wheel bearings

[Doctor T]

Just had a call from BMW to tell me that my front wheel bearings feel gritty. I know this as it was noted on the last service before i bought the bike.
As i prefer to service my own bike, i will change them the only question are SKF and NTN still a good bearing? I've also found a lot of Koyo bearing for sale. Haven't heard of these but from research, they seem to be fitted to a lot of Jap bikes.
All are under £15 a pair with new seals included. What are your thoughts?

[David.]

Don't think you'll go wrong with either SKF or NTN.
Koyo bearings are another well known brand. Most recently purchased one for the FD unit on my Yamaha XJ650.

TFL Bearing Company has compiled the rankings of 9 major bearing brands for you, https://tflbearing.com/blog/the-9-best- ... world.html
"Resist fakes, we only cooperate with leading original manufacturers in the bearing field."

These BMW OEM bearings are made in Taiwan.

[Doctor T]

That's interesting that they are made in Taiwan when there are other manufacturers on their doorstep. Must be a cost thing.
I've used FAG and SKF bearings over the years for different applications. So thanks to the link i will stick to one of them.

[Stu]

Skf use a lot of bearings for engine applications ie cam belt tensioners etc

And to me if they are good enough for that then they will be more then good enough in the wheels

I have always been dubious of koyo but I haven't heard of any complaints

[David.]

I tried two local bearing suppliers for the FD unit bearing. The feedback they both gave me was that the bearing is only available through Yamaha, therefore must be OEM made in Japan. I did find this one at less than 1/3rd of the price, https://www.sp-spareparts.com/en/p/nq37-20d-koyo
The guy reassembling the FD unit wouldn't use anything other than the genuine bearing.

[Stu]

I tried two local bearing suppliers for the FD unit bearing. The feedback they both gave me was that the bearing is only available through Yamaha, therefore must be OEM made in Japan. I did find this one at less than 1/3rd of the price, https://www.sp-spareparts.com/en/p/nq37-20d-koyo
The guy reassembling the FD unit wouldn't use anything other than the genuine bearing.

I had a front wheel bearing fail on my fjr coming back from the lakes just outside of York

I found a yamaha dealer who changed it there and then at the cost of 90 quid which is sickening when you can do it yourself

Anyway it turned out to be a oem bearing and they had lots of failures even on replacements!

I'm not sure who manufactured them though and I suspect it was a manufacturing fault.

As a result of the failures they was fitting skf bearings instead

[David.]

The OEM Yamaha bearing is currently listed on Fowlers of Bristol website at £85. (I did get 10% VJMC discount). Ridiculous but as I'm paying someone to do the work, didn't really have a choice. The guy is an independent who used to work for a main Yamaha dealership.

[David.]

All are under £15 a pair with new seals included.

Could always get one genuine bearing for that price, https://www.fixparts-online.co.uk/en/bm ... 48335.html

[Doctor T]

Could always get one genuine bearing for that price, https://www.fixparts-online.co.uk/en/bm ... 48335.html

That a good price for a genuine part. I've ordered a set of SKF with seals delivered for £14. 99 now.

[Ed Harley]

Typically cannot go wrong with any of these
- SKF
- Timken (nothing but Timken for my Vettes)
- Koyo (my local dealer uses only Koyo)
- FAG
- INA

[Doctor T]

Fitted the bearings today. Used the Rawplug and heat gun method. A 10 minute job but and there is always a but. The seals they sent are the wrong ones. Typical Saturday nowhere open to get the correct one. Have to wait till they send the correct seals.
Theirs on the left, BMW on the right.

thumbnail_IMG_20230128_144339.jpg (134.34 KiB) Viewed 915 times

[Doctor T]

Received the correct seal today. Fitted and wheel back on. After i finished i thought i would take the covers off the old bearing. One looked rusty with only a tiny amount of grease and you feel notchy. The other was clean and ran smoothly. This one had plenty of white grease in it. Overall this looked like a newer bearing. In the service history, there is no mention of a new one being fitted.
Then my mind went into overdrive. Am sure bearings come pre-packed with grease these days but at the back of my mind am sure ive greased wheel bearing before fitting. This was a long time ago, i think it was an 80s bike.

[Stu]

Bearings are pre greased and many people question whether there is enough from the factory

[Doctor T]

I remember now It was a GSXR 1000. The bearing had no side caps, only dust seals.

[Stu]

I remember now It was a GSXR 1000. The bearing had no side caps, only dust seals.

Yes some have rubber seals and some have metal side caps some also have one open end and both ends open obviously depending on the application