rear drive seal failing....

[theop]

back from a 600mile trip in Wales, and I noticed a small oil leak from the plastic rotating bevel ring on the rhs of the rear drive... Not dripping as such, but it has a nice valvoliney wet appearance...

There is no play sideways on the wheel and nothing else warning towards a rear drive failure or assorted bearing problems...

Question is, how serious this is, should I be expecting the dreaded £1000 rear drive (sealed for life, will last the life of the bike, no maintenance, cheaper than chains blah blah) failure, or is it just a seal of some sort?

bike is 4yo with 14k miles ridden maturely....

 

[cookie]

sounds like a relatively simple seal change, unless there's some accompanying wheel play.

 

[madmax]

Replace the seal asap, £11. before it goes altogether and covers your rear wheel/tyre with oil.

Replaced mine 2 weeks ago, took about 20mins. 06 GSA 23,000.
But I did have to drain and re-fill because I didn't know how much oil I'd lost.

If you catch it early enough as you seem to have done, you can pop the bike on it's side stand, avoids the oil escaping and haveing to re-fill.

 

[GSmonkey]

Yep, it does sound like a "cheap leak", had mine done under warranty on my 04, think it was the first to go in the uk as I had to wait a month for the special tool from Germany.

 

[ultrasound]

Not to be a doom monger but my 06 GSA went the same at 20,000 miles.
Tiny leak, rode 15 miles maximum.

At the dealers they described foul smelling oil and unhealthy looking innards.(The final drive not me)
Drive replaced under warranty.
Like I say almost imperceptable leak and no play.

 

[zoltan]

Replace the seal asap, £11. before it goes altogether and covers your rear wheel/tyre with oil.

Replaced mine 2 weeks ago, took about 20mins. 06 GSA 23,000.
But I did have to drain and re-fill because I didn't know how much oil I'd lost.

If you catch it early enough as you seem to have done, you can pop the bike on it's side stand, avoids the oil escaping and haveing to re-fill.

Done by the dealer during the service , seal+labour £70. But because they have a campain at the moment with 25% off labour and 10% off parts it cost £0 for a change

 

[Spout]

I had to wait a month for the special tool from Germany.

Self tapping screw?

theop, do a search and find instructions on easy self fix. Good idea to replace fluid when you do the seal anyway (check/search for new refill amount or you may find new seal leaks ).

 

[patzx12]

You will be changing the oil after you fit the seal.
The condition of the oil will indicate the health of the FD bearings.
Also wiggle the pinion shaft end to check for play.

 

[chartswood]

Jan 07 gsa 26000 miles. Mine went in France this year.Noticed it at an overnight camp stop and thought I had better keep an eye on it as it was only a weep. After a couple of hours the next day stopped ( in Switzerland now) to check and oil all over the rear wheel. Bugger.

However I had downloaded all the Euro BMW dealers into the zumo and there was one 10 miles up the road near Interlarken. When I get there and explain my problem the guy says 'sorry sir that will take at least half an hour . Why dont you go get a coffee and we will look at it'.

Half an hour later having dropped what they were doing the guy comes and finds me and hands me the keys. How much says I?. Oh he says , I spoke to BMW Germany and as we get 3 years waranty here there is no charge! Swiss efficiency eh!

I think I may go back when the final drive starts to creak.

 

[theop]

many thanks everyone... Will attend to it asap....

 

[Mr K]

Now there's a coincidence...

Just been out to wash the bike and mines going - Had a fine mist of oil there after longer, warmer rides, but now there's signs of increasing activity...

 

[Peter]

Mine started to seep two weeks ago, Aug 07 14k miles. Just a mist catching the dust. I have ordered the seal and will have a go at replacement myself. Will change the rear dif oil at same time. Some kind person from this site indicated to me that BMW issued a directive to their dealers to reduce the oil volume from 220ml down to 180ml.

 

[GeorgeH]

If it's just the oil seal on the RHS big hole bit then its easy peasy. About £10 from a dealer and here you go...courtesy of JimVB on Advrider. It took me about 20 mins. I went to the local farmers shop and bought a 'lamb recovery kit'..., its a 60ml syringe with a length of pipe...ideal for refilling FDs....and recovering lambs apparently.


*Use a flat screwdriver to pry out the plastic dust cover.

*Use a small flat screwdriver, or circlip tool, to remove the seal retainer inside the hole.

*Use a seal tool, or very carefully use a screwdriver and something to protect the edge of the opening, to pry out the seal. Some drill a small hole and insert a wood screw to pull the seal out.

*Clean the surfaces, then use the old seal to gently tap in the new seal, keep it square.

*Reinstall the clip in the groove.

* Pop the dust cover on.

*Refill your FD.

 

[Bear]

My FD seal started weeping at about 18K miles so I changed it. 40 miles later it was micturating oil out. I changed it again and after 200 miles it was micturating again, due, I suspect, to the wear groove on the axle where the seal rubs. I discussed this with Jim Carrie at SSB and the result was a shiny new FD as a goodwill gesture. Changing the seal is easy. Remove the plastic cover (1/4 inch screwdriver), remove the locating ring (very small screwdriver) then prise out the seal using the axle as a fulcrum and the 1/4 inch screwdriver as a lever. It helps to cut some of the seal away with a Stanley knife so you can see the steel backing strip in the dead seal. Use the old seal to drift the new one in and remember that the oil quantity was changed earlier this year from 230 to 180 ml so losing a little oil is unlikely to be fatal. I'd suggest changing the oil as shown here: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192097