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When Do Wheel Bearings Need Replacing?


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#1 Johnners

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Posted 23 April 2019 - 09:45 am

Hi all,

Daft question, when are wheel bearings knackered? I've read threads about replacing them but not found any info about when they're on their way out. The reason I ask is that I'm getting a very noticeable droning noise from the front which can only be the bearings, but my local garage think they're fine. Any pointers?

Many thanks

#2 Matlock

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Posted 23 April 2019 - 10:39 am

it's pretty obvious when they go. Get the front of the bike off the ground, grab the front wheel and try and move it vertically and side to side while holding a fork leg. If you feel any play, or hear any knocking something's failed. Make sure the movement/noise isn't the headrace bearings though.Just spinning the wheel with the brake calipers removed and tied up out of the way, you'll probably hear a rough grating/grinding noise if they've failed. My 2002 900 is at 99k miles now and still on the same front bearings, so they last pretty well  :good:  


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#3 Johnners

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Posted 23 April 2019 - 10:51 am

Thanks Matlock, there's no discernible play in the bearings, just a lot of noise pitch related to road speed - worst at 60 mph.

#4 drewpy

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Posted 23 April 2019 - 12:16 pm

sometimes they rumble, the only way to really know is to clean them and spin. if they make a shooshing noise or notchy, they are usually gone.

 

for what they cost, it would be easier to replace anyway if your going to all that trouble


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#5 Johnners

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Posted 23 April 2019 - 01:11 pm

👍

#6 TDM4ever

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Posted 23 April 2019 - 01:17 pm

If in doubt, replace them.

 

You don't want them to fail at speed!



#7 TKH

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Posted 23 April 2019 - 05:59 pm

what sort of noise is it? You've not adjusted your chain lately have you? 50-60mm is the play. If it's overtightened you get a whining noise.



#8 Johnners

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Posted 24 April 2019 - 07:58 am

It's a whining or droning noise from the front of the bike that developed over the last couple hundred miles - it's not the chain. I'll replace the bearings anyway

Thanks 😊

#9 fixitsan

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Posted 24 April 2019 - 08:43 pm

It's a whining or droning noise from the front of the bike that developed over the last couple hundred miles - it's not the chain. I'll replace the bearings anyway

Thanks

 

 

When a bearing gets noisey it's usually a cry for help


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#10 Matlock

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Posted 25 April 2019 - 05:45 pm

 My 2002 900 is at 99k miles now and still on the same front bearings, so they last pretty well  :good:  

 

Me & my big mouth. I washed the bike today, in preparation for MoT on Saturday and guess what? Yes, my front wheel bearings are getting noisy  :rolleyes:

I got a hearing aid fitted for the first time on Tuesday, so that's what probably made it so obvious this time :oldgit: . I last checked them about a month ago and didn't hear a peep out of the little blighters!


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#11 Bjørge

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Posted 26 April 2019 - 05:55 am

To my experience, they're easy to check when wheels come off. You'll feel the action far better than you'll ever notice with (heavy) wheel spinning.


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#12 dandywarhol

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Posted 27 April 2019 - 10:44 am

You haven't recently changed the front tyre? Road noise can change with tread pattern and be amplified by the fairing


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#13 Johnners

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Posted 29 April 2019 - 08:24 am

Haven't recently changed the front tyre. I did take the wheel out to check the bearings - they seem to be fine.

#14 ParallelTwinz

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Posted 12 May 2019 - 04:19 pm

I am having a similar issue on my 93 TDM-starts about 45MPH, whining/roaring sound, less apparent on coasting than under load.  Gets really loud over 60MPH.  I put on a new rear sprocket and chain, set tension correctly and the noise persists and did not change.  It does seem to be coming from under the fairing, but hard to tell at speed.  Output shaft bearing seemed fine (checked with chain off for play), so I am wondering if I have a trans bearing on the primary gear side going out, but at only 18K miles, that seems unlikely.

 

One other hint-the clutch cable was backed all the way out when I got the bike at 9K miles, but the clutch works perfectly and shifts fine, other than the usual 3rd clunk that all early TDM's have (I've had three).  I replaced the rear wheel bearings already-some fool over-tightened the axle.  Front wheel bearings are worth checking, but the fact that the noise is not constant, both under load and coasting, tells me that a front wheel bearing is unlikely.  This sounds like drive line noise to me. 

 

I believe in looking at the simple stuff first, so going into the gearbox is far down that list.  Has anyone actually replaced a primary gear bearing?  It seems odd that it would be gone at 18K miles, but this noise is scary, and the last thing I need is for the gear box to lock up and throw me over the bars, or worse.  Thoughts?



#15 dablik

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Posted 12 May 2019 - 04:29 pm

Studley did it on a mk2, have a look under blogs at studleysbloggerydoodah or some such..


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#16 Studley Ramrod

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Posted 13 May 2019 - 09:01 am

Worth checking the drivechain isn't rubbing on the chainguard/rear hugger.  I fitted my chainguard incorrectly once, wrong side of the bracket, and the chain rubbed against it.

Also check the rear wheel alignment is correct.

Any reason why you didn't replace the front sprocket ?  I assume it's in great condition, no hooked teeth etc.

Worth re-checking the drivechain slack is correct, or even slackening off a bit to see if it reduces the noise, an overtightened one certainly makes the same noise you describe.


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