Steering Bearing Replacement

Claviger said:

Thought I'd leave some tool feedback...

Motion Pro Steering Bearing Tool - Awesome, works perfectly as advertised, made lower bearing removal and installation a breeze.

Park Bearing Race Remover - Awesome, tap tap tap done.

The Steering Race Press - Don't but it if you're going to be doing only the Rocket. The way the bike is built you'd have to remove the tank and radiator to get the turning handle to fit. Just get a collet and rod so you can gently hammer them in.

All told, 1 hour job, fully disassembled and reassembled. My bearings were not marked or scored in anyway but I can definitely feel the difference between old and new, no more knocking in the head when wiggling the forks with the front wheel in the air Old bearings still had plenty of clean grease in them, just dead, no explanation as to why.

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Claviger said:

Thought I'd leave some tool feedback...

Motion Pro Steering Bearing Tool - Awesome, works perfectly as advertised, made lower bearing removal and installation a breeze.

Park Bearing Race Remover - Awesome, tap tap tap done.

The Steering Race Press - Don't buy it if you're going to be doing only the Rocket. The way the bike is built you'd have to remove the tank and radiator to get the turning handle to fit. Just get a collet and rod so you can gently hammer them in.

All told, 1 hour job, fully disassembled and reassembled. My bearings were not marked or scored in anyway but I can definitely feel the difference between old and new, no more knocking in the head when wiggling the forks with the front wheel in the air Old bearings still had plenty of clean grease in them, just dead, no explanation as to why.

Click to expand...

Claviger said:

Was loose on delivery, adjusted at ~250 miles on odo.

Adjusted again every 2000 miles or so there after, as it kept working loose.

Final adjustment about two weeks ago at 8200 miles was used all the adjustment range in the system and a week later was loose again.

Bike has about 8600 on it now (living in Hawaii you don't put on many miles). This time I set it loose, lowered bike, preloaded then backed off the bottom until it was just snug, and put on lock nut. Lifted and checked for wiggle by shaking forks from bottom, no wiggle, should be good.

No shakes or wobbles at 155mph, so it's at least good for now

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Claviger said:

My Bearings should get here tomorrow, they desperately need to be replaced, with the adjuster nut fully tightened down there is still a small clunk when wobbling the forks with the front tire up in the air. She's also developed a wobble over 100 mph, a slow oscillating back and forth wobble.

See as I don't own a press I plan on buying these tools:


Park Tool USA Steering Race Remover | Dirt Bike | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC


Park Tool USA Steering Race Remover | Dirt Bike | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC


Motion Pro Steering Stem Bearing Tool | ATV | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC

And some of this to pack the new bearings with:


Bel-Ray Water Proof Grease | ATV | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC

Am I forgetting anything?!

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1K9 said:

Claviger; mine were just changed. Should I go to my tech for a recheck after 1 or 2K miles even if the feel good to me?

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Kevin frazier said:

What grease did you end up using ?

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Claviger said:

If you don't notice any abnormal behavior it's not really necessary if they were installed correctly, but never a bad idea now that the grease has shifted.

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