I've got a set of polished cast wheels ordered. They will have the original (used) bearings in them and I do not know the mileage on the bearings. My current wheels have 8000 miles on the bearings. I am considering pulling the bearings out of my current wheels, inspect and clean them, then replacing the grease in the bearings if they check out OK. It is not difficult to pop the seals out and clean the old grease out of the bearings and refill with some high temp synthetic grease. Moly grease is not for this type of bearing. I know some will say never mess with the bearings, just buy new ones but I would rather know what grease is in the bearings than use the OEM bearing lube. Seems like some of the OEM wheel bearings do not last very long. Anyone here ever change the grease in their own bearings?

 

Once a bearing is pressed in and pulled out, it shouldn’t be reused.

 

You cannot reuse wheel bearings. Pulling them out deforms them.

 

Waaaay too important of a part to be trying to save a buck there. I think not matey.

Nor have I ever heard it being done. Reuse that is.

 

Just assume they will not check out OK and install new bearings. There are other options other than OEM bearings.

 

There are far better ideas on saving a nickle. Skip a hair cut.

 

Lots of good advice here ! Once one of these 25mm sealed bearings is installed or remove you have side loaded the bearing and should not be reused. Replace them and use the correct installation tool.

 

If the correct puller is used, a hardened bearing race sliding out of an aluminium bore should not become deformed, if so, that bearing has a serious issue. I've pulled and reused bearings out of RexRoth pumps, turbos and other high speed machinery with no issues. Poor lube is the main cause of failure for a bearing. So if a new bearing is installed and the spacer is not right or the tech is not satisfied about something and removes the bearing, that bearing must be discarded and a new bearing purchased? I've built a lot of machines and transmissions with single and double row ball bearings and been able to reuse them if they are determined to be serviceable.

Talking abut the 1" bearing for the pre 2009 bikes. The idea is not to save money but to use a better grease. Seems like a lot of people complain of their wheel bearings failing (sometimes determined by a dealer) at a low mileage.

 

Buy new bearings, and repack them with your preferred grease.

 

I'll go with that. I definitely want to go with better grease.