I took my DS to the shop,for what I thought was new brake shoes,and was told today that it was the rear bearings.It's a 2001,that dont even get ridden in the water.What the hell is up with that?Has any one had this problem already?

 

I have a 2000 DS and the rear bearings went out during a mild trail ride. I heard an intermittent clunking sound and stopped to check it out. Couldn't see anything so jumped back on. The axel was totally locked up! It would roll in neutral, (backwards) but not forward. The DS had to be towed back with the rear end strapped on top of a 4X4 quad rack and the front end rigged so it would track in a straight line.
The repair was completely covered under the extended warranty which by the way, cost about a third of the repair cost. I guess you could say the extended warrenty was a good investment.
The bearings were trashed and the axel had to be replaced. I don't know what caused it as the DS was never ridden in water. I think it was caused by the axel lock nut being loose. I check the axel lock nut before every ride and I haven't had any problems since.
Good luck.

 

Which nut is that one? I thought that those bearings were sealed? If not do they need lubricant?

 

Clif, Hey, sorry to hear about your axle trouble. When you described your sypmtoms awhile back I just assumed your rear brake pads were worn. I recall back when I had my mechanic do my first 10 hr breakin checkup on my ds, he showed me a bombardier service bulletin he had faxed to his shop from a local bombardier dealer, that showed a potential problem with the axle nut coming loose unless you did the fix(repair) that was outlined on the service bulletin from bombardier. He did this procedure on my axle as part of my 10hr breakin checkup service. Is your ds still under warranty? if so I would ask where you bought your ds if there is any way they can cover the repair and look up this service bulletin. I am sorry I didn't realize it sooner when you asked about your brake problem.

Later, Steve

 

Clif and Marky, that's exactly the procedure that my mechanic used on mine. Thanks Marky!