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05-13-2010, 01:51 PM | #1 |
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Location: Vidor, Texas
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Replacing Steering Bearings
This weekend I will be attemping to replacing the two bearings on steering. Do any of you have any hints or something I should watchout for when doing this. I have a 2001 1500. I know they need replacing because there is a point in the middle that keeps catching.
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05-13-2010, 02:30 PM | #2 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
I know that there may be a special tool needed for removing the bearing races. Other than that, I have nothing else to offer. You could probably use a brass drift to drive them out/in, though.
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05-13-2010, 02:42 PM | #3 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
I read a little about the tool needed, I heard it is eaiser with it but it can be done without it, and in my next life I want to be rich so I dont have to do this. Thanks
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05-13-2010, 03:43 PM | #4 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
I think the problem is there is not much to get a drift on to punch them out. I think I have heard some people use a Dremel to cut through the race ?
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05-13-2010, 11:09 PM | #5 |
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Location: Stoney Creek,ON Canada
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Replacing Steering Bearings
Getting the old bearing cups out is definitely the most difficult part of the job...unless you have the recommended 'tool'. I just did mine maybe 2 1/2 months ago. I took a small drill bit and using it drilled a small 'notch' at the seating edge of the cup...where it seats in the head...which just allows a drift to get enough bite on the edge of the cup to drive them out. It worked really well. My lower bearing and cup were in very bad shape....rusted and pitted....I could feel it 'catching' in the straight ahead position. With the weight off of the front wheel/forks...the 'catching' was almost not noticeable. BIG improvement with new bearings. Good skill (luck).
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05-13-2010, 11:27 PM | #6 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
I just did mine. Piece of cake. Gave the dealer my bike and $300 and presto, two days later I'm good to go.
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05-14-2010, 08:18 AM | #7 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
When it is all said and done, I probably should have taken it to the dealer. But no fun in that. Thanks for all the ideas, my confidence in myself is now lower but a better understanding on what to expect.
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05-14-2010, 11:32 AM | #8 | |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
Quote:
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05-14-2010, 02:12 PM | #9 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
Well once the races are out file 2 notches in the lands for next time. Get things cleaned in there and well deburred before installing new races. No lumpy little burrs on the gooseneck lands...
Then if you have access to dry ice, ice the races, wearing gloves and using pliers and the top race just might fall onto the land. A good hour in a freezer could help if there is no dry ice. The goose neck should have a very thin coating of white lube grease which assists driving in new races. A steel punch is fine to drive out old races, a brass punch is better to drive in new. Yeah it will be a pain in the butt... I don't have the dough to throw around for such things... never did, that's how I became a foreign car tech, and that carries over to everything else. Chain saws to roofing, to plumbing to carpet laying. If you have a dremel and if you can reach with it, and if not but walking out the old races gets hard, when you can reach with a dremel split the old race with a deep cut and a hard wack with a cold chisel. No need to be delicate with the old races. If you have a lot of tool steel and a grinder you can make a puller. With a file you would cut it to be the extream OD and drill a hole for a good threaded rod to pass so the file becomes a toggle. Another section of maybe 2 files drilled for the rod and a washer and nut finish off the puller. If you make this pad the paint on the goosneck. The top 2 file pices are just to place on the gooseneck like washers to pull against, but washers are too frail.
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05-14-2010, 03:16 PM | #10 | |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
Quote:
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05-14-2010, 04:04 PM | #11 | |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
Quote:
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05-14-2010, 06:53 PM | #12 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
Ringadingh,
Will do. |
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05-14-2010, 07:32 PM | #13 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
I think I am going to start throwing quarters in a coffe can labelled Steering Bearings.
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Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad |
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05-14-2010, 07:58 PM | #14 |
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Replacing Steering Bearings
Something else I did while doing this job was drill and tap the neck and installed a grease fitting for future greasing. Just a thought.
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05-15-2010, 07:12 AM | #15 |
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Location: Ontario
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Replacing Steering Bearings
The part number on the bearing is 32907 JR-2 and 32907 JR-3. I have set in the garage for my 05 waiting to be installed.
www.ronayers.com for online microfiche to check what year of bike this bearing will fit. |
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