LS Rear Wheel Bearings

[marcmax]

I think I need to replace my rear wheel bearings (slight wobble and noise). Everything I checked lists them as 40x17x14. I did a forum search and found a lot of references to them as being this size. Barry had a chart posted that lists the size as 40x17x13.25 - SKF 30203. When I called the local bearing supply house, Motion Industries, they said they had a lot of tapered roller bearings that were 40x17x13.25 but nothing listed that was 40x17x14 .

My question is this a functional replacement or just close but not useable? The local supplier price is about half of any BMW parts house for a name brand, quality bearing. If it is a suitable replacement is there any adjustment/shimming needed due to the reported size difference?

[nhmaf]

Wheel bearings can be a tricky/delicate thing if one doesn't get the right ones.   I'm too tied up with customer issues today to look up using my resources, but I would recommend you consider calling MAX BMW up here in NH and talk to Rusty in the parts department - he can cross check the size info and verify with a part in hand, and he is very good with airhead parts.    If you get a bearing set that doesn't match the originals, then either the internal spacer tube and/or the tophat spacer on the end(s) which protrude through the oil seals will have to be different to maintain correct preload.  BMW did/does offer one of those tophat spacers in a different size, but primarily for allowing an extra mm or so of offset for fitting wider tires.

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
I may be wrong but I remember being told that the LS did not use tapered bearings in the wheels. Not only the design is different. The bearings too.  Maybe it is where the difference lies ?

[marcmax]

According to the fiche at Real OEM and Max BMW it is a tapered roller bearing in the size specified. The difference is price is substantial and worth the time to verify before I take the plunge. After all, BMW does not manufacture their own bearings but sources them from a bearing manufacturer.

[nhmaf]

The LS front wheel uses sealed bearings different from the R65 snowflake front wheel.   But, I think that the rear wheel bearings are the same

[marcmax]

Dang motorcycle shops. They are all closed on Monday so no way to get an answer by calling. Why can't they be open when I want an answer.   [smiley=whistling.gif]

[Bob_Roller]

The LS front wheel bearings are sealed ball type bearings, the rear are still tapered roller bearings .

[georgesgiralt]

I stand corrected. thank you all !

[Matt Chapter]

(slight wobble and noise)

What kind of noise are you hearing?  Is it at speed or just backing out of the driveway?

I've been hearing some clunking / grinding myself recently, and also a little vagueness in the back end while riding.. your post just made me put 1 and 1 together for an unhappy sum.

[marcmax]

It is not a noise I hear when riding. I only hear it when rolling the bike into/ out of the garage or when rotating the wheel to clean it. I recognize the sound as the early start of a failing bearing.

[montmil]

After you remove the rear wheel, the bearings are easily removed. The outer race remains in situ but a quick wipe off will tell you if you have brineled races. Wash out the bearing and turn it by hand while feeling for roughness. Do Not spin the dry bearing using air pressure! Dat's Bad.

Having fresh oil seals on hand might be a good idea.

[marcmax]

Just spoke to Rusty at Max BMW and got the answer I needed about the bearing size. The fiche list it at 40x17x14. He opened a new package and inside found a SKF 30203 bearing measuring 40x17x13.25 End of story, bearings being picked up in the morning.

[nhmaf]

Rusty is DA MAN!     I hope everyone treats him nicely like the extremely valuable resource & font of knowledge that he is - I've steered many people his way over the years..

[Justin B.]

I only hear it when rolling the bike into/ out of the garage or when rotating the wheel to clean it.

When I had a clunking noise that was heard backing out of the garage it turned out to be the transmission output bearing...

[marcmax]

This not a clunking noise. It sounds like a round object rolling across a piece of sandpaper. When I put the bike on the centerstand and roll the wheel I can find the sound at the rear hub with a mechanics stethoscope.