Author Topic: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure  (Read 12149 times)

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Offline dscfcp

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Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« on: July 09, 2017, 10:00:46 am »
Hi,
Unfortunately my joining this forum last week has coincided with some pretty bad news about my shaft drive. My mate who knows a lot more about BMW's than me (my K1300r is my first) has called me last night to say the whining noise I heard on Tuesday is definitely my main bearing gone...lots of play in the back wheel, rear wheel disc shows some blueing. Culprit would seem to be lack of oil in the shaft, even though I had the dealer change this last September before a trip round Spain. The bike has done only 9,000 miles so I wouldn't expect a failure like this.
I was wondering if anyone has had or heard of a similar experience with BMW dealers, shaft oil change, oil volume (230mls ?).
I'm new to BMW ownership and I'll call the dealers tomorrow and see what reaction I get...I'm hoping a very helpful one. Unfortunately it ran out of warranty end of December.

Offline Philip

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2017, 01:39:57 pm »
Hi Danny, i'm killing two birds with one stone replying to this post.
I saw you're other post, & i'm in Wistaston, Crewe, so would be happy to meet up for a rideout.

Sounds like you have a big problem with the diff & 230cc is the correct amount of oil, although some have said it has been reduced to 180cc, not that the change would have caused your problem anyway.
Ron, 'drumwreaker' had a similar problem recently, have a look through his posts from earlier this year.
His local BM dealer diagnosed a new diff bearing, but when he took it to a local independant BM specialist it was just a trunion bearing worn which was much cheaper to replace.
I went to Southern France with him a month ago & he had no further problems.

So if the dealer agrees to fix this FOC then no problem, but if he want to charge you megabucks for a new diff, it might be worth getting a second opinion.

Lets hope yours is a simple & cheap fix.

Offline drumwrecker

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2017, 03:05:24 pm »
Steve at Motoscot somehow isolated the diff by placing the blade of a screwdriver in a gap on the final drive housing and tried the wheel which showed no play then they inspected the Para lever bearing and that was where the play was so bearings and trunion were replaced at a cost of about £95.
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Offline Costas

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2017, 04:22:26 pm »
Hi Danny, i'm killing two birds with one stone replying to this post.
I saw you're other post, & i'm in Wistaston, Crewe, so would be happy to meet up for a rideout.

Sounds like you have a big problem with the diff & 230cc is the correct amount of oil, although some have said it has been reduced to 180cc, not that the change would have caused your problem anyway.
Ron, 'drumwreaker' had a similar problem recently, have a look through his posts from earlier this year.
His local BM dealer diagnosed a new diff bearing, but when he took it to a local independant BM specialist it was just a trunion bearing worn which was much cheaper to replace.
I went to Southern France with him a month ago & he had no further problems.
It's down to 180cc with general order issued back in 2012.

So if the dealer agrees to fix this FOC then no problem, but if he want to charge you megabucks for a new diff, it might be worth getting a second opinion.

Lets hope yours is a simple & cheap fix.
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Offline Phmode

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2017, 05:57:22 pm »
As you were saying Costas....

Offline Costas

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2017, 10:54:18 am »
180cc is the new Directive issued back in 3/2012.
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Offline Eyore

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2017, 01:15:54 pm »
Presumably that was to solve the problem of leaking final drive seals which would seem to be ultimately caused b y the lack of any vent to release any pressure build up.  :( ::)
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Offline Phmode

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2017, 11:30:22 pm »
Not a cynical bone in your body  ;D

Offline Eyore

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2017, 01:38:36 pm »
Not a cynical bone in your body  ;D

Au contraire. I fully admit to being bitter, twisted and cynical. I think its called getting old.
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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2017, 02:15:19 pm »
I prefer to think of it as getting wise  8)

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Offline stevel

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2017, 02:51:26 pm »
If there's play in the rear wheel, it would have to be either the main bearing (ie the one situated next to the drive flange), or the needle roller bearing at the other end of the rear axle. Either way, they're not actually hard to change yourself if you are handy with the wrenches - can be done for around £125 all in, using the best bearings man can find along with a new BMW seal to keep all the slippery stuff where it should be.

The spec for the amount of oil in the rear drive changed some time ago to 180ml, and as already stated was due to pressure build up when things got nice & warm - on an autobahn a few weeks ago, my friends' K1200GT (which did have 220ml in the rear drive) leaked a small amount of oil onto the rear wheel - it was around 29°C, and we'd been doing 150 mph at times. We cleaned up the spillage, and since the rest of the trip was slower & colder, no more leakage!

Anyway, do let us know what the dealer says!


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Offline dscfcp

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2017, 08:23:42 pm »
So the dealer wrang me with their findings. The main diff bearing has excessive wear and so do the swing arm bearings (seem to be 2 types according to parts list...tapered roller bearing (2 of) or a needle bearing (1 of). I guess they mean the roller bearings.
Strip down, replacement parts and rebuild £670. Apparently BMW have agreed to pay for all parts and 70% of labour costs, so I pay £100.
I'm pretty happy with  that, as the bike is out of warranty, however I'm still not happy that these have shown excessive wear after only 9000 miles. Should I prepare myself that this normal wear and tear for a shaft drive BM. I'm told BMW often manufacture these without greasing the splines which can cause this type of wear on the bearings. As I'm new to BMW ownership, the service has been good handling the problem but a failure so early n the bikes life isn't helping me stay with brand.

Offline dscfcp

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #12 on: July 14, 2017, 08:29:44 pm »
BTW - dealer confirmed oil capacity for final drive is 180mls, interesting to read the comments about why this has been reduced by BMW. Service schedule reckons to change every 2 years or 20km...think I'll be changing it a bit more frequently

Offline raesewell

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #13 on: July 14, 2017, 08:35:59 pm »
You can be assured that if we give you information it will be correct as there are some in this forum that know a lot more than the dealers. ;)

Offline Eyore

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Re: Shaft drive - Main diff bearing failure
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2017, 08:15:49 am »
You can be assured that if we give you information it will be correct as there are some in this forum that know a lot more than the dealers. ;)

.........................and anything you do say may be used as evidence in a court of law  ;D
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