BMW Final Drive Disassembly

Video of the disassembly of my final drive from my 2000 BMW 1150GS. I'm not an expert, or a mechanic. I based my instructions off a video posted back in 2003 from a very knowledgable fellow who repaired blown-up final drives.

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  Education

[rebelpacket]

I need to split my 1150GS and do a spline lube in the next couple weeks. I don't need to re-shim my FD; Its been great since I put it back together. However, I'm going to take it apart and make a video on shimming with (2) separate methods. In the next couple of weeks I'll shoot some video and cut it all together for everyone to use. I'll cover re-assembly too. Promise.

[James Broughton]

Hello. My big bearing ground to bits. I used your excellent vid to take the final drive apart. The seal looks fine though gear oil was leaking out. My plan was to take the whole unit to a BMW place in London but they said they wouldn't replace the shim. Wouldn't that give it the wrong preload and the same thing would happen? I might as well stick a new bearing on myself. Also do you change the small tapered roller bearing too? It feels loose - is it designed that way? Many thanks. James

[rebelpacket]

Hi James! How many miles are on your final drive? There are people that regularly get 100,000 miles (or more) out of properly shimmed final drive units. There isn't any reason to replace the shim, unless the failure was premature, or the shim got chewed up.

The tapered roller bearing is meant to be a little loose; Check the rollers and the race in the housing that it sits in. If you see pitting, or spalling, you should probably replace it. 90% of the time, the tapered bearing is fine.

[localcrew]

Dude. Your air compressor sounds like the African Queen.

[rebelpacket]

Its a 1940's unit. Spent most of its life in ceiling running the pneumatic AC system for a school. It doesn't pump up real quick, but you can have a conversation with someone while its on.

[Hank2wheels]

Great video just what I needed to see tonight as my buddies 1150 needs new final drive bearings. Guess what I'll be doing at the weekend. When you replace the bearing is it ok to re-use the origonal shims?

Thanks for posting 

[rebelpacket]

how many miles did your buddy get out of his final drive before it failed? You can re-use the shims, but if there is too much preload with the existing shims, the crown wheel bearing will fail again.

[Maqrtek]

great vid man, but pleeeeease make a video of measuring shims and shimming or just describe it in comments please!!

[rickwheeler]

Thanks for the disassembly video. It was a great help for me to takemine apart. Now I have the parts ordered, how do I put it bake together with correct tolerances? When do you anticipate the reassembly video being completed.

You are a great help to the BMW rider everywhere.

[Paul Fahey]

Hi, all.

Anybody out there know how to 'pre load' these bearings. I'm getting know where.

[Paul Fahey]

Hi, I need help. Where did you find 'CharlieVT'. I can't find it or him. My 1150 RT is going through rear wheel bearings like water down a drain. Can you point me in the right direction to find out how to do the shimming for the rear tapper bearing.

Thanks. Paul

[Mythix2]

I hate you, now I want to go buy a bmw gs 1200 adventure and take it appart....

[jennen2008]

man im not gay but i really love you..... thank you o much,,,,, Pura Vida

[James Broughton]

Thanks for the reply. It's done 36,000 miles, so failed prematurely. The tapered bearing looks fine. The spring in the shaft seal has gone, so I've ordered a new big grooved ball bearing and the shaft seal. On your advice I might call the BMW place up again and get a tapered roller bearing. I have bookmarked a video by a guy called CharlieVT on the bmwlt forums to watch tonight - it explains how to do the shimming, so if it looks easy enough I'll replace the shim/spacer. Cheers rebelpacket