Install wheel bearings letter side out??
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Ct.
Let me Preface this by saying I manage a car parts store and have come across this on cages.
Not sure it relates to HD or not, but since HD is sort of in bed with Ford, my guess is it has to do with ABS.
The newer focus's use a bearing in some way shape or form that has the tone ring inside it. If you install a bearing on a focus with the wrong side out, the abs light will trip..
Like I said not sure if this is the reason or not, only my guess..
Not sure it relates to HD or not, but since HD is sort of in bed with Ford, my guess is it has to do with ABS.
The newer focus's use a bearing in some way shape or form that has the tone ring inside it. If you install a bearing on a focus with the wrong side out, the abs light will trip..
Like I said not sure if this is the reason or not, only my guess..
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
There are not numbers on letters/numbers on both sides. The black seal of the bearing has numbers on both sides, but the internal race of the bearing has letters/numbers on one side only. That is the side that faces out. In the attached pic, the red arrow points to where you will see the numbers.
So which side goes inward in that regard? 2012 Ultra (no ABS)
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,175
Likes: 2,483
From: Nor Cal
... just stick them in 
(of course putting the LF & RR bearing in first).
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
Was reading some bearing threads before doing an install (plus its super hot and tropical here today and rain so not working on the bike, All Ball-s or Sweaty *****, one in the same). Anyway, your posts on the Jims tool.....useful. The Pit Posse tool has the same flaw, so plan is to install but flip the one piece around before driving the bearing home. Huge thanks for the insight.
I do find myself wondering how some folks have these catastrophic bearing failures so quickly and frequently. One guy quoted it happened three times under 10k.
Last edited by F150HD; Jul 25, 2020 at 06:54 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,175
Likes: 2,483
From: Nor Cal
Flip both sides ... the "Flat" disc will always be reversed (no reason not too), but on the "piloted" installer side, start with the pilot and then flip when the large diameter just starts to enter the bore, but the bearing hasn't reached the center sleeve yet. Then Flip and finsh off at any torque up to the axle nut torque spec.
I would suggest trying to keep wheel horizontal to keep the sleeve vertical while installing the second bearing. I use a 5 gallon bucket with a big hole cut in the side for access.
Also insert the axle once for sleeve alignment just before that final bearing "seating"
Then insert it again after the bearings are seated. If you feel the sleeve had moved slightly during installation because it had to move again into alignment, then us the Tool again
.
I would suggest trying to keep wheel horizontal to keep the sleeve vertical while installing the second bearing. I use a 5 gallon bucket with a big hole cut in the side for access.
Also insert the axle once for sleeve alignment just before that final bearing "seating"
Then insert it again after the bearings are seated. If you feel the sleeve had moved slightly during installation because it had to move again into alignment, then us the Tool again
.
Last edited by multihdrdr; Jul 25, 2020 at 07:33 PM.
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bearing, bearings, classic, davidson, electraglide, faces, harley, install, installation, installing, letters, putting, red, side, wheel
