Front wheel bearings

[Teacher]

Just had the bike MOT'd and a oil change etc. Needed front wheel bearings replacing due to water ingress.
At only 8300 miles , four years old, I was somewhat surprised. Not expensive, a tenner per bearing I think and I wasn't charged much to fit  but I still think bearings should last longer than that. My cars done 54 k for goodness sake and hasn't needed anything but oil and brake pads

Advisory on MOT for uneven brake force so discs must be slightly warped too !!! Neverthless, I love this bike.

[virginiajim]

I've still got the original bearings in mine at 60k miles.  I check them every tire change and so far they are holding up well for me, but our weather here is somewhat dryer.  I also very rarely wash the bike.

[Boomer]

Car bearings a completely enclosed. Bike ones are more exposed and if you jetwash the bike you will blast water in there and ruin them.

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk

[Teacher]

I've still got the original bearings in mine at 60k miles.  I check them every tire change and so far they are holding up well for me, but our weather here is somewhat dryer.  I also very rarely wash the bike.

Well that's quite smt 60k compared to mine. I'll have to stop washing the bike !

Boomer- I don't use a jet wash but do hose the bike down although i've always thought I've avoided the wheel bearing areas. Maybe need to be more careful.

[virginiajim]

Washing bike not good.

[Martin#30]

My bike has just had it's 5th set of front wheel bearings. I did them myself this time to try and work out what is making them fail so regularly.

I bought aftermarket SKF bearings, but to be honest they look exactly the same as the OEM bearings - both sets are sealed on both sides, so that cannot be the cause.

The only thing that looks like a possibility is how the spacer is fitted between the two bearings. The spacer had a good 1/2 to 1mm free clearance on mine, which suggests to me that the bearings are then distorted axially when the spindle is inserted and tightened. I refitted with zero clearance this time, so will see if that changes anything.

@Teacher, when the bearings fail, they also give warp disk symptoms - it is possible that your disk problems will also be solved by the new bearings.

Martin

[Lonewolf]

I've done 20k on mine so far and the bearings (original) are something I must get around to checking ideally before the Scottish trip in July. I'm hoping a mate over in Huddersfield will do the necessary for me.....

[Kwikasfuki]

My bike has just had it's 5th set of front wheel bearings. I did them myself this time to try and work out what is making them fail so regularly.

I bought aftermarket SKF bearings, but to be honest they look exactly the same as the OEM bearings - both sets are sealed on both sides, so that cannot be the cause.

The only thing that looks like a possibility is how the spacer is fitted between the two bearings. The spacer had a good 1/2 to 1mm free clearance on mine, which suggests to me that the bearings are then distorted axially when the spindle is inserted and tightened. I refitted with zero clearance this time, so will see if that changes anything.

@Teacher, when the bearings fail, they also give warp disk symptoms - it is possible that your disk problems will also be solved by the new bearings.

Martin

I've just done some bearings again this weekend and observerd the same issue with the spacer.

The first time I replaced the bearings on my 08 I noticed the spacer was snug against the bearing. The bearing hasn't gone, I was just changing it as I was putting on new rotors and wanted to give the wheel a full service so to speak. On the 2011 model, there was a couple of mm (at least) free between the spacer and the bearing. Again, the bearing hadn't gone, it was just me being over cautious. I've just swapped/changed wheels and the bearings on the replacement wheel were shot. Again there was a gap between the spacer and bearing. Just my observations - doesn't prove if the spacer is the culprit as my bearings weren't shot all the time.

What was puzzling me over the weekend was the purpose of the spacer. A Google search showed that the spacer and bearing should have zero space between them, as you've stated above. I actually left the bearing almost snug to the bearing i.e. I can feel its just touching the bearing and with a little force can move the spacer to the side. That was deliberate on my part as moving the spacer with it snug to bearing make it difficult to move the spacer next time the bearings need replacing. In hindsight I should have put a notch in the spacer and fitted the bearing snug to the spacer. Which is what I'll do when I replace them next time.

[Kwikasfuki]

I've done 20k on mine so far and the bearings (original) are something I must get around to checking ideally before the Scottish trip in July. I'm hoping a mate over in Huddersfield will do the necessary for me.....

Lol, I'll guide you. Bring a spare bearing cause I seem to forget to insert the spacer between the bearings!

[BigAlan]

So what's the easiest way to check wheel bearings on the bike, I know how I can check them on my car but how do you practically do it on the bike.

Alan

[Kwikasfuki]

So what's the easiest way to check wheel bearings on the bike, I know how I can check them on my car but how do you practically do it on the bike.

Alan

With the wheel off the ground, when rotated it should be smooth and no side to side movement. If you hear a rumble, its 

[Kwikasfuki]

Oh, and if anyone wants to work with the wheel off the bike, here's a tip: I can highly recommend the wheelie bins. They are perfect for resting the wheel on with the lid open and your back will thank you.

[Ant]

Does it have to be a green bin ? 

[Burchy]

The seals on a sealed bearing are very easily disturbed, especially if you use the hammer and drift method of installing them rather than a bolt and washer to pull them into place.  if the seal gets disturbed the grease will soon get away and the bearing will fail after a few thousand miles

[Kwikasfuki]

Does it have to be a green bin ? 

Yes, ours just has cardboard in it. The black bins stink