Front Wheel Bearing Failure

jeckyll

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May 11, 2016
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Lotusland
Had a buddy who kept blowing front bearings on a 954. Long shot, but make sure you check the axle to ensure that it is straight.
His was slightly bent which caused the frequent failures. Of course, he wheelied that bike a lot and wasn't gentle in setting it down
 

Super08

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Aug 6, 2017
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AB, Canada
I have learned to keep a light coat of water proof grease on the outside of the bearings to keep water from washing the bike at bay. So far it has been doing the trick. I lost the rear wheel bearings in my 2015 Road Glide with only 15k on it. They couldn't blame it on water as it was the center one on the inside of the drive side hub. Harley replaced the wheel under warranty as it was destroyed. I was on a 5,000 mile trip and felt it going. I took it into a Harley shop and told them I was losing a rear bearing. They took it in and said nothing was wrong. By the time I got back home and put it up on my own lift it was destroyed. I could grab the wheel and wiggle it a 1/2" from side to side. You wonder why people lose trust in taking bikes into a shop.
 

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GSequoia

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Feb 27, 2019
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Torrance, CA
And for $60.62 we're back to normal. Unfortunately the only blind hole puller I could get my hands on did not work for this job as the tube gets in the way. I had to go the old fashioned way of drifting them out which tends to mar the tube (nothing a file can't fix) and the bearings so I can't OCD about seeing how bad they were on both sides. Suffice to say it no longer sounds like the engine is knocking.
 

GSequoia

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Torrance, CA
I finally broke down and ordered a full set of OEM bearings and seals for the bike. I don't need them at the moment, but if I do, at least they'll already be here and I won't have to wait while they're on backorder.
Solid plan. I'll be getting two rears and another front set for the shelf, myself.
 

RCinNC

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Aug 30, 2014
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North Carolina
I just received my complete set of OEM wheel bearings from Rocky Mountain ATV. I figured it might help someone in the future who's stranded someplace and trying to source a wheel bearing from a supplier, so I measured all the bearings to confirm the information I posted earlier, and took note of any identifying markings on the bearings. Here it is in a handy chart done as a .jpg file. I'm going to incorporate it into my quick reference guide, which I keep on my phone.

Bearings 2.JPG
 
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GSequoia

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Feb 27, 2019
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Torrance, CA
And just blew out another set! This time I know exactly what happened though. I rather steep and aggressive dip caught me by surprise last night and I hit it hard. This morning on the way to work I heard the same noise again. I turned around and went back home to grab the DR350. Ran it to work only to feel a little squirrely on the freeway. Lost the rear tire. Broke two motorcycles in one day.

Ordered a new tire and tube for that while waiting for the tow truck (the Shinko 705 didn't like 70 mph with 0 psi) and just ordered the wheel bearings. I wish I hadn't forgotten to order my extra reserve set last time around as now I'll be driving the Jeep for two days this week while I wait on parts for both bikes.
 

RCinNC

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I'd be extremely skeptical that the cause of a bearing failure was a steep and aggressive dip in the road. There's no dip you could hit on a road that would destroy a bearing and still allow you to ride off afterwards; an impact that could destroy a wheel bearing on a motorcycle would likely cause a whole lot of other catastrophic damage.

If you've had a bearing failure in the same position bearing twice since 2016, especially with mileage in the 9000 range, there's something else going on, especially when these are quality bearings by Koyo and KBC.
 

GSequoia

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Feb 27, 2019
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Torrance, CA
It's kinda a f***ed up angle, hard hit weird angle. I'd bet I see a chip out of a bearing as I did last time. Nothing else is amiss on the bike. Bearing bores look good and are properly tight, replacement was driven in completely, axle is straight (well was last time, haven't checked it yet this time), no power washing (hell I hardly wash it often enough period!), and wheel always torqued to spec.
 

SkunkWorks

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Colorado
I'm with RCinNC.
Not a chance that those bearings could be damaged by a dip in the road.
Your front tire would be blown out, and the rim would be mangled beyond usable before you would damage those bearings.
I am guessing that you damaged them during installation, or you damaged the bearing spacer removing the old ones?
You mentioned marring something and fixing it with a file last time?
If the center bearing spacer is ANY amount shorter than factory spec, you will have side-load on the bearings when you torque the axle.
This type of bearing is not designed for any side load, and will ruin them quickly.

If the Spacer length is suspect at all, I would just buy a new one. It is only $12
#2 in the diagram.
Spacer.JPG
Parts.JPG
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Hi there GSequoia, Is it possible when you drove in the bearing you might have slipped and hit the inner race by mistake? That would be enough to unknowingly damage it.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
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Sucks that you have a repeat failure. A good reminder to check your air pressures before every ride. ;)

So, you replaced the bearing, it failed, and you ordered the same part again? Hmm, I hope not.

Go to a bearing supply house local to you and purchase a high quality replacement made by SK or others. I've had excellent results with OEM Yamaha bearings, but you can just go pick these common size bearings up at most bearing supply houses w/o having to order them and wait. RCinNC gave the bearing sizes and that's most of what you need to know. The bearings themselves will have more complete info that tells you the seal type and most bearing supply shops will know what you need when you tell them the application.
 

scott123007

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Jul 27, 2012
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Jupiter, Florida
Two things that can be done to prolong bearing life are to repack the bearing, and fill the space between the outer dust seal and the bearing, and then the groove in the outer dust seal with grease. Before someone says you're not supposed to add grease to a bearing because it can overheat, that is entirely true. But (there's always a but) , that is for very high speed bearings like in hand held grinders and the like. The speed our bearings rotate inside our wheel hubs is nowhere near what is required to overheat a bearing. Since the bearing manufacturer does not know the application of a bearing beforehand, they apply less, rather than more, grease.
 

AbrahamLincoln

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Mar 21, 2020
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Washington State, South Puget Sound
While cornering I can hear some extra noise coming from what I assume is my bearings and was wondering if was a precourser for what is being disscussed in this thread, or just normal wheel noise on the Tenere. Can anyone relate to this, or have any input on what might be the cause. Cheers!
 

Cycledude

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Rib lake wi
While cornering I can hear some extra noise coming from what I assume is my bearings and was wondering if was a precourser for what is being disscussed in this thread, or just normal wheel noise on the Tenere. Can anyone relate to this, or have any input on what might be the cause. Cheers!
Sounds more like normal tire wear issue
 

SkunkWorks

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While cornering I can hear some extra noise coming from what I assume is my bearings and was wondering if was a precourser for what is being disscussed in this thread, or just normal wheel noise on the Tenere. Can anyone relate to this, or have any input on what might be the cause. Cheers!
I would agree with Cycledude.
When I'm leaned over in a corner, I can definitely hear my tires making more noise as they get into a part of the tire with more tread on it.
What kind of tires are you running?
Obviously a "Street" oriented tire is not going to be very noisy, but I'm currently running a Mitas E07 on the front, and a Shinko 805 on the rear...............These are not quiet tires!
 
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