How To Replace Your Motorcycle Wheel Bearings | MC Garage
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- čas přidán 22. 04. 2016
- Deep within your wheels’ hubs-out of sight and out of mind-are wheel bearings. They’re the reason your bike rolls smoothly down the road. And while modern sealed bearings are incredibly reliable, they do occasionally fail. When that happens, you can either pay big money to have a shop replace them OR, watch this video and Senior Road Test Editor Ari Henning will show you how to do it yourself.
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It’s rare that a wheel bearing fails, but when they do, it can be ugly! For that reason it’s important to inspect your wheel bearings-with every oil change or tire replacement is a good rule of thumb, though more frequent inspections are recommended if you frequently ride in the rain or in dusty conditions. Thankfully, checking your wheel bearings only takes a few minutes.
How To Check Your Motorcycle Wheel Bearings
If your motorcycle has a center stand, you’ve got everything you need to do a preliminary wheel-bearing inspection. If your bike doesn’t have a center stand, you’ll need paddock stands to elevate your bike’s wheels off the ground. The idea here is to have as little weight on the wheels as possible so that you can feel any play that may be present at the hub.
With the wheel off the ground (or gently resting on the ground, as would be the case with the front wheel on a center stand equipped bike), grab the tire on opposite sides and push with one hand while pulling with the other, alternating the movements in an effort to twist the wheel around the axle. You’re looking to see if there’s any play or movement of the wheel relative to the axle but bear in mind that the tire may flex, so don’t mistake this movement for bearing play. Turn the wheel 45 degrees and repeat the procedure.
If you notice any play or clicking, it’s possible that one or more of your wheel bearings may be munched.
If you suspect a bearing may be on its last legs, it’s time to remove the wheel and take a closer look. Stick your finger in the bearing and rotate it. If it feels gritty, rough, or binds up when you turn it, that’s a sure sign that bearing needs to be replaced.
How To Replace A Motorcycle Wheel Bearing
Deep within your wheels’ hubs-out of sight and out of mind-are wheel bearings. They’re the reason your bike rolls smoothly down the road. And while modern sealed bearings are incredibly reliable, they do occasionally fail.
More often than not, bearings fail due to water or dirt penetrating past the bearing seals, which contaminates the grease and causes the bearings to lose lubrication. When that happens, they corrode and fail.
When you suspect a bad wheel bearing, the first thing to do is inspect it. Luckily, that’s an easy procedure, and we’ve got that covered in this MC Garage.
If you do have to replace your bearings, don't panic. It's an easy job. You'll need are a few tools and supplies and the knowledge to do the job, which you can complete in about an hour. You’ll need tools to remove the wheels, as well as a hammer, a drift punch, a bearing driver kit, a socket, a torch for heating the wheel, a flat blade screwdriver, a pair of snap rings pliers, wood for wheel support, grease and contact cleaner, and new wheel bearings and seals.
Once you’ve gathered all of your tools-and have the wheels removed from your motorcycle- you need to start by supporting your wheel on the woodblocks to protect the rim and the rotor. Next pry off the wheels seals with your flat-blade screwdriver, being careful not to gouge the hub. If you have a stubborn wheel seal or bearing, heat the hub, and then the seal should pop right out.
Once the seals have been removed from both sides of the wheel, it’s time to drive the bearings out. First, move the inner spacer out of the way with your finger or the drift punch. Next, drive the bearing out with the punch or with the bearing driver set. It is always a good idea to apply some heat to the hub to make it expand. This will make driving out the old bearing-or driving in the new one-simple. When using the drift punch method, make sure to work along the exterior race to avoid breaking the bearing. Flip your wheel over and repeat.
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00:17 The tools you need for replacing wheel bearings
00:51 Support the wheel to prevent damage
00:58 Remove the seals
01:44 Apply heat and drive out the spacer and bearing
02:08 Removing the wheel bearing
02:25 Removing the wheel bearing with a bearing removal tool
02:37 Installing the new wheel bearings
03:54 Install the new spacer and wheel bearing on the other side
04:18 Install the new wheel seals - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I genuinely want to say thank you for this video. My day was going south, did what you recommend. Work like a charm. I appreciate man
I struggled for at least an hour with an old seized bearing before calling it a night. I'm really happy I found this video, this at least gives me another route to take! Thanks again.
These videos are great Ari! One of the great things about motorcycles is that you can work on them yourself. Thanks for giving us the know-how!
Watched several of this guys videos for my install and so far he has been spot on. A little bit of heat def goes a long way. Thanks for sharing!
Followed the instructions as described to perform my first motorbike wheel bearing change on my 90 FZR600. Worked perfectly.
Thanks so much for these videos. Did my fork rebuild, chain and sprocket, and wheel bearings after watching these videos. Going to watch that clutch replacement video next.
Simple direct EZ to follow. No unnecessary drawn out chatter! Great vid!
A good idea is also to insert bearings into the ice or freezer before installing it . Low temperature will also shrink it a little bit.
+KonradLarem +1 You beat me to it.
KonradLarem - this advice is 1000 times smarter than heating an aluminum wheel
KonradLarem All I managed to do with the torch today was to set my dust seals on fire as well as the grease on the old bearing.
Luckily I had the bearings in the freezer over night.
The rest of the instructions worked extremely well and I spent 1.5 hours on the rear and under an hour on the front. Easy peasy.
Thanks for getting me started and pointed in the right direction today.
A very happy Versys owner.
KonradLarem 2007 front rim fits on a 2010 yamaha R1?
I like it when science can be wielded as a force for good. Most of the time it seems to work against me.
Just replaced my bearings! After my tyres were changed the guy said my bearings had to be replaced. So ordered the new ones and the haynes manuel. This video helped me a lot and it was the first time I replaced something on my bike myself. Thanks a lot, grom now on I'm going to do as much as I can by myself!
I love these how-to videos! Great job Ari.
Ari, your videos are top-notch! Keep 'em up!
Your channel is admirably excellent! Bursting with information, I love it! Salute!
You can also leave the new bearings in the freezer overnight to shrink them, it makes installation a bit easier.
First time I replace a Crankshaft bearing, I put the bearing in the freezer around 30 minutes and heat the Engine block with a heat gun. The bearing slide it self into place effortless.
If MC garage made a video about the causes of motorcycle handlebar vibrations will be very helpful for motorcycle enthusiasts around the world. I tried to search and couldn't find a proper video sharing this information.
Handle bar oscillation (handlebars that shake back and forth when hands are off the bars) Is generally steering head bearings that need replacement or adjustment.
Well done video! Bought the Motion-Pro bearing remover w/ Driver and it cost half what a nice big drift would have cost. Thanks for the tip.
The torch was key for me to remove bearings. Hammering with the drift wasn’t possible with my rear wheel due to the size of the spacer. Wheel bearing remover worked for front wheel and sprocket, with a lot of effort. No luck with the rear wheel. Finally, spent $73 at Harbor Freight for a Slide Hammer and Bearing Puller Set. Well worth the money. Wish I had just done that initially. It was the only tool that worked on my rear wheel. I would have saved myself a lot of time and aggravation just to use this tool from the start. Well worth the money and it paid for itself in one job.
Great job Ari! Just used this video to get ready to replace my wheel bearings. Two things I observed as I changed the bearings. Cooling the bearings is fairly easy and removes the need for the torch. Second, it wasn't obvious to me in the video but the spacer goes solid between the bearing inner races once both bearings are seated. This appears to be the point of keeping the spacer aligned during the install. If it goes solid and is out of aligment, the axel will not go through. One last thought. In the video, you say that if the bearing gets cocked during install to drive it out. This is not advisable if you are going to tap a bearing out using the inner race. Hitting the inner race to drive out a bearing fitted on the outer race will likely cause the balls to damage the races. I would recommend that you tap on and around the high edge of the bearing outer race until it slides back square with the opposite side. A socket works great for this. Otherwise, the video was spot on and helped me finish this the first time in about 2 hours.
Tap out the baring cause u have to inspect the damage. And yess u will then nead a new baring.
Heating it up like he shown really helps out. Thanks for the great video
love it , awesome channel watched many of your videos , loved especially the best bike in each class (cruiser , nakedbike , sportsbike) etc.
Great video, I might have to check my bearings soon!
Not saying it's the perfect vid, since a couple more tips would have been nice (thank you guys for adding them in the comments), but man do i love your vids^^
Easy to understand, straight to the point and so helpful to a newbie like me. Please keep up the good work and thank you!
Had a very hard time trying to dislocate the inner spacer, try the heat gun ,didn't work , none of my local auto parts have wheel bearing puller for this task, so I use my MAP gas torch and the freaking spacer move aside, thank you so much for showing us this method , I have a Honda Shadow
Really good instructions - only tips to add is it's easier to install bearings square with no risk of damage by making up a simple press with cheap M10 threaded bar and plate washers from your hardware store. Use a socket as described to push the outer race straight in, perfectly square and controlled. If you freeze your bearings first it's even easier.
These videos are really helpful. Thank you🙋🏻
I love your video and your energy Thank you :)
Awesome video! wish i had your workshop and all your tools!
Very good video! One detail thought. Outside diameter of the seal should not be lubricated. They say: easy in, easy out. You don’t want you seals to move. You’re absolutely right, the inner diameter, the seal lip, should be lubricated. A dry lip seal will overheat and degrade rapidly.
This channel is so invaluable.
I was whacking away for 30 minutes, heated the rim, had it out in 20 seconds. God bless 🙏
Awesome Video Thanks for the Info greatly appreciated👌
You have some good stuff here. Saves me a ton of money.👍
Thanks for showing me that motion pro bearing driver... I will never be happy driving a bearing with a socket again... great idea how it centers on the inner race and is interchangeable for different inner/outer race combo's.
In another YT video the guy used the old bearing atop the new one to hammer it in. Good idea or no? I'm getting ready to install bearings on a front VFR wheel I just had powdercoated.
Loving your videos 👍 Hating how I have to buy another new tool every time I watch one 😁
I love these videos.
Great video, thanks!
thanks for the tutorial
Very informative Video, Thanks! I went to the VXB website to pick up some Nachi Bearings based off your recommendation and I was surprised just how many different offerings there were with wildly varying prices. There are 5200, 6200, 7200 series (and more) then there are a ton of sub categories 2NKE, 2NSE, 2RS, 2RSJ etc, etc, etc. I know it would be another whole show to go over just how to select the correct bearings, but could you please give me some insight on what I should look for?
You should do some electric maintenance too :) good tutorials
Good video!
Good tutorial. I'd like to see more videos like this.
Pretty helpful. It’s better when heating not to put the visible flame on the painted surface. The end of the blue flame should be about 4”/100mm from any painted surface
Very good brother thanks for the video I am from Dhule Maharashtra India
great vid, wish he was do metric and harley/indian cruisers.......would b cool
Good info thanxs
Nice!
Now if I can figure it on my 1200gs rear wheel bearing...
very usefull, thanks,
This dude is shredded
any possibility of a fork rebuild video?
Nice one - Thanks!
When using multiple sets of wheels and tires, should you use the same disco brake for each set moving it around, or can use permanent coach for each wheel?
Nice tutorial but my inner ring is gone, so the outer ring needs to be loose with no point to set force off👍🏼
Wish me luck
is there any markings on the bearing to tell you what size to order for new ones ??
How
Much free spin should my rear wheel have when up on stand? Like full rotation with light touch or what?
Once the second bearing is in place and right against the spacer is it normal for there to be no rotational movement in the inner race of both bearings? Thanks for your time
Just done mine and want to confirm before putting the wheel back on and riding it
Good video now I know what is the name of the tool that helps me install the bearing. Bearing driver.
I have a 79 xs750 and in the process of replacing the rear bearings. The manual has all of these collars and spacers. What is the purpose of these collars and spacers, I dont think they were there when I removed the bearings and most of these are now obsolete. Do I need them, seems like most wheel bearing replacement consist of the bearings, flange, and oil seals. Thanks!
Hey Ari!
I love you videos, they are very helpful, and hugely entertaining! I know in my cars, when wheel bearings went out, they would make a ton of noise. Is this a common signal with bikes as well? My fork seals recently went out and I think my wheel bearings were contaminated with the fork oil, as now I hear a similar noise coming from my front axle. There is no noticeable play though, and I imagine the oil has destroyed the grease in the bearings. What is your opinion on it?
Ari Henning I ended up getting it looked at, and the bearing is fine like you suggested. The odd noise I was hearing was the brake pads, and once the roots and pads were decontaminated the noise quit. Thanks for the reply!
I had to do this on my 90' hurricane and one of my bearings broke the outer race was left and the inner race blew out. I had to take it to a specialist to get it out but otherwise would have been simple job
Wonder if that spacer tube has to have a play or tight and flush w new bearings is enough?
Looking for a video on replacing all four rear bearings on a 2002 f 659 gs Dakar
Any advice for upgrading to carbon ceramic bearings?
hi nice video. Hope you can help me with my other concern. I am trying to modify a not so expensive bike to a good looking 1. I replaced my tires and wheels to wider ones. but the wheels that i bought has bigger bearings for the axle bolts (which I dont have and cant find any). Is it safe to just replace the bearings with a smaller hole(inner diameter) then use the axle bolt that I have? Please bro I need your advise. Size of my axle bolt is approx 12x230 and the wheels that I bought has (I think) 15mm inner diameter. Thanks.
I’m trying to pick the grease I can use for my wheel bearings and fork cap at an auto parts store. It’s looking like I’m going to have to go to a bike shop since there’s no information out there on which greases are OK for which areas.
Im getting my wheels repair do to s light dent on the sides. I’m sending this to a professional shop in Idaho. They will remove and re install the wheel bearings. Can I re use the wheel bearings or need to put new ones?
I elevated my rear wheel from the ground and try to turn it with my hands. I can barely turn it. What could be wrong with my rear wheel? Thanks a lot.
what type of grease should i use? just got my bearings in from all balls, thanks.
Should also remove the brake disks, as they kinda hinder the expansion of the hub through the heat.
Also using a heat gun is usually a better idea
Keep the old bearing to knock the new one into the wheel
Did you instal bearings with C3 clearance or normal clearance?
Hello, can you give the reference of the tools you are using at 2'28 ? Thanks 😉
Hi were can I get one of them Dift bar thanks
What symptoms will a rider experience while riding on bearings that are bad or are going bad?
How deep do mount the bearings? Is there a natural stop?
How to find damaged rims and fork bend
Just affirmed my thoughts on how to do this. Just wanted to make sure...😉👍🏻
question: i drove my new bearing in with my old bearing and my old bearing ended up getting stuck in the wheel on top of my new bearing. i had to drive them both back out. i did this by using a socket the exact size as the inner race. do you think i ruined my new bearing by hammering on only the inner race? it was pressed against the old bearing so i can't imagine the inner race was pushed too hard separated from the outer race until the very last bit. i see no physical signs of damage but wasn't sure if i automatically should replace it since i drove out this way. thanks in advance.
Hi Brin, if the bearing came out fairly easy and you were applying even pressure then odds are its fine. Even so, the best course of action is to replace it since the bearing wasn't designed to take any side load on the inner race.
2016 KTM Duke 390!!
Can I ask How can I know the time which I will change bearing?
I got 48k miles on my fz09.... probably a good idea to do this to it soon....
if you put the bearings in the freezer for a while and heat the hub then the bearings should drop right in without the nedd to drive them in.
hii.. can imagine known size bearing for ktm duke wheel??
Would a bad wheel bearing possibly be the cause of uneven tire wear? Like a the the wears more of the left than the right? Both my tires are wearing that way and I can't figure out why.
Perhaps it's because the crown of the road is a little higher on the left?
Might want to change where you said to drive out the bearings by hitting the inner race. to the outer race.
Plz hlp me to know the size of rear wheel bearing of duke 200
Hi...I just installed one of these kits on my gsxr. I noticed you didn't grease the bearings. I realize they're not made like the other bearings with one side exposed. are the pre lubed or do I need to find a way to put grease in them?
fredthomas8888 Sealed bearings are prelubed and don't need any maintenance done to them.
I know this is an old comment, but I always pop the seal and grease bearings myself. It's funny how little grease they have in the sometimes.
Anyone know what specific hammer he is using? (weight, brand, etc.)
You can refrigerate bearings for overnight and then install.
Can you give us the part number for all the tools you used in this video. I meed to get a set myself. Thanks
you can look up the part numbers on motion Pros website
What is the use of wheel spacer
my mechanic checked the tires said that were good, front and rear wheel bearings have at least
50,000
Hey, my wheel spacer just sits loose inside of the hub.. but the bearings are fine, is it safe to install these rims and ride with them?
MotofreakX try switching sides maybe you have them backwards, they have to sit flush
@@SBS_Auto When I removed the original bearings on my '98 VFR front wheel recently the spacer was floating inside the hub. So this isn't normal??
My son is 12 and has a Chinese pitbike for his first bike the rear wheel bearing had gone but I can't find anyone's that fit any suggestions?
So if you're at 67k it'd probably be a good idea to put these on the to do list?
My motorcycle front pulls to right
Can anyone please tell me what is the reason??
Is that the bearings in wheels need to change???
Pls reply if u had these experiences
What do I do if the teeth on my kick starter is worn down? I have a 2001 TTR 125 and there starting to go.
+Ari Henning thanks!!
"good for another 30 or 40 thousand miles " LOL !
Did he burn the paint with the torch or was I just imagining those black marks around the hub...?
Or those were from something else...?
But ari i dont have a paddock stand! :(
Inserting a bearing that way will considerably shorten its life. Heating the hub with a heat gun juste before inserting the bearing and putting the bearing in the freezer for an hour beforehand are a good practice. Using a press is even better. Putting a hammer to a bearing is a No No as far as I’m concerned. I could also question the use of grease.
one like for the intro