Movement in rear wheel

[179club]

Hi GSER's.
Finally brought bike to BMW to have rear wheel flange recall done. I also got it serviced and alternator belt replaced and rear brake fluid changed. They relived me of €320 £240. I do not think that was to bad, maybe I am wrong.Anyway to the the point. The mechanic showed me the back wheel had about 1.5 to 2.0 ml of play in it. He recommend to have the rear wheel bearings changed soon enough. Price for this would be €300, £225. I emailed two independents and was quoted €400,£300. The other was €280, £210. The latter said hopefully there will be no further damage in there. Is there something lurking in there???
Would it be best to go to BMW as independents are same price. Advice welcome please.

Regards
179club.

 

[Rocketman]

Similar story to me but I had 5 mm play at least in mine ,I took the whole fd off and away to mikeyboy of this parish for a total rebuild at not a lot more money than you're talking

 

[comberjohn]

If he'll do the FD bearings for £225, bite his hand off and get it done!
The complete FD has to be split for a rebuild and it's not a job for the home mechanic. The main seal on my FD started to leak which also requires a rebuild. Mikeyboy told me the TC would cost £430 for a rebuild and that's with me removing the FD and sending it over. Bought one from a breaker for £300 instead.
TBH the prices that you have been quoted make me think that these mechanics aren't quite familiar with the job.
If I'm wrong, you can expect a steady stream of GS owners on the ferry to Ireland to get their FD fixed at a bargain price.
BTW, if your rear bearings are on their way out, don't wait too long to get them sorted.

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

If he'll do the FD bearings for £225, bite his hand off and get it done!
The complete FD has to be split for a rebuild and it's not a job for the home mechanic. The main seal on my FD started to leak which also requires a rebuild. Mikeyboy told me the TC would cost £430 for a rebuild and that's with me removing the FD and sending it over. Bought one from a breaker for £300 instead.
TBH the prices that you have been quoted make me think that these mechanics aren't quite familiar with the job.
If I'm wrong, you can expect a steady stream of GS owners on the ferry to Ireland to get their FD fixed at a bargain price.
BTW, if your rear bearings are on their way out, don't wait too long to get them sorted.

Don't forget the crown wheel bearing in the Twin Cam is a totally different animal to a single cam and is an expensive BMW only bearing hence Mike's different price. Twin Cams also don't give any warning before they fail, it's the bearing cage that collapses, the warning is the colour of the oil and bits of metal stuck to the speed sensor there's no play in the wheel!.

 

[comberjohn]

Not criticising Mikeyboy, I understand the costs are justified. I'm just sceptical that a BMW dealer can remove a FD, rebuild it and then refit it for £225.
Think I read that Mikeyboy charges around £350 for an SC?

 

[fizzer]

are they really rebuilding it ,or just replacing the main bearing ,from what i can see the main bearing is a simple enough job but a full rebuild is another ball game

 

[mikeyboy]

Not criticising Mikeyboy, I understand the costs are justified. I'm just sceptical that a BMW dealer can remove a FD, rebuild it and then refit it for £225.
Think I read that Mikeyboy charges around £350 for an SC?

They are only quoting to replace the main crown wheel bearing
The parts alone are close to £225 for the full rebuild

 

[Rocketman]

They are only quoting to replace the main crown wheel bearing
The parts alone are close to £225 for the full rebuild

Mikeyboy can you please get offline and get on with working you're magic on my fd as I'm missing it loads

 

[Bendy toy]

£225 to change the wheel bearing only is false economy as the internal bearings will be past their best. Send the FD to Mikeyboy who has the equipment to strip the whole thing and replace all four bearings. When it comes back use a syringe to fill, with 200ml of 75w140 fully synthetic gear oil. Millers is good stuff.

 

[179club]

Thanks again.
I will post final price when I get around getting the work done. they had better not have no hidden charges or I will flip.

Thanks again.

 

[Bendy toy]

Changing the wheel bearing is relatively easy but is only a fraction of what is usually needed. A whole rig of special tools and much experience is needed to strip and successfully rebuild the final drive.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/166875-The-inside-of-my-FD?p=1623869#post1623869

 

[NZRalphy]

Changing the wheel bearing is relatively easy but is only a fraction of what is usually needed. A whole rig of special tools and much experience is needed to strip and successfully rebuild the final drive.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/166875-The-inside-of-my-FD?p=1623869#post1623869

Don't make it into something special... it is a bearing or two and a clearance check. Most engineers will do it properly, but sadly it is a little beyond a standard mechanic. No special tools are critical.

 

[comberjohn]

Sooo did I really need to change my FD when the seal failed if there were no other issues?

 

[NZRalphy]

Sooo did I really need to change my FD when the seal failed if there were no other issues?

No. But you really have to ask why it failed and fix the route cause.... Or the seal simple gave up and you replace it

 

[comberjohn]

What are the likely causes apart from a bearing cage breaking up and destroying the seal?
The outside seal, the easy fix, failed about two weeks before the main. There was no noticeable play in the wheel.

 

[NZRalphy]

Yup that's it. Inspect the seal face with a magnifying glass.

 

[Bendy toy]

The RHS of my FD started to leak oil but as I had some side play in the wheel bearing I decided to send the whole unit to Mike. He said all internal bearings were at end of life and the wheel bearing roller cage was beginning to break. I believe that a failed wheel bearing at 20K would probably be ok to just replace but at 50K get the FD box rebuilt.

Saying that, the report by Patzx12 from a few years ago on his 2006 FD shows that even low mileage can destroy the internal needle roller bearing.

You pays yer money etc.