Thread: Steering head bearing advice

I am looking to replace the steering head bearing in the ol FZ1 and was wondering if anyone had an opinion and ol wise-one Terry.. Here is the question. Are after-maket ie all balls better bearing that OEM and why? I want to order these soon.. The OEM on part sharks is gona cost me about 50 bucks, and allballs had a repair kit for $33.. And do you need to replace the races if you replace the bearings? Lastly, bike has 55k on it, do I really need to replace the steering head bearing?

Originally Posted by gcalamari

Lastly, bike has 55k on it, do I really need to replace the steering head bearing?

If it aint broke dont fix it. try holding on the front brake and roll the bike back and forth. If they are wore out you will feel a clunk, clunk as the bike moves forward and reverse. If it passes that test turn bars from lock to lock and listen for cruntching sounds. If it passes both tests your good to go. Unless your doing alot of wheelies and setting the front end down hard they last a long long time

Originally Posted by Angelsndevils

If it aint broke dont fix it. try holding on the front brake and roll the bike back and forth. If they are wore out you will feel a clunk, clunk as the bike moves forward and reverse. If it passes that test turn bars from lock to lock and listen for cruntching sounds. If it passes both tests your good to go. Unless your doing alot of wheelies and setting the front end down hard they last a long long time

Not always true, the rocking can give you a noise and clunking from brake pads moving. And if anybody would have bad bearings from wheelies it would be me but they are not. You have to get the front end up off the ground, supported so the forks and and clamps are free to move, then turn from side to side to see if the forks want to stop in one position, like a detent, bad race. Then also grab the lower forks and move them fore and aft, to check for play, if you have play there the bearings are bad or just loose. But at 55K you shouldn't need bearings yet.

Ball bearings are easier to set up correctly than tapered (Timken type). With the tapered ones the tension (torque) on the bearings is much more critical.

thaks guys for the input. SInce the steer head and front forks are already off the bike at this point being straightened by gp frame and wheel. I can do the test your talking about. I think the bearing are fine, but I felt the races and they feel all smooth. I expect to get the forks and triple trees back mid week and I still need to send the fork off to Dave Moss for an oil serivce I won at 3J's.. Maybe I don't need to order bearing at all then.

I just ordered the new bearing set for the ol' fz1.. Now I am going to need help taking out and replacing the races.. Any suggestions?

hammer and long screwdriver

drift and a hammer will work, the hard part will be pressing the bearing and races in.. Looking to make a pipe thingy I found online. Getting the bottom race is going to be the hardest off and on.. I know Mark (Blue Thunder) has experence with doing this recently. My buddy christain will help me too. I will get it done, once I get my triple tree and forks back.

Originally Posted by MellowYellow

hammer and long screwdriver

You hack, never abuse your screwdrivers like that. A drift and a heavy hammer