Front bearings may be bad

[Harpman]

Well it was warm in TN yesterday so I went for spin, on the way back heard a screaching sound , thought it was brake pads worn and rubbing, you know that sound. Anyway got home took of the front brake checked the brake it was good and the bike still made the sound when I rolled it back and forth. I have a feeling the front bearing or bearings are bad. I would appreciate any input or point me to a past thread. As I recall changing the bearings is not that big a deal but requires a special tool.

 

[chacha]

Any shop with a press should be able to hook you up. How many miles on the bearings? Inspection is @ 10k, but they're fairly cheap so many just change them at 10K anyway.

 

[Harpman]

I think about 16,000 miles on them, thanks ChaCha.

 

[Dakotabos]

My Back Tire Bearing went out when in Sturgis two years ago. Ouch it was just painful to ride it to the Big Dog Dealer in Rapid City but Big Dog hooked me up and back on the road in 2 hours. :2thumbs:

 

[dogvet]

Well it was warm in TN yesterday so I went for spin, on the way back heard a screaching sound , thought it was brake pads worn and rubbing, you know that sound. Anyway got home took of the front brake checked the brake it was good and the bike still made the sound when I rolled it back and forth. I have a feeling the front bearing or bearings are bad. I would appreciate any input or point me to a past thread. As I recall changing the bearings is not that big a deal but requires a special tool.

It's not really too tuff to change the wheel bearings on 05 and newer bikes (with sealed bearings) if you have access to a hydralic press.

Before you tear the wheel apart, take a sharpie or some other kind of marker and mark the hub in relation to the rim so it all goes back together in the same place it came apart (balance and runout reasons). Take the bolts that hold the hub to the rim (behind the brake rotor) press the old one out and while pressing on the outside diameter of the bearing, press the new bearing in till it seats. Do the same on the other side, install new dust seals and put the hub back together. A bit of red loctite and torque em to about 45 ft/lbs in a star pattern.

If I gotta tell ya how to get the front wheel off, you probably should take the bike to somebody.

:2thumbs:

 

[dogvet]

My Back Tire Bearing went out when in Sturgis two years ago. Ouch it was just painful to ride it to the Big Dog Dealer in Rapid City but Big Dog hooked me up and back on the road in 2 hours. :2thumbs:

There are two sealed wheel bearings on the drive side of the rear wheel. Three bearings all together. You should just replace em every 10,000 miles.

It seems that the outside drive side bearing wants to go first.

If y'all have jack stands to raise the wheels off the ground from time to time for cleaning or what not, just put you a screw driver tipor sumthin on the end of the axle with your ear on the handle and give the wheel a spin. If you hear crunchin, replace the bearings.:zz2cents:

 

[narow37]

There are two sealed wheel bearings on the drive side of the rear wheel. Three bearings all together. You should just replace em every 10,000 miles.

It seems that the outside drive side bearing wants to go first.

If y'all have jack stands to raise the wheels off the ground from time to time for cleaning or what not, just put you a screw driver tipor sumthin on the end of the axle with your ear on the handle and give the wheel a spin. If you hear crunchin, replace the bearings.:zz2cents:

Great tip DogVet, thanks.