Has this happened to anyone else

[Michael Lynch]

I would like to know if anybody has experienced rear differential bearing problems. I have a 2001 R1150R with a destroyed main Diff Bearing at 44,000 Kilometres. Apparently this is due to an undersized or wrong type of bearing which is basically a design fault and I have been assured that it will happen again. You can be assured I am not impressed and, does anybody know if anything can or has been done to rectify this dangerous situation. I was lucky enough to detect this problem in my shed and not on the road.

[Brooksie]

Just curious, Michael:
Were there any indications (noise wise) before you inspected the rear?

I think there is an updated bearing available that has fewer balls...from 19 to 17 balls

[DJ Downunder]

I have been assured that it will happen again.

Hi there Michael...What a bummer...Just wondering who assured you that it will happen again?

Did you detect it by rocking the rear wheel while on the center stand?

It sounds like a faulty rear wheel bearing to me..and I don't see why a replacement should also be faulty.

DJ

[Boxer]

Funny, I was riding with a guy yesterday who now has 115,000 miles on his '02 Roadster. I asked about spline, bearing problems and he told me the same thing. Rear wheel drive bearing replaced some time back. He bought it used and noticed the wheel play pretty soon after he got it.

Paul Glaves has an article in one of the MOA Owners News magazines addressing this issue with the faulty bearing. I will have to reread the article, but I seem to remember he said it needed to be replaced with a diffrent size ball bearing setup. Something about a 15 ball bearing as opposed to a 17 ball bearing. I'll try to locate the article.
He suggested changing the final drive grease at every oil change to look for telltale pieces of metal. I do this now.

[GypsyRR]

He suggested changing the final drive grease at every oil change to look for telltale pieces of metal. I do this now.

Did he suggest beginning this practice after a certain mileage; like at every oil change after 12,000 miles, or doing it from the very beginning?

[telliott]

This makes me very curious as I have an '03. Does this apply only to the '02 RR? or is it all the RR's? or all oil heads? Did BMW change the bearing? If not where do you get the updated bearing?

Lots of questions, would the article answer? If you can find it I'm sure there would be many of us that would like to read it.

Thanks

[Boxer]

I'm on the case.

[riceburner]

how the f*** does a single track vehicle need a differential gear????

[Arbreacames]

No differential, just a final drive (FD). The bearing problem is quite common, I am afraid. You can see below what my FD bearing looked like at 40,000 miles. Some people continue riding until the FD disintegrates. If you catch it early, it is not a big deal. A DIYer can replace the bearing in 2 hours and $100. The only difficulty is that, in theory, you are supposed to re-shim the drive, which requires some measurements that are quite difficult to do.

[Boxer]

Found it! BMW Owners News April 2006- Bench Wrenching article by Paul Glaves

I can't believe it was that long ago. He explains in detail, with illustrations, the process of replacing the old 19 ball bearing with the new 17 ball bearing. Apparently the strap cage that holds the bearings was the weak point. With fewer bearings the cage was made of thicker material adding to its integrity.

It seems BMW started making the new version and didn't really broadcast it. Reminds me of the cam chain tensioner upgrade. Paul recommends you actually take the bearing and count the balls when you buy the new one to make sure you are getting the updated version.

According to him the shims that come out will go right back in and fit the same.

[telliott]

Great, thank you!

Did it say WHEN BMW "secretly" made the change to the 17 bearing design?

Now is there somewhere to read this if you don't have the magazine? If not could someone with that article to post at least the important sections or maybe e-mail it to me?

Thanks again, now I've got to figure out which I have in my '03.

[toolinalong]

Gentlemen:

How can you tell when this bearing race needs replacing...what do you see? feel? hear?

Is this it? Clymer manual, page 542, drawing 104, part #22?

'02 with 50k miles.