Installing the All Balls Tapered Steering Bearings

[JimLor]

Got my lower bracket out and have my new tapered bearings. Here's what's odd to me: per the shop manual, the OEM lower bearing (from bottom up) consists of the dust seal (got it), inner race (none there), bearings (all I have), and the outer race (none there). What I took off of the lower bracket was the bearing itself - no inner or outer races. Here's a picture of the lower bracket and from left - OEM bearing, All Balls (AB) tapered bearings and AB outer race.

For those who have done this please confirm - I think that I seat the tapered bearings wide side down as shown below, and put the outer race over the tapered bearings (outer race not shown in this picture):

I have to say that the outer race does fit nicely into the steering head, but it does protrude below the steering head a mite (1/16" or so). As I said before, when I took out the OEM bearing there was NOT an outer race on top.

Just so all can see how much more substantial the AB tapered bearings are, here's a closer look - OEM on left and AB in center. You can, I hope, clearly see that the AB bearings have an inner race as well as an outer race (on the right). The OEM bearings are ball bearings pressed into a plastic ring. Although I didn't have any problems with the OEM bearings, they sure don't stack up to the AB bearings.

Again, I just want to confirm that I do seat the AB bearings fat side down and that I do use the outer race on top of them.

Thanks.

Jim

And for the heck of it, here's August:

 

[smitty141]

Jim, I sent you a pm... Smitty

 

[Toecutter]

The outer races have to be driven out of the head tube with a drift and hammer, then, the new ones get driven in (fat sides facing inward toward each other). The inner race is seen at the bottom of the steering spindle and must be carefully cut off with a Dremel-type tool or equivalent. Then the bearings and seals go in and all gets tightened up. Kapiche?

Need more help? I did mine a while back and might have some more recollection, I think....

 

[JimLor]

A big thanks to Smitty! I just talked to him and now know the right way to do this. There is an inner bearing and outer bearing to the OEM - inner bearing is stuck on the lower bracket shaft and needs to be cut, heated, or somehow removed. The outer bearings (upper and lower) reside inside the fork tube and likewise have to be removed.

Thanks again Smitty, you saved me from a nightmare!

Jim

 

[smitty141]

Jim, heres a link to my install... Smitty

All-Balls Baby!!!

 

[JimLor]

Thanks Smitty - that's a great description and the pictures do help. I may take your advice and have a stealer remove the lower race.

 

[JimLor]

Toe - thanks for your post too. For whatever reason, I had forgotten driving the races out of the steering head - tough day at work today!

Thanks again.