Trying to get my (wheel) bearing straight...

[hppants]

I've been turning wrenches for almost 40 years. I'm no mechanical genius, but I know the difference between a bad bearing and a good one.

So it's time to replace my front tire. I always check wheel bearings when I remove a wheel. My front bearings now are still sealed, tight, and turn freely with no unusual feeling (notchiness, flat spot, etc). I took a very small screw driver and gently pried one of the outer seals and confirmed the bearing is still full of grease. On other bikes I've owned, a wheel bearing usually goes out at around the mileage I've got now (43K).

What has been the experience with the FJR?

At what point (if ever) do the wheel bearings start to give problems?

Is the consensus to replace with the OEM bearings?

The method I have found to be most effective is to put the new bearings in the freezer over night. Use a plumber's torch to gently apply heat to the hub. Then use a long drift to drive the bearing out from the opposite side. The expanded aluminum hub allows the steel bearing to come out easier. For installation, apply a little more heat, and the contracted frozen bearing slips in like butter, driven with an appropriate-sized socket. Is this the preferred method for the FJR?

So where am I at - an ounce of prevention? Or a pound of paranoia?

 

[SouthernCruizer]

I've been turning wrenches for almost 40 years. I'm no mechanical genius, but I know the difference between a bad bearing and a good one.
So it's time to replace my front tire. I always check wheel bearings when I remove a wheel. My front bearings now are still sealed, tight, and turn freely with no unusual feeling (notchiness, flat spot, etc). I took a very small screw driver and gently pried one of the outer seals and confirmed the bearing is still full of grease. On other bikes I've owned, a wheel bearing usually goes out at around the mileage I've got now (43K).

What has been the experience with the FJR?

At what point (if ever) do the wheel bearings start to give problems?

Is the consensus to replace with the OEM bearings?

The method I have found to be most effective is to put the new bearings in the freezer over night. Use a plumber's torch to gently apply heat to the hub. Then use a long drift to drive the bearing out from the opposite side. The expanded aluminum hub allows the steel bearing to come out easier. For installation, apply a little more heat, and the contracted frozen bearing slips in like butter, driven with an appropriate-sized socket. Is this the preferred method for the FJR?

So where am I at - an ounce of prevention? Or a pound of paranoia?

75K on an '04, 88K on an '08, wheel bearings were fine. You been doing some bayou crossings or desert running? Trade in that pound of paranoia for a pound of boudin. Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

 

[El Toro Joe]

82K on my 06...still original

 

[Geezer]

There is another thread around here somewhere where wheel bearing life expectancy was discussed recently. The concensus was that the ones on the FJR are pretty good and should not normally need replacement. Of course there are always exceptions, so they should be checked regularly like you did, but if there is no problem then leave them alone.

 

[Fred W]

>85k on my '05 B4 and >50k on my Man-strom, both still with original wheel bearings all around. Manstrom spends as much time on dirt roads as paved.

As long as you never point a pressure washer at the bearings I would expect them to last just fine. When they start to feel gritty or notchy it's time to replace. Not a preventive maintenance item, IMO

If I were ever to need to replace a bearing I would go with OEM. They are cheap enough and, unlike some very popular aftermarket bearings, they last a good long time.

 

[wnyfjr]

Had a bad front wheel bearing two tire changes ago on my '06 at around 20k (can't recall exact mileage at the time). No water crossings or desert highways, so not sure what caused it. It wasn't horrible, but you could feel it ever so slightly when spinning the wheel, so we changed it out while we were 'in the neighborhood'. I didn't watch the guy do it, but he did do the heat thing on the hub. Not sure he froze the new bearing.

 

[John d]

I've been turning wrenches for almost 40 years. I'm no mechanical genius, but I know the difference between a bad bearing and a good one.
So it's time to replace my front tire. I always check wheel bearings when I remove a wheel. My front bearings now are still sealed, tight, and turn freely with no unusual feeling (notchiness, flat spot, etc). I took a very small screw driver and gently pried one of the outer seals and confirmed the bearing is still full of grease. On other bikes I've owned, a wheel bearing usually goes out at around the mileage I've got now (43K).

What has been the experience with the FJR?

At what point (if ever) do the wheel bearings start to give problems?

Is the consensus to replace with the OEM bearings?

The method I have found to be most effective is to put the new bearings in the freezer over night. Use a plumber's torch to gently apply heat to the hub. Then use a long drift to drive the bearing out from the opposite side. The expanded aluminum hub allows the steel bearing to come out easier. For installation, apply a little more heat, and the contracted frozen bearing slips in like butter, driven with an appropriate-sized socket. Is this the preferred method for the FJR?

So where am I at - an ounce of prevention? Or a pound of paranoia?

Your method is fine, no different than any other bike. Of course you know to be careful with a torch - a lot of damage can be done very quickly.

I did the front bearings on my '08, not because they were worn out, but because I had some damage on the rim due to hitting a severe bump or pothole. The shop that straightened it asked for the wheel with bearings removed. For me, the bearings came out easily enough without heat, just using a drift. On assembly, I froze the bearing and just tapped it in with a socket that matched the bearing OD.

As far as OEM bearings, they are nothing special. Any bearing from any recognized bearing manufacturer would be fine.

Don't fix what ain't broke when it comes to wheel bearings. Just check like you do.

 

[Fred W]

As far as OEM bearings, they are nothing special. Any bearing from any recognized bearing manufacturer would probably be fine.

I agree, they are nothing special, except they are a known quality, not particularly expensive and readily available.

As I mentioned, certain aftermarket bearing providers do not tick all those boxes.

 

[John d]

As far as OEM bearings, they are nothing special. Any bearing from any recognized bearing manufacturer would probably be fine.

I agree, they are nothing special, except they are a known quality, not particularly expensive and readily available.

As I mentioned, certain aftermarket bearing providers do not tick all those boxes.

Here is some light reading on bearings for you.

 

[Justin]

Just swapped out the front bearings on the FJR at about 80k. If you check them every tire change and they feel good, you'll be fine.

As to changing them, you can pick up a bearing press kit at Harbor Freight really cheap, along with bearing pullers. Although, the wheel bearings on the bike can be a pita to grab with the pullers, so I often wind up beatng them out from the other side of the hub :lol:

 

[Fred W]

As far as OEM bearings, they are nothing special. Any bearing from any recognized bearing manufacturer would probably be fine.

I agree, they are nothing special, except they are a known quality, not particularly expensive and readily available.

As I mentioned, certain aftermarket bearing providers do not tick all those boxes.

Here is some light reading on bearings for you.

Seems to point out a new farkle opportunity. Accelerometric bearing vibration monitors...

 

[kaitsdad]

Just changed out front wheel bearings on an 06 with 163K. They were fine, owner wanted it done as maintenance. Rear wheel wasn't done.

Just lube them up every time the axle is removed, you'll be fine.

 

[dcarver]

I know that guy!

..and zero pressure washes. Ever.

 

[Justin]

As far as OEM bearings, they are nothing special. Any bearing from any recognized bearing manufacturer would probably be fine.

I agree, they are nothing special, except they are a known quality, not particularly expensive and readily available.

As I mentioned, certain aftermarket bearing providers do not tick all those boxes.

With those "certain aftermarket bearings", it's a good practice to pull the seals off and repack them. The guy's at Woody's use them, and told me they are almost always under greased which leads to the failures. Myself, I spend the extra $10 or whatever and get Toyo's or Nachi's from Ebay. That's what most Japanese bikes have OEM.

 

[08FJR4ME]

I hate to say this but I have never been able to spin the front bearings. I have done 3 tire changes and its always the same I still cannot spin either bearing. The tire spins fine when its on the bike. I am under the impression if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Dave

 

[HotRodZilla]

One of the guys that mostly stopped posting here recently did his bearings on his '07 with 87k. He went through the whole thing and noticed that the old bearings looked exactly like the new bearings. It was decided it was a waste of time. The bearings are sealed so OEM shouldn't need to be messed with. IF something bad happens and they get opened up, then sure, but that's a pretty slim factor.

The write-up is over on FJRiders, and I could look it up, but don't feel like it. Personally, I wouldn't mess with them. Why fix what's not broken?

I've changed a lot of bearings mostly on trailer axles. The consensus at good bearing shops is that All Balls are ****. I wouldn't use them in my bicycle.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

To agree with Fred W and HotRodZilla both is somewhat irritating to me but...

When Patriot's FJR was torn apart getting the new used motor the mechanic asked me to shake the rear wheel. There was so much slack it was scary. Patriot runs Darkside and that car tire was wobbling all over the place. The mechanic had replaced Patriot's bearings not very long before that and Patriot had supplied him with the All Balls bearings that he thought were superior. The mechanic said that one set of the All Balls was bad right out of the box. They were notchy and rough to turn and he refused to install that set. He told me that the OEM was really the best choice because of quality and price.

That is the only experience I have with FJR wheel bearings but since I was so impressed with that mechanic and the job he did for us on Patriot's bike I thought I might throw it out there.

 

[Fred W]

Here's a little something for that irritation, Andrew:

(You didn't really expect to get away with comments like that on a Friday, did you?)

 

[hppants]

Most excellent comments all around. Many thanks for your input.

I'm Ok with "if it ain't broke...."

Although as a wrench turner, and an anal stickler for preventative maintenance, it's hard to believe I can get away with ignoring the big girl for so long.

Seriously - I'm very impressed with the longevity of the FJR. This is my kind of bike.