Did you replace steering head bearings?

[DaveK]

For those of you who have inspected your steering head bearings at the 12k mile service, did they need replaced?

Mine is due its service soon and was going to replace them with roller bearings if they are needed, but i dont believe in replacing working items, regardless of how little they cost....if it aint broken....so just gauging the chances of actually needin them as i want to buy them beforehand if its very likely.

 

[RJ2112]

Dave,

I have to think the need to replace the steering head bearings is in proportion to the number of wheelies a rider does. All this talk of corroded bearings and the like has made me go out and inspect the fork's action on my bike.... there's no play at all that I can feel, tugging on the front wheel with no weight on the front end. Doesn't seem to be broken, so I am not going to fix it. Side to side steering effort is still very low resistance, so I don't think I have any dents in the races, either.

 

[afpreppie04]

I just passed the 12k mark this week and hardly ever do wheelies, only two (tiny ones, like 6 inches) that I can recall. 5000ft of altitude puts a damper on wheelie power. That said, when I go over bumps I can hear a clunk from the front so I am planning on ordering some all balls to swap in.

 

[Fred]

I voted the third option, but remembered that when I pulled the bearings at less than 4k miles, the grease on the lower one already have some rust color to it. So I would have had to replace at 12k, most likely.

 

[wrightme43]

almost 32,000 miles and they are still perfect.

 

[Cali rider]

I had to replace mine after 3 yrs of use. Some have replaced sooner than that and others haven't had to replace at all. It's a lower seal issue, it has nothing to do with environment, wheelies or maintenance.

 

[Guitar Man]

Checked mine at about 26,000 miles. They looked good. I cleaned and put new grease in them and reused them. No need to replace something that's not broken.

 

[RJ2112]

I had to replace mine after 3 yrs of use. Some have replaced sooner than that and others haven't had to replace at all. It's a lower seal issue, it has nothing to do with environment, wheelies or maintenance.

I thought that might be the case...... when you did the replacment, did you manage to find a set of sealed bearings to go to?

 

[stryken]

Anyone know if Yamaha fixed this problem yet and if so what year did they get it fixed?

 

[lazamus69]

Replaced with allballs...

 

[RJ2112]

Lazamus..... I don't mean to be insulting; I assume the races came out, as well? How much of a pain was it to press in the new races?

 

[reiobard]

I checked mine and had already purchased the All Balls but did not change them out as the stock ones were very well in tact.

 

[abacall]

Replaced at 13K. The OEM ones were shot to hell. Allballs FTW.

 

[Guitar Man]

Anyone know if Yamaha fixed this problem yet and if so what year did they get it fixed?

From what I've understood it was the factory not putting enough grease in the bearings. I don't know if they actually addressed the problem and fixed it. Just a quality control issue as far as I know.

 

[trkrider]

Almost 18k on mine....wheelies and aggressive riding often. No problems yet!

Just a thought, those of you who have replaced these, do your bikes live outside? I've never had one apart so this is a guess, but how well are these bearings sealed from the elements?

Inadequate lubrication + water intrusion could definitely cause premature failure....

 

[Pyro]

Made it to 5600K (3500 miles) before they were toast. I never wheelie. Really loosened up when I was 500 kms from home. That was a nervous ride.

The mechanic kept my bearings because he was so amazed at how bad they were. All Balls now.

 

[HowlFZ6]

I voted no. At 12k miles, the bearings were fine. I'm at 20k miles and I can feel the front end is starting to get loose.

 

[DaveK]

Quick Q....does the tool in the bike toolkit used for adjusting shock preload fit the locknuts on the steering head?

Not got a C spanner atm

 

[MarinaFazer]

by 12,000 miles I had replaced them 2 times and replaced them a 3rd time with All Balls...now at 17,000 miles and counting with 0 problems.

 

[lazamus69]

Quick Q....does the tool in the bike toolkit used for adjusting shock preload fit the locknuts on the steering head?

Not got a C spanner atm

No. Close, but it doesnt grip it properly.