Page 1 of 2
Final Drive Leakage
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:29 pm
by houndog
i wen't to take off my exaust can yesterday and noticed that I had some crud built up on my final drive in the fron bottom near the boot. I checked the flud level and it looked a little low. Shold I start pinging about this or just monitor it to see if it gets worse? I am going to change the fluid today when I get home. I am just scared my seal is leaking.
I read that if the vent is clogged it can cause it to leak. I have had some mud on it and that might be what is wrong, but I can't find anything on how to take the vent apart and clean it. Can you people that are much smarter and experianced than me help?
You wouldn't want to see a grown man cry would you.
Thanks,
Tommy
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:58 pm
by jon pierce
There is truth that if the vent on top of the final drive is blocked oil can be forced out of the input drive shaft seal and seep through the botom of the lower paralever rubber boot.
It is also possible for oil to come out of the gearbox (should the output shaft oil seal on the grearbox fail), run down the drive shaft and seep through the botom of the lower paralever rubber boot, though often when this happens the oil also goes into the final drive (oil seals only work one way) and can overflow through the final drive vent. Check the level in the gear box as well.
If you are lucky it was simply over pressure in the final drive pushing the oil out.
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:52 pm
by houndog
You know now that you mention it I have seen some fluid coming out of the vent.
Now I am scared that my tranny might have a bad seal. Damn my luck.
I am going to go home and check my fluid in the tranny.
Thanks,
Tommy
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:43 am
by riceburner
I've had both ends go at different times.
See if you can get them replaced under BMW warranty - it's a known issue.
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:37 am
by fnfalman
Yep. Had my seal replaced recently.
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:04 am
by houndog
Mine is an 04 with 30,000 miles and I don't have the extended warranty so I don't think that they will fix it. I am still going to go and see. Thanks for all the help. I did check the fluid levels and the only one that looked alittle low was the tranny.
The leak isn't completely horrible so I am not in too big of a hurry to get it fixed. I am going to monitor it for a while and see if it gets any worse.
thanks for all the help.
Tommy
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:36 pm
by jon pierce
If the oil is coming from the gearbox via the output shaft seal - the seal may be leaking because it is damaged. Usual cause is output shaft bearing.
To check - put bike on centre stand, bike in neutral and turn the rear wheel and listen for grinding...........there will of course be noises from the box, but more of a swirling sound than a grind. You can also drop the oil (ever so easy to do and refil) from the gearbox and see what comes out. A bad bearing will have deposited small pieces of chrome in the oil - you can't misss it if it is there.
Worst case is gearbox out and new bearings. A good dealer or specialist non main dealer can do this without drama and for a sensible cost (do shop around but use someone who knows BM boxes). A good rebuilt box is normally a better box than when new from the factory.
Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 8:42 am
by rock712
The Rock hit 15000 and noticed some seepage will check oil levels.....any help where this "vent" is ?
Thanks
Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:12 pm
by ed@r1150r
Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:17 am
by riceburner
nothing lasts forever and the driveshaft seals are a known issue, you're lucky they've lasted as long.
Be thankful you're not on a Honda that's got regulator/rectifier gremlins which strand you with a totally dead bike. At least you can still ride it.
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 3:17 pm
by ed@r1150r
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:27 am
by riceburner
I hope they repaired it under warranty then?
I suspect the same has just happened to me - had a seal replaced at the 6K (3rd Rock, an 04 bought in April with only 1200 miles on it) and it started weeping again almost immediately. it's going in again at the end of august for the 12000 so they're going to fix it again.
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:07 pm
by ed@r1150r
riceburner wrote:
I hope they repaired it under warranty then?
I suspect the same has just happened to me - had a seal replaced at the 6K (3rd Rock, an 04 bought in April with only 1200 miles on it) and it started weeping again almost immediately. it's going in again at the end of august for the 12000 so they're going to fix it again.
yeah, they did. I had it repeared right away: the oil was on my back disc, wheel and tyre......
together with some other stuff what had to be done under warranty, like replacing the blue bubblish parts, and the white spotted final drive......
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:07 pm
by rock712
this weekend i went on a jaunt....before i left i checked all the fluids...all was SAT.
Coming home there was a wicked "wobble" when i clutched in and braked,
It was so bad that i stayed at a buddys place last night. This AM while waiting for a tow I was surveying the damage., steady dripping from the boot and final drive and lots of metal shavings.........
As things happen I'll post up
Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 4:49 am
by riceburner
rock712 wrote:this weekend i went on a jaunt....before i left i checked all the fluids...all was SAT.
Coming home there was a wicked "wobble" when i clutched in and braked,
It was so bad that i stayed at a buddys place last night. This AM while waiting for a tow I was surveying the damage., steady dripping from the boot and final drive and lots of metal shavings.........
As things happen I'll post up
blimey - that's not good.
Noticed last night that mine is getting a lot worse - may have to see if I can get it fixed next week instead of waiting another couple of weeks for the 12000.
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:14 am
by rock712
So the dealership drained the final drive, it was a 50/50 mixture oil and metal.
I'm getting a new final drive........
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:21 am
by single650
I have just notice some oily dirt on my drive casing. This is puzzling as its not on the bevel casing hmmm! its only done 8K.
I'll give it a clean and monitor
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:42 pm
by RideandDrive
My 2004 with 35,700 is going in for output shaft seal replacement. I've been living with this problem for the last 15,000 miles.
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:36 pm
by rock712
Ok got the bike back....
New Final drive
New new rear break pads
new rear tire
All covered by the warrenty
Holy sheep!!!!
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 5:27 am
by chris
I noticed a build up of oily gunk under my final drive today. Not a massive amount and not wet. How do you check the oil level in there? And where is the vent?
Just popped the rear wheel off for a better look and there is a little oil around the boot. None pumps out if I squeeze it tho so there cant be much in there. Will have to keep an eye on it.
If it's a known issue do BMW repair it under warranty even if you're out of warranty?
