Front wheel bearings are bad

[seacliff]

Only 22,000 miles and they say they are bad. I guessed they were with the wobble I get even after putting new tire on. What makes them go bad and do you think this is covered under the extended warranty.

[cactusjack]

They are sealed bearings, so they are not serviceable. I'd think 22k is a little short-lived for them. I don't know if the extended warranty covers them or not, they are probably considered a wear item.

[schoeney]

What year is your Nomad? Did it wobble before the new tire?

[seacliff]

It is a 2008 and yes it was the bearings and they are covered under the extended warranty. Of course, the bike wont be ready till next week but doesnt matter as the weather here in Georgia is calling for rain this weekend.

[ringadingh]

It does seem like a short lifespan for them, but if the warranty covers them it doesn't matter. Hopefully they will cure your wobbl, but for some reason I wouldn't count on it unless they were really bad.

[seacliff]

he said they were knotched, what ever that means.

[ringadingh]

Usually its the steering neck bearings that can get "notched" thats because they only turn partway, and don't rotate continuously like most bearings. Perhaps he has the bearings mixed up in his mind when he explained it to you.

[redjay]

36,000 miles on my 05 and no wheel bearing problems. 22,000 miles seems really low for wheel bearing proiblems.

[fubarjohnnyr]

I had to replace the front wheel bearings on one of my bikes at around 23K. They went to popping and banging pretty bad during high speed, picked some replacements up on ebay relatively cheap.

[fish]

you need to post the results after you try it out, thanks

[chuckster131]

Seems abit premature for them to go that early, was it just one of them or both sides?

I replaced some on a 03 last fall for a buddy of mine, he dropped it off and said there was a wobble in the front and thought it was the neck bearings. But it was the right side wheel bearing had let go, so replaced them both. His bike has 68,000 at that time.

I have 67,000 on mine and ordered front and rear bearings and also the seals, will be replacing them this weekend. Don't want to take a chance and have mine fail on one of my planned trips coming up soon.

[Cajunrider]

Cliff, is your bike a left over '07 that you purchased in '08 like I did? The red/pewter went away in '07 and was replaced by the red/black. My '07 is identical to yours.

[glwilson]

Don't know if this applies to Kawasaki; but HD and Arctic Cat had a "known" bearing problem from a few years ago.

Seems they went-out prematurely. All suspect bearings were manufacturered in China.

The bearings for Arctic Cat were the main-bearings and simply blew-apart.

The "word on the street" about HD's problem was that these bearings were suceptable to water-intrusion -- which wouldn't seem to make any sense since they are sealed bearings, but that is what the warnings are saying. It is recommended if you own one of the affected bearings and haven't already had a failure then you are to avoid power-washing the wheels.

Personally, that is a bunch of cr@p. Washing anything with sealed bearings shouldn't present a huge problem unless you are directly shooting the water into the bearings, and even then, they should resist water seepage.

It seems more logical the bearings are simply not made to the standards of Timken bearings.

Apparently if you own an HD with the "problem-bearings", you just have to complain a small amount and HD will replace them. Big of them... I know. ;)

[seacliff]

I asked the cause and the service writer is a good guy, he said it could be a host if issues from not being greased properly from factory to a lot of consistent up right traveling or excessive leaning. He said it was pretty uncommon at my mileage. He said he has heard not to use a high pressure hose nozzle to wash front wheel hubs. I may never know, but I do know he isnt trying to take my money, maabe mother Kaws.

[oldbikers]

Just because I am old and dumb how do you grease a sealed bearing?