel Collapse
- Thread starter crotchrocket
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Deleted account 181015001
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So there is no wrong or right way depending on the state of the caliper before will determine the extra work and cleaning required.When I clean/service the brakes, I clean and 'exercise' the caliper - extending the pistons to clean the ridge of brake dust and crap built up on them. I wire-brush the caliper (and pads if I'm refitting) and use brake cleaner to clean all the dust and road crap off that has built up since the last service. I remove the anti-chatter clip from the caliper body and clean it and behind it, clean the pin and then replace/clean the pads, putting a smear of copperslip on the back of each, as well as on the pin. I also use a rat-tail file on the hole in the pads the pin fits through, to make sure they can move freely on the pin. I inspect the condition of the pins and rubber bellows on the caliper mount and clean and lubricate as necessary, before refitting with cleaned and re-loctited bolts.
You (and BMW techs) are free to service your brakes as you see fit, but I like to do a thorough job - it's my bike and I want it to last and be reliable...
I have done both a quick change of pads when no more was required and a full strip and rebuild of the caliper.
My theory (for what its worth)….
Brake caliper detachment into the spoked wheels causing catastrophic damage as can be seen.
The question is, did the caliper mounting bolts work loose, or did the bolt mounting lugs fail.
Since its already been mentioned the mounting bolts are still present, I think its unlikely both caliper mounting bolts worked loose.
My theory is lug mounting casting failure.
Example of casting failure to front mounting ….
https://www.f650gs.crossroadz.com.au/FFIntro.html
Root cause of casting lug failure could be due to …
Manufacturing defect (porosity in casting causing weak mechanical integrity)
Over tightening of mounting bolts to casting introducing cracks/damage,
No "over-engineering" allowance for deviations in the casting mechanical integrity
Brake caliper detachment into the spoked wheels causing catastrophic damage as can be seen.
The question is, did the caliper mounting bolts work loose, or did the bolt mounting lugs fail.
Since its already been mentioned the mounting bolts are still present, I think its unlikely both caliper mounting bolts worked loose.
My theory is lug mounting casting failure.
Example of casting failure to front mounting ….
https://www.f650gs.crossroadz.com.au/FFIntro.html
Root cause of casting lug failure could be due to …
Manufacturing defect (porosity in casting causing weak mechanical integrity)
Over tightening of mounting bolts to casting introducing cracks/damage,
No "over-engineering" allowance for deviations in the casting mechanical integrity
It is pretty clear;the rear wheel did not collapse as wheel and hub are intact !
The spokes got destroyed by the rear caliper coming off.
Either the mechanic who took the caliper off last time to change brake pads or doing other service work like lubing spline etc. did not torque it right or did not use new bolts or tread lock on the old ones or the owner wanted to save himself some money by doing the work himself not knowing what he was doing...
A caliper does not come off and bolts just don't back out like this when they are torqued properly and tread lock has been used.They have been loose for a while and should have detected.It is never wrong to touch the bolts holding calipers and wheel before a ride like any trucker or pilot checks his vehicle before use...
But some ambulance chasers will want to blame others and make some money we all pay for in the end...that is the attitude and society we live in today especially if it would have happened in the parasitic US...
The spokes got destroyed by the rear caliper coming off.
Either the mechanic who took the caliper off last time to change brake pads or doing other service work like lubing spline etc. did not torque it right or did not use new bolts or tread lock on the old ones or the owner wanted to save himself some money by doing the work himself not knowing what he was doing...
A caliper does not come off and bolts just don't back out like this when they are torqued properly and tread lock has been used.They have been loose for a while and should have detected.It is never wrong to touch the bolts holding calipers and wheel before a ride like any trucker or pilot checks his vehicle before use...
But some ambulance chasers will want to blame others and make some money we all pay for in the end...that is the attitude and society we live in today especially if it would have happened in the parasitic US...
A Bear is not just for Christmas
Usually a bit left over for boxing day
Hi all! This is me! Didn’t know the Crotchrocket posted it!! Thank you for all the kind words.
I can tell you that I replaced the tyres front and back that day. As you may know, to get the front wheel out you have to remove the front callipers, which I did and fitted the tyres and replaced the wheel and all the parts. I am a very competent mechanic and always double and triple check my work and would never ride a bike I thought to be dangerous, and in my 24 years of riding have never made a mistake with my mechanics, because I always triple check out lid verbally to myself. So the blame is well away from me thank you.
yes. I did replace the brake pads. With pads from BMW Park Lane. Genuine parts as always. However I did not remove the calliper as you do not need to. This that for their own pads will know this.
I simply took out the old ones and replaced them with the new as I’ve done many times before on this bike. Never had a problem. Ever. The pins are still in place after the accident, so I truly believe it’s nothing I’ve done.
I also rode 25 miles across London before this happened.
The bike is now at Vines BMW Guildford. BMW’s head technician came down personally to inspect the bike on Friday.
I am awaiting the results and hope to have news tomorrow when they open again after the bank holiday.
I feel incredibly lucky as this could have ended a lot worse than it did. Whether hats dude to skill and luck or just luck I don’t care. I’m just happy to still be breathing and walk away with some bad bruises rather than any broken bones.
Jools
I can tell you that I replaced the tyres front and back that day. As you may know, to get the front wheel out you have to remove the front callipers, which I did and fitted the tyres and replaced the wheel and all the parts. I am a very competent mechanic and always double and triple check my work and would never ride a bike I thought to be dangerous, and in my 24 years of riding have never made a mistake with my mechanics, because I always triple check out lid verbally to myself. So the blame is well away from me thank you.
yes. I did replace the brake pads. With pads from BMW Park Lane. Genuine parts as always. However I did not remove the calliper as you do not need to. This that for their own pads will know this.
I simply took out the old ones and replaced them with the new as I’ve done many times before on this bike. Never had a problem. Ever. The pins are still in place after the accident, so I truly believe it’s nothing I’ve done.
I also rode 25 miles across London before this happened.
The bike is now at Vines BMW Guildford. BMW’s head technician came down personally to inspect the bike on Friday.
I am awaiting the results and hope to have news tomorrow when they open again after the bank holiday.
I feel incredibly lucky as this could have ended a lot worse than it did. Whether hats dude to skill and luck or just luck I don’t care. I’m just happy to still be breathing and walk away with some bad bruises rather than any broken bones.
Jools
Deleted account 181015001
Registered user
Glad you are alright luck was on your side, the bike can always be replaced or fixed.
It will be interesting to see what BMW techs say Jools.
Glad you are OK.
Glad you are OK.
Nothing matters mate as long as you are fine. Glad to know that you are posting, which tells that all is well with you
Thank god you are ok. Bike will get replaced/repaired but I wonder if this will result in another recal?
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This happened to me on my 14 plate GSA LC. I had just had the bike serviced at North Oxford BMW and 30 minutes later on the M40 just before Beaconsfield services the bike developed a death wobble with an awful noise from the rear at 70 mph. The noise I can confirm was not my arse but I'm sure it didn't help 
I was in lane 2 and managed to force the bike over into the hard shoulder and the rear wheel was hanging off with most of the spokes in the near side gone.
The rear calliper bolt had worked loose then the calliper lifted up and made catastrophic contact with the spokes causing the rear wheel to collapse.
NOG BMW denied all responsibility even though they had just serviced the bike 30 minutes before
We battled for months but in the end my insurance company Aviva decided to pay for the repairs so I could get my bike back. £6500 later I got it back but sold it back to BMW shortly after as I had already had a new engine due to corrosion so there was not much of the original bike left after the rear end was replaced.
Aviva tried for a further 6 months to get their costs back but the didn't succeed
It went as a "my fault" claim which pissed me off no end but I could have equally been squished by a HGV or another vehicle so I was thankful to just be able to walk away from the incident. Was off two wheels for 18 months as it rattled me somewhat but I'm now back on another GSA LC so hopefully better luck with this one
Glad the rider of this one is ok, I saw the video on the FB page of UKGSER and it bought back a lot of memories!!
Jon
I was in lane 2 and managed to force the bike over into the hard shoulder and the rear wheel was hanging off with most of the spokes in the near side gone.
The rear calliper bolt had worked loose then the calliper lifted up and made catastrophic contact with the spokes causing the rear wheel to collapse.
NOG BMW denied all responsibility even though they had just serviced the bike 30 minutes before
We battled for months but in the end my insurance company Aviva decided to pay for the repairs so I could get my bike back. £6500 later I got it back but sold it back to BMW shortly after as I had already had a new engine due to corrosion so there was not much of the original bike left after the rear end was replaced.Aviva tried for a further 6 months to get their costs back but the didn't succeed
It went as a "my fault" claim which pissed me off no end but I could have equally been squished by a HGV or another vehicle so I was thankful to just be able to walk away from the incident. Was off two wheels for 18 months as it rattled me somewhat but I'm now back on another GSA LC so hopefully better luck with this one
Glad the rider of this one is ok, I saw the video on the FB page of UKGSER and it bought back a lot of memories!!
Jon
fredaroony
Registered user
You have to admit, it's a massive coincidence this happens to your bike right after you work on it. Glad you're ok though and hope BMW come back to you favourably.
fredaroony
Registered user
This happened to me on my 14 plate GSA LC. I had just had the bike serviced at North Oxford BMW and 30 minutes later on the M40 just before Beaconsfield services the bike developed a death wobble with an awful noise from the rear at 70 mph. The noise I can confirm was not my arse but I'm sure it didn't help
I was in lane 2 and managed to force the bike over into the hard shoulder and the rear wheel was hanging off with most of the spokes in the near side gone.
The rear calliper bolt had worked loose then the calliper lifted up and made catastrophic contact with the spokes causing the rear wheel to collapse.
NOG BMW denied all responsibility even though they had just serviced the bike 30 minutes before
Aviva tried for a further 6 months to get their costs back but the didn't succeed
It went as a "my fault" claim which pissed me off no end but I could have equally been squished by a HGV or another vehicle so I was thankful to just be able to walk away from the incident. Was off two wheels for 18 months as it rattled me somewhat but I'm now back on another GSA LC so hopefully better luck with this one
Glad the rider of this one is ok, I saw the video on the FB page of UKGSER and it bought back a lot of memories!!
Jon
More like nightmares! That is some scary shit!
Deleted account 191119001
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This happened to me on my 14 plate GSA LC. I had just had the bike serviced at North Oxford BMW and 30 minutes later on the M40 just before Beaconsfield services the bike developed a death wobble with an awful noise from the rear at 70 mph. The noise I can confirm was not my arse but I'm sure it didn't help
I was in lane 2 and managed to force the bike over into the hard shoulder and the rear wheel was hanging off with most of the spokes in the near side gone.
The rear calliper bolt had worked loose then the calliper lifted up and made catastrophic contact with the spokes causing the rear wheel to collapse.
NOG BMW denied all responsibility even though they had just serviced the bike 30 minutes before
Aviva tried for a further 6 months to get their costs back but the didn't succeed
It went as a "my fault" claim which pissed me off no end but I could have equally been squished by a HGV or another vehicle so I was thankful to just be able to walk away from the incident. Was off two wheels for 18 months as it rattled me somewhat but I'm now back on another GSA LC so hopefully better luck with this one
Glad the rider of this one is ok, I saw the video on the FB page of UKGSER and it bought back a lot of memories!!
Jon
Maybe you guys can start a class action, no big company likes them things, inform your insurance company it has happened again to somebody else, similar situation.
Mate very pleased you walked away from that one, that was a frightening one to watch, and if it’s any consolation those aches and pains will get worse before they get better
Glad your okay
Jeez. That sounds like one F of a story. Hope Joolz has better luck.
I had a cam belt go on my st1100 (thanks to the f wits at Chiswick Honda many moons ago). It was the only service I EVER gave to the dealer. Ended in court - but the judge didn't even know what a cam belt was, let alone appreciate the near death experience its failure caused. I will never knowingly own a Honda again in my life as a consequence (not because of their bikes). It's the only lasting statement I can make. Yes there's an outside chance I'll run out of bike manufactures, but self servicing or using decent independents is the answer.
BMW got lucky with you!
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I had a cam belt go on my st1100 (thanks to the f wits at Chiswick Honda many moons ago). It was the only service I EVER gave to the dealer. Ended in court - but the judge didn't even know what a cam belt was, let alone appreciate the near death experience its failure caused. I will never knowingly own a Honda again in my life as a consequence (not because of their bikes). It's the only lasting statement I can make. Yes there's an outside chance I'll run out of bike manufactures, but self servicing or using decent independents is the answer.
BMW got lucky with you!
This happened to me on my 14 plate GSA LC. I had just had the bike serviced at North Oxford BMW and 30 minutes later on the M40 just before Beaconsfield services the bike developed a death wobble with an awful noise from the rear at 70 mph. The noise I can confirm was not my arse but I'm sure it didn't help
I was in lane 2 and managed to force the bike over into the hard shoulder and the rear wheel was hanging off with most of the spokes in the near side gone.
The rear calliper bolt had worked loose then the calliper lifted up and made catastrophic contact with the spokes causing the rear wheel to collapse.
NOG BMW denied all responsibility even though they had just serviced the bike 30 minutes before
Aviva tried for a further 6 months to get their costs back but the didn't succeed
It went as a "my fault" claim which pissed me off no end but I could have equally been squished by a HGV or another vehicle so I was thankful to just be able to walk away from the incident. Was off two wheels for 18 months as it rattled me somewhat but I'm now back on another GSA LC so hopefully better luck with this one
Glad the rider of this one is ok, I saw the video on the FB page of UKGSER and it bought back a lot of memories!!
Jon
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Checked the BMW service manual for 1150 GS
Definitely no mention of single use or even to re loctite
Just torque up to 40nM
I wonder why the WC only go to 24nM and to discard bolts every time you work on the caliper
Must be progress I guess
I would tell Aviva
fredaroony
Registered user
Yeah no idea. The engine casing bolts on my S1000R were all one time use as well
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