Steering head bearings

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fasterdammit
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Steering head bearings

Post by fasterdammit »

I haven't dug into it yet, but I can tell I'm due for new steering head bearings. Just testing the waters before I start pulling things apart ... any gotchas I should keep in mind?
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paso750
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Re: Steering head bearings

Post by paso750 »

The only tricky part is removing the inner race of the bottom steering bearing from the steering stem.
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paso750
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Re: Steering head bearings

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ducinthebay
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Re: Steering head bearings

Post by ducinthebay »

Certainly get tapered roller bearings instead of ball bearings. Last longer, feel better. Of course, good grease is important too. Plenty of it. Pretty hard to over grease a low motion bearing like the headset. Set it up with just tad of preload.

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Re: Steering head bearings

Post by Mc tool »

Unless you have some pretty trick bearing removing tools that lower inner bearing race is probly best ground ( dremel ) nearly right thru in 2 spots and then split with a cold chisel :)
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Brutus
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Re: Steering head bearings

Post by Brutus »

Mc tool wrote:Unless you have some pretty trick bearing removing tools that lower inner bearing race is probly best ground ( dremel ) nearly right thru in 2 spots and then split with a cold chisel :)
Exactly the way I did it the last time. Without any damage on the stem and triple tee I'd managed to get it off. At a certain point it cracks and it will slide right off. Before I had used plenty of WD40 and let it sit for a day.
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Re: Steering head bearings

Post by riascns »

I normally cut an x pattern with a small angle grinder (a partly worn blade makes it easier as the diameter is smaller, but still be careful) and then knock out the triangular shaped bit with a cold chisel.

To get the lower bearing cup out of the headstock, I normally run a bead of weld around the cup surface after cleaning the grease off. When the weld cools it shrinks the cup and makes knocking it out very easy. A clean up with emery paper and a smear of copper grease makes getting it out the next time easier.
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