wheel bearings
- Doctor T
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wheel bearings
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?
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?
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
- David.
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Re: wheel bearings
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.
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
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Re: wheel bearings
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.
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.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
- Stu
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Re: wheel bearings
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
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.
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Re: wheel bearings
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.
The guy reassembling the FD unit wouldn't use anything other than the genuine bearing.
- Stu
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Re: wheel bearings
I had a front wheel bearing fail on my fjr coming back from the lakes just outside of YorkDavid. wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 4:17 pm 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 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.
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Re: wheel bearings
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.
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Re: wheel bearings
Could always get one genuine bearing for that price, https://www.fixparts-online.co.uk/en/bm ... 48335.html
- Doctor T
- Posts: 1992
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Re: wheel bearings
That a good price for a genuine part. I've ordered a set of SKF with seals delivered for £14. 99 now.David. wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:08 pm Could always get one genuine bearing for that price, https://www.fixparts-online.co.uk/en/bm ... 48335.html
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
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Re: wheel bearings
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
- SKF
- Timken (nothing but Timken for my Vettes)
- Koyo (my local dealer uses only Koyo)
- FAG
- INA
1983 GS1000G | 1984 GSX1100EF | 1997 FLHR | 1998 FLSTS | 1999 R1100RT | 2016 Triumph 1200 XRT
- Doctor T
- Posts: 1992
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
- Location: west sussex
- Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
- Has liked: 1137 times
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Re: wheel bearings
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.
Theirs on the left, BMW on the right.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
- Doctor T
- Posts: 1992
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
- Location: west sussex
- Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
- Has liked: 1137 times
- Been liked: 305 times
Re: wheel bearings
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.
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.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
- Doctor T
- Posts: 1992
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:21 pm
- Location: west sussex
- Bike Model and Year: 2007 R1200RT SE
- Has liked: 1137 times
- Been liked: 305 times
Re: wheel bearings
I remember now It was a GSXR 1000. The bearing had no side caps, only dust seals.
Trust me I am a retired Doctor and lecturer at Oxford University of Structural and Mechanical/Electrical engineering.
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
"Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light". Groucho Marx
- Stu
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Re: wheel bearings
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