Rear Drive Seal Replacement- Interesting!

[Narcoda]

I recently had my rear drive seal leak oil onto my back tyre and disk- it blew whilst on a coast to coast trip- so i did the usual thing of calling wmb assist! Bike got to Ocean BMW and they said they'd look at it- A week later it came back and I noticed that the horrible chip on my swingarm had disappeared- i then noticed the whole back end was so clean, had a new brake caliper mount, the newness was apparent! I asked the guy at ocaen if he had replaced the swingarm as a full unit (as even the rubber shoe was no longer cracked etc.) and he didnt seem to give me a clear answer- has anyone seen this before, or can anyone lend me the idea behind replacing the entire swingarm rather than just replace the seal? My bike is higher at the back now too- really high suspension- like a proper cross bike- would this have been affected if this work had been done? answers/suggestions appreciated- Cheers

 

[Gipsy]

It's your bike. you have a right to know what they've done and why. better to find out the truth rather than guess.

 

[JohnC]

My bikes final drive seal has just blown @ 12000 miles. 'Interesting' that your seal blew oil all over the back end (could have been 'very interesting' ). I take it yours was the left hand seal, and not the easier to fix right hand seal?? Anyway, I've been told it's OK to ride and that even if the seal blew completely not much oil will leak out. Doesnt seem to be a huge problem with 12's but a pita none the less.

A new seal will be replaced next week at the 12K service.

So did you get an answer?

 

[silvermog]

My right hand (outer) seal started to leak at approx. 14k, dropping small ammount of oil down under the casing ... its going in next week ... be interested to see if its just a seal replacement or the axle/final drive that gets pulled.

One of a few warranty issues ... rear subframe rusting, crash bar rusting, front engine plate corrosion, final drive oil leak, faulty gear indicator ...

 

[Crapaud]

Ocean BMW are one of the best BMW dealers and should be able to tell you everything you need. Phone again and ask them. Perhaps the service manager was not available when you rang. They are extremely helpful and should give you full chapter and verse on exactly what was done.

 

[JohnC]

My right hand (outer) seal started to leak at approx. 14k, dropping small ammount of oil down under the casing ... its going in next week ... be interested to see if its just a seal replacement or the axle/final drive that gets pulled.

One of a few warranty issues ... rear subframe rusting, crash bar rusting, front engine plate corrosion, final drive oil leak, faulty gear indicator ...

Model year?

 

[silvermog]

One of the first out of the gate of the R1200 GSA, was road registered in the first batch during early April 2006 ...

 

[JohnC]

 

[Narcoda]

oh i see answering this one? no idea yet- as i said earlier i will find out- my reckoning is i got a whole new back swingarm as the horrible dint has gone, and i got new brackets on the back..maybe they replaced the final drive as well as the seal? - i will phone soon and post the result

 

[JohnC]

oh i see answering this one? no idea yet- as i said earlier i will find out- my reckoning is i got a whole new back swingarm as the horrible dint has gone, and i got new brackets on the back..maybe they replaced the final drive as well as the seal? - i will phone soon and post the result

 

[Pukmeister]

I had a minor weep from the input shaft seal on my rear drive last year. The entire rear drive unit was replaced as the special tool to undo the big castellated nut on the input shaft was not available from BMW.

 

[JohnC]

That doesn't bode well for the home mechanic then

 

[Skippy]

Me too!

Mine is at Bahnstormer at the moment. 2005 model reg'd late 2004 on a 54 plate with 12/13k miles on. Went in Spain and told it was ok to ride home to uk but to check occasionally.

Swingarm being replaced too due to damage caused by the Touratech hugger. Interesting though that the pivot bolt holding the swingarm in place ??? was so tight they are having to run a tap through to clear the swarf out!

Other stuff being replaced under warranty (now elapsed btw) includes generator (timing belt) cover due to corrosion and rear shock rebound spring (the big black one ). Already had the clutch/gearbox seal replaced.

Other than that it's fine.

Skip.

 

[Narcoda]

I had a minor weep from the input shaft seal on my rear drive last year. The entire rear drive unit was replaced as the special tool to undo the big castellated nut on the input shaft was not available from BMW.

I found out exactly the same today- i phoned up my dealer and asked why- they said the special tools were not available within repair timescale so i got a whole new swingarm- i am very happy ) (this answer also goes out to John C)

 

[JohnC]

Cheers Narcoda

 

[j_wentzel]

Similar Problem

Has a similar problem on my 07 GSA when it threw oil out over the rear disc brake and ultimately onto the rear wheel. Not good!

Only done 500 miles, which makes it worse.

 

[Chris Terry]

Anyway, I've been told it's OK to ride and that even if the seal blew completely not much oil will leak out. Doesnt seem to be a huge problem with 12's but a pita none the less.

Wow Who told you that ! (was it a BMW dealer?). There is about a 1/4 Liter of oil in the final drive. If the oil seals fail it will run out and find it's way all over the brake and rear tyre, and then the bearings may seize due to lack of lube. The FD could be considered a "critical component"

 

[GSmonkey]

I had one of the seals go on my final drive on an 04 bike at 20k. It was in Vine's shop for 3wks waiting for a special tool, I think the one to seat the seal. It was about 2days away from having a new final drive.

 

[Narcoda]

Has a similar problem on my 07 GSA when it threw oil out over the rear disc brake and ultimately onto the rear wheel. Not good!

Only done 500 miles, which makes it worse.

do you ride fully lugguaged up? over loaded panniers? I never found out the cause of my burst rear drive seal- but i know wmb treated it well, new parts fitted, issue resolved- phone your dealer

 

[Starman]

funny innit how different dealers approach things in different manners. Vines dont have the tools? come on.....

mine went on my 2004 gs12 and the whole rear diff was replaced within 2 days (back in 2005 by Prestige that was). Done on warranty so they didnt care to try and mend it. Why said Big Steve, we get our money from BMW anyway. Never had issues again.

Now ride a 2007 GS12, so far so good.

Martin
2004GS 12
2007GS 12