R 80 ST Front Wheel Bearing Hell

[carockwell]

After two months of trial and error, and waiting for parts I think I might finally have my front wheel bearing adjusted correctly. Read this (partly for amusement) and let me know what you think:

1. Use the shake method and notice that the front wheel has no bearing play as soon as any torque is placed on the axle nut.
2. Measure front wedding band spacer and order smaller sizes.
3. Assemble wheel with smaller wedding bands and suddenly have the Polish engineer moment when I realize I need LARGER wedding bands to reduce bearing preload.
4. Order larger wedding bands and assemble wheel with correct preload. Job should be finished but noooooo......
5. Go to apply fresh bearing grease and final seals and notice the bearing races spin by hand...
6. Order new $900 front wheel
7. New front wheel has no bearing play (shake method) as soon as axle nut is spun on.
8. Measure wedding band in wheel and order larger sizes.
9. Assemble new wheel with new weddings bands and select the correct size. Do final assembly with new grease and seals. Recheck axle preload and everything is okay.
10. Install brake discs and.....the wheels shakes! I need a smaller wedding band after torquing on the brake discs (my R 80 ST has dual discs).
11. Order smaller wedding bands.......I now have quite a collection!
12.Remove seals, install new wedding bands until I get the one that shakes until 10 ft-lbs is applied, then no movement. Install new grease and new seals.
13. Bolt it all up with brake discs attached, torque axle nut to 27 ft-lbs for final assembly, and Voila! The job is done......SOB!

Working on Airheads is SOOoooo much fun.

 

[pmdave]

Sounds about right.

But you could have saved about $700 by buying a used hub with good bearing lands.

And, you got a lesson here about snugging up the axle (with a sleeve) to check bearing play before trying to install the wheel on the bike.

If the brake drum is acceptable size, save your old hub and have a machinist install steel sleeves for the bearing lands on both sides. You'll probably have to despoke the hub, but you can respoke with stainless steel spokes and have a nice spare wheel.

pmdave

 

[20774]

I got some shims from Duane Ausherman which can be very useful to help find the right set up. Look at this page and search for "shim":

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/wheel_bearing/

The shims work by adding small amounts to a slightly too thin wedding spacer until you find the right combination that works. I'm not sure if he's still make these...he used to sell them on ebay.

 

[beemerguru]

Could also have saved some grief by modifying an R11xx 4 pot Brembo so you'd have a less unsprung weight. Bolt on after shaving the caliper tabs.

 

[carockwell]

Beemerguru;

You are restoring a BMW 630? And I thought I was a glutton for punishment.....

CAROCKWELL

 

[beemerguru]

Complete frame up...new leather interior in one corner, new S90 engine sitting in a crate, powder coated upgraded suspension, etc.

Just write checks and don't add the total..only way to stay reasonably sane

One of the first 200 that came into the country