Front wheel bearing replacement
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
I am wondering what years and bikes these bearing failures are on. My 04 FLHTCUI has 43K and original bearings. I mount my own tires and check them for loss of grease and any rolling issues. Somewhat nervous about this, as riding a locked wheel to a stop does not apeal to me at all! I seem to have read some time that the bearings had changed to a Chinese manufacturer. Would like to know if these are the ones failing.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 163
From: Grapevine Texas
Not sure on the year but if you are checking yours and adding some grease to it, then you don't have the sealed bearings on the newer bikes, maybe 05 or 06. I've got an 06 and they are sealed, and you also mentioned china, well I do know that my fork bearings (not sealed) are stamped MEXICO, I was really pretty disappointed to find that. It's gotta LM or LS number which gives me some indication they might be mfd by TIMKEN, I don't know, maybe timken has a sweat shop down in mexico, maybe it's just a standard number used by the bearing mfgrs. I actually would like to get some replacements though and pull those damn things, just so I know it's usa grade metal in there, but that's seems to be getting harder to do now days. 
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Bellingham, MA
My 2000 Sposter 1200 has a mere 7,600 miles. After a routine tire replacement, the right front wheel bearing was making a whining noise into a deep fast turn. Who ever thought of the 100,000 mile mark for sealed bearing replacement was enthusiastically overly optimistic!
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 150
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
is there a quick way to check a front wheel bearing? Like the old car method where you rock the tire back and forth?
My bike is still under warranty and it's developed a wobble at speed and some noise when turning.
I would just like to give it a once over before I take it in.
My bike is still under warranty and it's developed a wobble at speed and some noise when turning.
I would just like to give it a once over before I take it in.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 3
From: Massachusetts
Is that new wheels I detect on your bike Don? Sharp!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 163
From: Grapevine Texas
I just got done last week putting a new mag and s/e 180 on the back of my 06 bob. Without hesitation I slammed in new All ***** wheel bearings in the back. The front wheel, still had some meat on the tire, so this fall, I'll yank the wheel, throw a matching mag, new rubber, and of course All ***** bearings. For the jury, the rear wheel, the bearings when I took em out, not only looked fine, felt just fine too, but I chucked em, better piece of mind, ya know.
Bearings are cheap, wheels are expensive, and life is priceless. Every tire change, new bearings for me.
Differences, I've had my rear axle, so it's got antiseize slopped on it, where Harley don't believe in that from factory. I also wash bike maybe twice a year, never pressure wash, and a few times year, take a throughly wringed out soapy cloth and give it a brief wipe down. So really no water getting a chance to setup shop in bearing.
Bearings are cheap, wheels are expensive, and life is priceless. Every tire change, new bearings for me.
Differences, I've had my rear axle, so it's got antiseize slopped on it, where Harley don't believe in that from factory. I also wash bike maybe twice a year, never pressure wash, and a few times year, take a throughly wringed out soapy cloth and give it a brief wipe down. So really no water getting a chance to setup shop in bearing.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 351
Likes: 2
For the price of a shop to R&R the bearings in one wheel one time you can buy the proper tool to remove and replace them, it takes 10 minutes at the most and you do not have to beat on your wheel, notch your spacer or weld rods to bearings and beat them out 
.
Since H-D went to the narrow 15 mm single row bearings in '08 I would recommend replacing the rear wheel bearings on '08 and up at every tire change no matter what and the front every other tire change or at minimum check them for rough or notchy feel. The 21mm wide double row bearings seem to hold up pretty well and would check them at every tire change for rough or notchy feel and replace accordingly.
My
.Since H-D went to the narrow 15 mm single row bearings in '08 I would recommend replacing the rear wheel bearings on '08 and up at every tire change no matter what and the front every other tire change or at minimum check them for rough or notchy feel. The 21mm wide double row bearings seem to hold up pretty well and would check them at every tire change for rough or notchy feel and replace accordingly.
My
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 166
Likes: 34
From: Prospect, CT
For the price of a shop to R&R the bearings in one wheel one time you can buy the proper tool to remove and replace them, it takes 10 minutes at the most and you do not have to beat on your wheel, notch your spacer or weld rods to bearings and beat them out .
Since H-D went to the narrow 15 mm single row bearings in '08 I would recommend replacing the rear wheel bearings on '08 and up at every tire change no matter what and the front every other tire change or at minimum check them for rough or notchy feel. The 21mm wide double row bearings seem to hold up pretty well and would check them at every tire change for rough or notchy feel and replace accordingly.
My
.Since H-D went to the narrow 15 mm single row bearings in '08 I would recommend replacing the rear wheel bearings on '08 and up at every tire change no matter what and the front every other tire change or at minimum check them for rough or notchy feel. The 21mm wide double row bearings seem to hold up pretty well and would check them at every tire change for rough or notchy feel and replace accordingly.
My
Jon
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 351
Likes: 2
You can get it here http://www.debrix.com/Sifton-Wheel-B...16-0558-vt.htm
I am sue if you do a search you can find other places, but this seems to be a pretty good price.
There is a version on e-bay but I don't think it comes with the thrust bearing
.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLE...item2562e35b30
I bought it because I have '09 H-D mags with the narrow bearings and have a good feeling I'm going to need to replace them regularly on the rear.
Last edited by dynabobster; Apr 15, 2011 at 08:51 PM.