Steering Head Bearings and Races Replaced: How-To With Pictures!

[maleko89]

Thanks Mark! You always have the best answers!:clapping:

Happy to help!

Mark


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[jdeitz1979]

Did you replace the outer race of the 'upper bearing'? Looks good for what's shown. Jedi showed in another recent post that by putting a bead of stick weld onto the outer race, they will heat up and come out.

We use a bead of weld on them at work as well, bearing races the size of dinner plates lol, fall right out.



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[jdeitz1979]

Good write up. Nice pics and details!


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[dgamber0]

Has any one drilled the neck and installed a grease fitting? I have owned 2 Harleys and they both had a grease fitting in the neck from the factory. It worked great.

 

[Coastal Grey]

That was a great write up
A good way to get outers out
if you have access to an arc or mig is to run a 1/2 inch to 1 inch bead down the center of the race
It will drop right out as the weld cools it contracts the race
Was taught this when I was 20 and starting out

 

[one2dmax]

Has any one drilled the neck and installed a grease fitting? I have owned 2 Harleys and they both had a grease fitting in the neck from the factory. It worked great.

Not sure i've seen that done and would need to look into the neck to make sure there aren't any openings to lose grease pressure through. I know that the neck lock will be one location and that will in turn allow grease to go into the slot of the locking area in the stem and then out the bottom of the triple. It's hard to know if there will be enough residual resistance to let the grease actually get to all the bearing needles.

 

[TK3333]

Good thread and thanks to all that submitted tips. I went with All Balls kit because it came with the seals and races and I didnt see an OEM part # for them and wanted to make sure I had them for replacement. Also my 2000 didnt have a seal on the top bearing from the factory but I installed the All Balls one anyway. Another tip to get the bottom bearing off the stem is to use a dremel with a cut off wheel to cut the outter part of the bearing off and cut the inner part almost all the way through and give it a couple wacks with a punch. It should crack and be much easier to remove. I cut a small section out of it after it was off to use as a bearing driver along with a piece of conduit i had laying around

 

[[email protected]]

I went with All Balls kit because it came with the seals and races and I didnt see an OEM part # for them and wanted to make sure I had them for replacement. Also my 2000 didnt have a seal on the top bearing from the factory View attachment 71068

93332-00001-00 is the OEM part # for the upper bearing and race. There is no seal on it.
93332-00008-00 is the OEM part # for the lower bearing and race. The seal is included.

 

[TK3333]

The fiche doesnt indicate the seal and race so I didnt know they were included. Thats why i went with afrermarket. Now I know if I have a problem, I will get OEM next time. Should I remove that seal from the top bearing?

 

[[email protected]]

The fiche doesnt indicate the seal and race so I didnt know they were included. Thats why i went with afrermarket. Now I know if I have a problem, I will get OEM next time. Should I remove that seal from the top bearing?

No, I wouldn't remove it.

 

[Radioguylogs]

I installed the All Balls kit and I used the upper seal.

It fit in with no problem at all.

-Mike

 

[Lippy]

Are the All Balls bearings ball bearings instead of tapered rollers?

 

[Lippy]

Mine has a tight and notchy front end so time for bearings.

 

[Radioguylogs]

Are the All Balls bearings ball bearings instead of tapered rollers?

Tapered rollers.

Usually the seller will show a picture in their ad.

 

[Lippy]

Thanks Radioguy. I ordered them from another outfit but it is the All Balls kit. Mine is a 2000 V-max and boy is it a pain to ride this way. I just bought it this way and he sure wasn't kidding when he said the steering is heavy! LOL. Scary is more like it.

 

[user 16790]

don't forget you might have to cut 'hitting' areas above the bearing case to get it out, maybe someone will have done it previously

 

[Lippy]

Thanks Julian, I don't think it's ever had them changed.

 

[mjsinil]

I just finished replacing mine. Getting the races out was a nightmare. But the difference it made was astounding. Pics of old ones, it felt like there was gravel in them.

 

[mjsinil]

Used a small cutting wheel on Dremel to cut it and then a cold chisel and hammer to knock it out. Even after I cut it, it took a few hard hits before it loosened up.