Front Wheel Bearings

[aspengold]

Since I have the front wheel off I might as well replace the bearings. Are there any aftermarket bearings available? or should I pay top dollar to mother Honda for genuine OEM bearings. Gl1200 aspy

Bob

[Tropicalsuns]

Since I have the front wheel off I might as well replace the bearings. Are there any aftermarket bearings available? or should I pay top dollar to mother Honda for genuine OEM bearings. Gl1200 aspy

Bob

There are aftermarket but I bought mother honda... I can say those bearings were a BEAR to get out. I saw a thread that someone used a cement anchor to remove them and it sure made sense to me.

[roscoepc]

The best I remember the OEM bearings weren't too awfully expensive,, about $20.00 apiece I think..

[Ed Z]

Ya can get em off eBay pretty cheap...
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And they are sealed bearings to boot... The OEM ones are not sealed...

Just take the new bearing with you to a hardware store that has concrete anchor bolts... Get the kind that expalnd as the bolt screws in... Use the bearing to match up the size needed... Just tighten the anchor into the old wheel bearing and drive it out from the other side of the wheel... Be sure to place the anchor such that it is only in far enough to reach the old wheel bearing... You don't want to tighten it up against the bearing spacer tube in the wheel... Even though it's not likley to happen, you sure don't want to risk expanding the OD on the spacer tube...

[85GL1200I]

I got sealed aftermarket bearings at a local bike shop. They were about $20 for the set, and for another $20 they installed them in the wheel for me. All I had to do was re-mount the wheel when I got home. The best part was that annoying squeel in my front end is now gone :mrgreen:

[roscoepc]

Sorry Ed, but the OEM bearings I got from Honda WERE a sealed bearing..

[Guest]

Sorry Ed, but the OEM bearings I got from Honda WERE a sealed bearing..

Actually in the case of Honda ball bearings OEM is a misnomer as they do not make them, they buy them from the same place your local jobber does.
There maybe slight differences in quality between manufacturers but I've never noticed the difference. If someone has could they please edify us.

Seals on the another hand are a different story. hock:

Ken

[Ed Z]

I possibly am confussed with the rear wheel bearings (been awhile since replacing the front ones)... The ones I got from the Honda dealer (rear bearings) had a seal only on one side... As far as using other brand bearings, there should be no difference as long as the ball size and count are the same (load bearing surface area)... I go with a good quality name bearing as they tend to use a bit higher quality material (metal) and usually have higher quality control practices (especially in the heat treating department)...

[Guest]

If there was nothing wrong with the bearings in the wheel why replace them?? :-\ Poorboy

[SIR tricky]

Exactly my opinion.

Keep your bike covered when not in use and dont use a power washer.

If I changed my bearings every time I had a wheel off I would be buying them by the dozen.

[Guest]

Yep, if it ain't fixed don't broke it or is it the other way around. :oops:

Ken

[roscoepc]

I can think of one good reason: Preventitive Maintenance! Those bearings, and the grease in them, are 25 years old and while age won't hurt the bearings the grease will have a tendancy to work it's way out of the bearings and eventualy causing failure.

Mine developed an intermitant squeak/squeal about 2 years ago. It took me awhile but I finaly localised the noise to the front end. After checking the brakes, I said the heck with it and changed the front bearings and have had no noise since! The old bearings appeared to be tight and in good condition but a touch dry as for as having grease. Also, my bike has fairly low mileage and the problem occured at about 26,000 miles.

So, yeah.. I'd change them out! That's one less thing you've got to worry about for the next 25 years!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[Guest]

Ditto Ros.
I'm not advocating replacing the bearings everytime the wheel comes off, but maintenance is by definition "preventitive".
I don't wait for the engine to start making noise before I change the oil. I change my tires out every five years regardless of the tread depth.
Why would I need to change the timing belts if the engine still runs?
I change out the wheel bearings on every bike I get. Most of them are old enough to do by "time". Now I know when the bearings were changed and I don't have to worry about it for quite some time. I'd rather change a wheel bearing than replace a worn out hub/wheel assy.
I replaced the wheel bearings on my Aspy at 90k....4 years ago. I replaced the wheel brgs on the gl1000 7 years ago at 27k. By mileage and time, I won't have to worry about either for some time to come.
If I sell them, the new owner will know as well. How many of us know when our bearings were last replaced when we bought our 20 plus year old bike?

[aspengold]

The LH one feels just fine, tight and smooth, the RH one does feel a bit rough when turning it. I don't want to risk of the race spinning in the hub should that bearing sieze up.

Bob