Wheel Bearing Grease Seals

[Bob_Roller]

I ordered enough seals to replace all of the wheel bearing seals on my bikes .

I ordered the outer seal for the rear wheel, it's the same part number as the seals that go on the front wheels of the bikes that don't have sealed for life bearings .

I got the parts Thursday, just opened the package this afternoon .

The part number on the package is the correct number, but the seals are a different part number .

I don't know if anyone has recently replaced the seals on their bike, but the inner seal on the rear wheel is a rubber coated seal, the outer seal is a plain metal seal body, no rubber on it .

Can anyone see a problem with using these seals in the other places .

I don't know if BMW put the incorrect parts into the package that I was sent, or if all they have now is the rubber coated seals .

Any thoughts on this ?

[MrRiden]

Bob,
Don't know much about the seals but I'm dying to do a stare and compare on your rear wheel. I have a fitment issue and I was wondering if I could have a look at the LS rear wheel on your project. You can have a look at the seals I have installed. Basically I'll show you mine if...

[Bob_Roller]

Rich, what's the fitment problem with your real wheel ?

[nhmaf]

I'll see if I can find my receipts from my 82 LS grease seals and spacer I bought at MAX BMW last year - if all else fails you could call them and ask for Rusty who works in the parts department - he is their airhead expert and really knows his stuff.

[Mike V]

Bob,

I've also noticed the newer seals are rubber coated. As long as the seals are the correct size, dimension and have the correct amount of wipers that came out of the wheel - they should be fine.  My experience with the REAL OEM parts fiche part numbering for wheel seals is quite fouled-up.

-Mike V.

[Bob_Roller]

I ordered one  each of the seals in August, and got one of each with the correct part number on the envelope that the part came in .

Other wise I wouldn't have even questioned it .

I don't have any concerns now that you have said that you have them and I assume you installed them .

Who knows, I may have gotten one of the last all metal seals that BMW had back in August .

[Ed Miller]

"I don't know if anyone has recently replaced the seals on their bike, but the inner seal on the rear wheel is a rubber coated seal, the outer seal is a plain metal seal body, no rubber on it ."

I'm not sure what you mean by "inner" and "outer."  On my '81 the drive side or right seal has the metal body, and the left one is plastic/rubber.  I just installed them yesterday.  The left one is the same as both front ones.  I never did check with the etk to make sure that I had the correct seals on the correct sides, I've just always put them back the way I found them.

[Bob_Roller]

On my '81, all of the seals are the all metal type, both LS's have the metal seal on the left side and the rubber coated seal on the inside, or drum side on the rear wheel .

The LS bikes have sealed bearings on the front, so no seal is needed, just a metal cover that fits into the recess on the center of the hub where the bearings are .

[Ed Miller]

I just checked the etk program.  Both front seals (for my VIN) and the left rear seal part number ends in 235 836.  The right rear seal part number is 235 832.  

There is another diagram that shows two different seal part numbers for the rear.  I always figured that one was for the LS but I don't really know.  It looks like the metal seals and the plastic ones are interchangeable.  The metal ones are easier to drive in.