Any tips for replacing rear wheel bearings?

[Brandon Whitmore]

I'm halfway through the process of replacing my rear wheel bearings on my 510. I had no problem popping out the bearing on the brake/ rotor side of the wheel, but can't seem to figure out the sprocket side.

On the rotor side there is a retention clip that I pulled, and I popped the bearing right out.

On the sprocket side, there is no retention clip that I can see. I popped the seal off of the bearing so that the actual bearing pieces are visible. While looking around the perimeter of the bearing, I don't see anything that should be preventing the bearing from popping out-- am I missing something? This is on the side with 2 bearings. I'm just scared to use too much force until I find out for sure if I am missing a step-- I'm good at breaking stuff. Also, a youtube video recommended removing one bearing at a time when are doubled up-- how is this possible?

 

[rabskyline]

put a pole or long socket bar in through other end.. and knock them out.. 2 bearings in one end and 1 in other.. easy as pie.. just remove internal spacer pipe (look inside hub) and just blast the other side out... beware, there is a lip and thats what you may be hitting... look closer with a torch and feel inside the bearing, thats what you want to miss when banging it ! other than that, easy ! ..trick is to have a good look at what you need to clear and whats in there..

 

[Bones]

Toss new bearings in the freezer to shrink them a bit to make it easier to install.

 

[rabskyline]

they almost walk in anyway.. i used a socket same size(well very slightly smaller ) to chap them in but freezer is top tip ! forgot to add socket and block of wood for refit... not too technical but works well, jst dont damage the dust seals..

 

[raisrx251]

My tip to you is pack the new bearings with some good water proof grease. They don't supply much in the new bearings.

 

[Bones]

My tip to you is pack the new bearings with some good water proof grease. They don't supply much in the new bearings.

Where are you buying non sealed wheel bearings? And why?

 

[Rattletrap]

Where are you buying non sealed wheel bearings? And why?

I think he's talking about popping the seal off and packing the bearings, I've done that on my front bearings.

 

[Brandon Whitmore]

Thanks for all of the replies.

To clarify a little, I am just needing to get the 2 bearings on the one side out

The little @#*** do not want to budge. After posting this I went back out and starting banging harder and harder from the opposite end. The single bearing side popped right out and the spacer/ foam is out. I am using a light and can see that I am not hitting the lip where the new bearings will seat.

Just to confirm, on the double bearing side, there is no keeper, correct? Just pop off the dust seal and pound them out? I've typically found that if I walk away from something that I have trouble with, and come back to it, I can figure it out. In this case, I can't. I'm thinking that the bearings are sort of stuck into place with corrosion or something. I may have to take a torch to it, but don't know how much heat I want to place on my wheel.

 

[ghte]

Brandon, it seems to me that you are on the right track. My guidance here is if things feel a tad askew the just pop into your local dealer and have them pop the bearings out. No disgrace with being careful.

 

[Brandon Whitmore]

My guidance here is if things feel a tad askew the just pop into your local dealer and have them pop the bearings out. No disgrace with being careful.

I appreciate the advice. The bummer is that the only local shop is closed on Sundays and Mondays. I've got a machinist buddy that I'll have take a crack at it. Heck, if something gets screwed up he can just build me a wheel from scratch. Whoever does pop them out, you can bet that I'll be standing next to them learning how to pop them out. I sure don't remember my buddies '03 RM 250 bearings being nearly this difficult-- did those a month or so ago.

By the time I'm done with this bike I'll probably learn that it would have been cheaper/ easier to buy new. But what's the fun in that

 

[Brandon Whitmore]

Alright

Machine shop man came to the rescue. It took him 3 minutes to take measurements (playin' it safe) and about 15 more seconds to pound the bearings out. All it took was a giant punch and bigger hammer. Those things were in there tight. Growing up I learned that using more force wasn't always the answer-- not so in this case.

The rest of the hour I was at the shop was spent having him teach me about bearings. He probably would still be talking about them if another customer hadn't shown up.

Thanks again guy's.

 

[ghte]

Alls well that ends well. What brand of bearing did you use for replacement?

 

[Brandon Whitmore]

Alls well that ends well. What brand of bearing did you use for replacement?

All Balls.

 

[rabskyline]

they are tight but as you are replacing them , just smash them hard like i said ! big hammer and master bar (long socket bar) and pop ! i kow you didnt want to damage the bike so now you know its easy, you will go harder on them next time !

 

[Brandon Whitmore]

they are tight but as you are replacing them , just smash them hard like i said ! big hammer and master bar (long socket bar) and pop ! i kow you didnt want to damage the bike so now you know its easy, you will go harder on them next time

Yeah, thanks for all of the help. Note to self: Buy a bigger hammer.

I didn't have to worry about freezing any bearings today. It was around 17 deg. farenheit outside when installing the bearings. Problem is, the wheel and bearings were the same freezing temp.

Does it matter what side you install the bearings first? I put in the bearing on the single side (one with the keeper), and then when I stuck the spacer in I noticed that it stood proud of the lip/ stop for the double bearing side.

On a side note, I oiled my filter today and the filter pretty much instantly froze solid. Surprised the heck out of me, but I'm not used to these temperatures. I was using PJ1(?) filter spray. This makes me curious as to how well a filter works when riding a bike in freezing cold temperatures.

 

[rabskyline]

dont know on the filter il freezing but sounds odd.. as fr bearings.. i dont reckon it matters but i dont the big one first with circlip and then the 2 others after... only because i bought one bearing instead of 2 when i was at the bearing shop.. idiot ! lol..just remember the sleeve.. i forgot and hat to take bearing back out.. also, in behind that tube inside the hub was cruddy on mine os i cleaned it out while i was there..