Rear Wheel Bearing
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Seems we're going back over this problem a second time around! I bought a new Buell Firebolt in '08, when the first problems had come to light and sure enough had to replace f&r wheel bearings not long after, around 4k miles in fact. Fortunately my local Yamaha dealer had the correct aftermarket replacements on the shelf (I assume they also fit Yamahas!) and they've been fine ever since. So perhaps aftermarket bearings are the solution? Except possibly the ABS bearing, the others are a stock bearing and widely used in many applications. We've discussed this and part numbers in other threads in recent times.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 59
From: farmington ny
After reading all the horror stories of failed wheel bearings ,at around 25,000 miles while i was changing tires i decided to replace all the bearings.The bearings all were in good shape but i replaced any way.I love traveling on my bike,I hate sitting on the side of the road broke down.Cheap preventive maintenance Its the only logical thing to do.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
hmmmmm maybe Ill do mine this winter. 2011 road king with 13,000kms but with a twist....2017 road king new take-off wheels that Ive put 3500kms on so far, figured I was ahead in the bearing fiasco but I guess not.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
AllBalls is supposed to have a replacement for the Harley ABS bearing, according to some other threads. Only one I've heard of so far. If it's like their other wheel bearings, probably better than OEM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 221
From: farmington michigan
2010 ultra 43,000 on the clock third owner just did my fronts with all ***** and yes the have the abs bearing and I plan on doing my rears over the winter. I have read so much stuff about wheel bearings that I'm just gonna go ahead and do them as preventative maintenance. I know it might just be paranoia be I'm not taking a chance on something like wheel bearings if one goes bad things could be real bad.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 373
Likes: 90
From: australia
Buy a 30-40,000 bike and wheel bearings fail .... Just not right .... There are just to many occurrences of failure to be a coincidence ..... And 99% of the time it is the Non abs bearing not the ABS bearing ......
But is it the quality and design of the Harlely non abs bearing at fault ,, or the installation of the Non abs bearing at factory and or at replacement ??
The ABS bearing when installed is seated in hub of wheel to a designated lip,, (not rocket science)...
The non abs bearing, (after spacer is installed), is installed down hub of wheel so as inner race of non abs bearing and spacer are making contact , (with slight side to side movement ,, but no up and down movement), making sure ABS bearing stays in its seated position.....
Here is my opinion,, where problems with any non abs bearing may occur ,,,,
Push the non abs bearing down to far on the spacer , and you could push the ABS bearing from its fixing seating position, (if you have not got the correct install tools)....
Don't push in the Non abs bearing in far enough to make correct contact with spacer,, and you could have non Abs bearing floating ....
I realize torquing the axle should bring all components together,,, but if bearings are not in their correct position and alignment is out ,, it could cause stress and stain on bearing , and cause unnecessary failure .....
Just my thoughts .....
But is it the quality and design of the Harlely non abs bearing at fault ,, or the installation of the Non abs bearing at factory and or at replacement ??
The ABS bearing when installed is seated in hub of wheel to a designated lip,, (not rocket science)...
The non abs bearing, (after spacer is installed), is installed down hub of wheel so as inner race of non abs bearing and spacer are making contact , (with slight side to side movement ,, but no up and down movement), making sure ABS bearing stays in its seated position.....
Here is my opinion,, where problems with any non abs bearing may occur ,,,,
Push the non abs bearing down to far on the spacer , and you could push the ABS bearing from its fixing seating position, (if you have not got the correct install tools)....
Don't push in the Non abs bearing in far enough to make correct contact with spacer,, and you could have non Abs bearing floating ....
I realize torquing the axle should bring all components together,,, but if bearings are not in their correct position and alignment is out ,, it could cause stress and stain on bearing , and cause unnecessary failure .....
Just my thoughts .....
Last edited by markwolula; Aug 21, 2017 at 01:04 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Sounds possible. Even without an ABS bearing, if you don't do it just right you can put side loads on the bearings. One of the big reasons I do my own bearings, on a Harley, there's not much leeway at all between doing it right and doing it wrong.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 59
From: farmington ny
I have read in many different places that the grease in harley stock non abs bearings can not be indentified .when i removed mine i popped them open and the grease is like nothing i have ever seen,its clear and not very much of it.I think thats where the problem is,Quality control.Some are being packed with less of that crappy grease and when or if the seal fails the grease can not handle moisture and early failure is probable.Pressure washing is a probable cause.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Pressure washing has been a problem ever since pressure washers were invented! I'm not sure they can blamed here, as I don't use one and have also suffered 'sealed' wheel bearing failure. It's all very disturbing as most of my Harley ownership has been on good ole fashioned tapered roller bearings, which were a darned sight more dependable - and servicable too!