Rear wheel and or differential free play

[Ken]

Hi guys, just had my bike on the centre stand and noticed that the rear wheel has about a millimetre of free play. I sat on the ground with both legs on either side of the wheel and placed one hand on the top of the tyre and the other hand on the bottom of the tyre and shook the wheel lightly. There is clearly a knock and the wheel moves back and forth with about a millimetre of play. I might add when shaking the wheel horizontally there isn't any play, only when shaking it vertically. My bike has done 92,000K's and is a 2009 model. I ride hard and mostly on the black top (bitumen).
My questions:
Is this ‘free play’ normal?
Is there an adjustment to take out this 'free play'?
Is it worth worrying about?

Thanks in advance.

Ken

[marc]

1 mm play at the rim when cold is acceptable according to BMW providing that the play is in the bearings and not between the splined wheel flange and the axle tube. The 1mm is total play, not + and - one mm. BMW says to measure at the 12 o'clock position. Cold is components with a temperature < 35º C.

If more than 1mm play you are probably looking at a new big bearing. They sometimes fail.

[Ken]

Thanks Marc. Is there anyway to tell if its in the splined wheel flange and the axle tube without pulling the whole show apart?

Cheers

Ken

[marc]

Just look. You can tell if the entire axle is moving or if the flange is moving on the axle. Also, I doubt that is the issue. Back on '04 there was a batch of bad flange/axles put together which is what caused BMW to send out a notice (and recall a very small number of bikes).

[Ken]

Thanks Marc. Now I klnow what parts you were referring to. Have a good weekend.

Cheers

Ken