Replacing Steering Bearings

vidornomad · 05-13-2010, 01:51 PM

This weekend I will be attemping to replacing the two bearings on steering. Do any of you have any hints or something I should watchout for when doing this. I have a 2001 1500. I know they need replacing because there is a point in the middle that keeps catching.

cactusjack · 05-13-2010, 02:30 PM

I know that there may be a special tool needed for removing the bearing races. Other than that, I have nothing else to offer. You could probably use a brass drift to drive them out/in, though.

vidornomad · 05-13-2010, 02:42 PM

I read a little about the tool needed, I heard it is eaiser with it but it can be done without it, and in my next life I want to be rich so I dont have to do this. Thanks

redjay · 05-13-2010, 03:43 PM

I think the problem is there is not much to get a drift on to punch them out. I think I have heard some people use a Dremel to cut through the race ?

rez · 05-13-2010, 11:09 PM

Getting the old bearing cups out is definitely the most difficult part of the job...unless you have the recommended 'tool'. I just did mine maybe 2 1/2 months ago. I took a small drill bit and using it drilled a small 'notch' at the seating edge of the cup...where it seats in the head...which just allows a drift to get enough bite on the edge of the cup to drive them out. It worked really well. My lower bearing and cup were in very bad shape....rusted and pitted....I could feel it 'catching' in the straight ahead position. With the weight off of the front wheel/forks...the 'catching' was almost not noticeable. BIG improvement with new bearings. Good skill (luck).

**Top Cat** · 05-13-2010, 11:27 PM

I just did mine. Piece of cake. Gave the dealer my bike and $300 and presto, two days later I'm good to go.

vidornomad · 05-14-2010, 08:18 AM

When it is all said and done, I probably should have taken it to the dealer. But no fun in that. Thanks for all the ideas, my confidence in myself is now lower but a better understanding on what to expect.

dabull · 05-14-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

I just did mine. Piece of cake. Gave the dealer my bike and $300 and presto, two days later I'm good to go.

ditto....$240 at the dealer, no tools, no fuss, no mess....did pinch my left butt cheek a little though.....

macmac · 05-14-2010, 02:12 PM

Well once the races are out file 2 notches in the lands for next time. Get things cleaned in there and well deburred before installing new races. No lumpy little burrs on the gooseneck lands...

Then if you have access to dry ice, ice the races, wearing gloves and using pliers and the top race just might fall onto the land. A good hour in a freezer could help if there is no dry ice.

The goose neck should have a very thin coating of white lube grease which assists driving in new races. A steel punch is fine to drive out old races, a brass punch is better to drive in new.

Yeah it will be a pain in the butt... I don't have the dough to throw around for such things... never did, that's how I became a foreign car tech, and that carries over to everything else.

Chain saws to roofing, to plumbing to carpet laying.

If you have a dremel and if you can reach with it, and if not but walking out the old races gets hard, when you can reach with a dremel split the old race with a deep cut and a hard wack with a cold chisel. No need to be delicate with the old races.

If you have a lot of tool steel and a grinder you can make a puller. With a file you would cut it to be the extream OD and drill a hole for a good threaded rod to pass so the file becomes a toggle.

Another section of maybe 2 files drilled for the rod and a washer and nut finish off the puller. If you make this pad the paint on the goosneck.

The top 2 file pices are just to place on the gooseneck like washers to pull against, but washers are too frail.

blowndodge · 05-14-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

I just did mine. Piece of cake. Gave the dealer my bike and $300 and presto, two days later I'm good to go.

I'm letting you work on my Nomad TC !!!

**ringadingh** · 05-14-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vidornomad

This weekend I will be attemping to replacing the two bearings on steering. Do any of you have any hints or something I should watchout for when doing this. I have a 2001 1500. I know they need replacing because there is a point in the middle that keeps catching.

When you get the races, let me know the brand and p/n stamped on the race. Then I'll add the p/n on the tech board so it will be easily found by everyone for future reference.

vidornomad · 05-14-2010, 06:53 PM

Ringadingh,
Will do.

hammer · 05-14-2010, 07:32 PM

I think I am going to start throwing quarters in a coffe can labelled Steering Bearings.

rez · 05-14-2010, 07:58 PM

Something else I did while doing this job was drill and tap the neck and installed a grease fitting for future greasing. Just a thought.

redjay · 05-15-2010, 07:12 AM

The part number on the bearing is 32907 JR-2 and 32907 JR-3. I have set in the garage for my 05 waiting to be installed.

www.ronayers.com for online microfiche to check what year of bike this bearing will fit.

05-13-2010, 01:51 PM	#1
vidornomad Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vidor, Texas Posts: 346	Replacing Steering Bearings This weekend I will be attemping to replacing the two bearings on steering. Do any of you have any hints or something I should watchout for when doing this. I have a 2001 1500. I know they need replacing because there is a point in the middle that keeps catching. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-13-2010, 02:30 PM	#2
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Replacing Steering Bearings I know that there may be a special tool needed for removing the bearing races. Other than that, I have nothing else to offer. You could probably use a brass drift to drive them out/in, though. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

05-13-2010, 02:42 PM	#3
vidornomad Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vidor, Texas Posts: 346	Replacing Steering Bearings I read a little about the tool needed, I heard it is eaiser with it but it can be done without it, and in my next life I want to be rich so I dont have to do this. Thanks
	0

05-13-2010, 03:43 PM	#4
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,927	Replacing Steering Bearings I think the problem is there is not much to get a drift on to punch them out. I think I have heard some people use a Dremel to cut through the race ?
	0

05-13-2010, 11:09 PM	#5
rez Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Stoney Creek,ON Canada Posts: 77	Replacing Steering Bearings Getting the old bearing cups out is definitely the most difficult part of the job...unless you have the recommended 'tool'. I just did mine maybe 2 1/2 months ago. I took a small drill bit and using it drilled a small 'notch' at the seating edge of the cup...where it seats in the head...which just allows a drift to get enough bite on the edge of the cup to drive them out. It worked really well. My lower bearing and cup were in very bad shape....rusted and pitted....I could feel it 'catching' in the straight ahead position. With the weight off of the front wheel/forks...the 'catching' was almost not noticeable. BIG improvement with new bearings. Good skill (luck). Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-13-2010, 11:27 PM	#6
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Replacing Steering Bearings I just did mine. Piece of cake. Gave the dealer my bike and $300 and presto, two days later I'm good to go. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
	0

05-14-2010, 08:18 AM	#7
vidornomad Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vidor, Texas Posts: 346	Replacing Steering Bearings When it is all said and done, I probably should have taken it to the dealer. But no fun in that. Thanks for all the ideas, my confidence in myself is now lower but a better understanding on what to expect.
	0

05-14-2010, 02:12 PM	#9
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Replacing Steering Bearings Well once the races are out file 2 notches in the lands for next time. Get things cleaned in there and well deburred before installing new races. No lumpy little burrs on the gooseneck lands... Then if you have access to dry ice, ice the races, wearing gloves and using pliers and the top race just might fall onto the land. A good hour in a freezer could help if there is no dry ice. The goose neck should have a very thin coating of white lube grease which assists driving in new races. A steel punch is fine to drive out old races, a brass punch is better to drive in new. Yeah it will be a pain in the butt... I don't have the dough to throw around for such things... never did, that's how I became a foreign car tech, and that carries over to everything else. Chain saws to roofing, to plumbing to carpet laying. If you have a dremel and if you can reach with it, and if not but walking out the old races gets hard, when you can reach with a dremel split the old race with a deep cut and a hard wack with a cold chisel. No need to be delicate with the old races. If you have a lot of tool steel and a grinder you can make a puller. With a file you would cut it to be the extream OD and drill a hole for a good threaded rod to pass so the file becomes a toggle. Another section of maybe 2 files drilled for the rod and a washer and nut finish off the puller. If you make this pad the paint on the goosneck. The top 2 file pices are just to place on the gooseneck like washers to pull against, but washers are too frail. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

05-14-2010, 06:53 PM	#12
vidornomad Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vidor, Texas Posts: 346	Replacing Steering Bearings Ringadingh, Will do.
	0

05-14-2010, 07:32 PM	#13
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Replacing Steering Bearings I think I am going to start throwing quarters in a coffe can labelled Steering Bearings. __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad
	0

05-14-2010, 07:58 PM	#14
rez Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Stoney Creek,ON Canada Posts: 77	Replacing Steering Bearings Something else I did while doing this job was drill and tap the neck and installed a grease fitting for future greasing. Just a thought.
	0

05-15-2010, 07:12 AM	#15
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,927	Replacing Steering Bearings The part number on the bearing is 32907 JR-2 and 32907 JR-3. I have set in the garage for my 05 waiting to be installed. www.ronayers.com for online microfiche to check what year of bike this bearing will fit.
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Steering Bearings	gazoovn800	1500 & 1600 Nomad	6	07-20-2011 05:29 PM
Replacing steering head bearings	sonny	1500 & 1600 Nomad	3	04-27-2011 04:48 AM
Steering Neck Bearings	ringadingh	Part Number Lookup	0	04-16-2010 10:39 PM
steering bearings	rhunt4	1500 & 1600 Nomad	7	10-27-2009 06:54 PM
Steering Bearings	jba900	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	2	08-11-2007 12:22 AM