changing front wheel bearing
 

i have i worn bearing on my front wheel and have bought a set of new bearings. do i need any special tools or skills to change this? is there any typical fails to do when changing it?

1991-xt600

Not really.

Hammer out the old bearings from the opposit side, you can use and extender from a socketset, or a rod or simular.

Use the old bearing to tap in the new and/or a socket that fits the outer egde of the bearing. Be sure not to tap the old bearing in a bit with the new.

I always use plenty of grease, love to keep things lubed up :laugh:

The new bearings will be easier to install if you put them in the freezer and warm the hub using a hot air gun or even a rag soaked in v. hot water.
Keep everything clean, muck and moving parts don't mix well.

My key learning points:

1) Hammer one bearing in all the way, don't forget the spacer in the wheel and then hammer the second bearing in so that it ONLY JUST touches the spacer and NO MORE. If you don't you risk putting undue pressure in the inner race and, especially with the cheap bearings, the 'give' may result in the bearing not turning freely.

2) As said earlier, don't use the old bearing after the new one becomes flush with the housing. Most wheel bearings have a space for oil seal (i.e. the bearing goes in further than the lip of the housing) and once the old bearing goes into the housing too it won't come out easily (it will be stuck next to the new one, hence the nightmare)! If you use say, an old socket to hammer in the bearings, be careful of the rubber seals in the sides of the bearings - the seals have a metal backing plate and if you dent this plate it will end up touching the balls and could affect the life of the bearing.

- always remember to take the circlip out BEFORE you try and bash the old bearing out. Otherwise you end up bashing harder and harder and wondering why the bearing isnt moving at all

- always make sure you are bashing the outside of the steel bearing case when bashing the old ones out ... and not your delicate, expensive to replace alloy hub.