Front wheel bearings

Getting ready to replace the front wheel bearings. Does anybody have any tips or advice? Thanks in advance.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

It's pretty straight forward.

Pull the brake caliper off (you may or may not need to unhook the brake line; I've done it without). Remove the grease cap from the hub. Remove the big nut and washer from the spindle. Pull the rotor off. One of the bearings will usually fall out at this point.

The only way I've been able to get the grease seal out of the rotor is with a mandrel and driver. No luck just with a punch (so far). But you tap that out, then use a punch to drive the bearing race out. Tap one side, then the other. Be careful not to get the race cocked to one side or the other! Tap-tap-tap-tap and it'll eventually come out.

I don't recall exactly, but I think the inner bearing race (on the spindle) was similar--tap, tap, tap, tap. Clean everything up (20 year old grease is NASTY stuff, and not a very good grease either!).

Put in the new races (tap-tap-tap-tap), lube with grease, put in/on the new bearings, pack with grease. Put the hub back on, put on the big washer and nut, adjust bearing play. You should just be able to move the washer by gently prying with a screwdriver. You can also grab the brake rotor and wiggle it; there should be very little play.

Tighten the pinch bolt on the end of the big nut, re-install the grease cap, and then the brake caliper. All done!

--DD