Had my bike at the dealer the other day for a new front tire and brake pads. On a whim, I asked him to check the front wheel bearings. I didn't suspect anything, but it seemed like a good idea. Sure enough, the report came back that the grease had hardened and they needed to be replaced. Just $100, but now I'm gonna run the bike back up there and have them check the back bearings as well.

Just thought I'd mention, since this is a check that is not on the maintenance schedule for my '08 Road Glide. Anybody else had that experience?

 

When I swapped to new wheels at 9000 miles the bearings were already going bad, there was a roughness to one and the side seal was shedding lube on another, I have seen reports here from 5k to 50k and some that have never lost a bearing at higher miles. No reason or rime to length of time.

 

I'm thinking that I may replace my wheel bearings at every tire change, now that I'm getting more miles from the new design tires. Have 13000 on them now, looks as though they'll make 20000 before they hit the wear bars. It may be overkill, but for peace of mind it may be worth it.

 

I had my IDS bearing fail at 46,000 miles and they also replaced the rear wheel bearings. Fortunately, the IDS bearing didn't fail on I-90 at 90 mph.

 

Man..that is scary. I am going to check and grease mine.

 

A machinist / HD mechanic friend of mine told me that on the later models (circa2006), the OEM bearings wee changed from double row to single row double sealed type bearings. His take on it was that the single row style would not hold up as well on the rear wheel.

 

Several reports of 08 and early 09 wheel bearings failing at earlier than should be mileages.

 

dawg did they change them in the 2010 models?

 

Good luck with that.............they are sealed bearings.

Steve

 

You guys that insist on using power washers on non-sealed bearing bikes will need to check them often.