Ceramic Wheel Bearings

I know this question sounds ridiculous, but how on earth do you get the wheel bearings off? There's got to be an easy way to do this...

I just removed and installed a set of bearings in my home garage so here it goes for anyone just now reading this. This was my first bearing job and I did not have a clue what I was doing at first which is why it took me several weeks to finally get it done. Thanks YouTube, friends and forums and an extreme amount of patience with myself. I just had to do it myself which was important to me.

I bought a blow torch but I really hate using the stupid thing, it keeps going out when I tilt it from side to side and if it is cold forget it. What really works best is a heat gun!! It is consistent and has no open flame to hurt the paint and it doesn't go out. When you heat up the wheel hub it gets bigger around and expands away from the bearing ever so slightly.

No they won't just fall out- but you should be able to now move the spacer tube to use a puller or alignment punch. I also smeared a bit of grease around the inner hub. One time the wheel had cooled off and I just couldn't get the thing to budge so I heated the hub back up again (not the bearing itself) and it came right out with only a few more bumps with the slide-hammer puller.

When installing new bearings, heat the wheel hub with a heat gun moving it around. You'll know when it is hot enough and then have your new bearings in the freezer for at least a couple of hours first and with a little grease and the proper driver set they should slide right down evenly, just enough to seat into the lip flange. Make sure the spacer tube can still be moved and retainer clips should pop right in and out. I had lot's of people that worked at bike shops tell me not to attempt it myself, but I am so glad I didn't listen and waited to do it at home. Don't over torque.

2014 Orange/Black ZX14R (former busa owner)

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Vrrooom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: June/16/2008 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vrrooom Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Ceramic Wheel Bearings Posted: September/03/2008 at 11:09pm
	I know this question sounds ridiculous, but how on earth do you get the wheel bearings off? There's got to be an easy way to do this...

tommy2671 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: July/26/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 589	Post Options Post Reply Quote tommy2671 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: September/04/2008 at 7:36am
	Pull the seals out then heat the wheel with a propane torch..They fall out.

TimeRider Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: February/29/2016 Location: Austin, Texas Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote TimeRider Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November/25/2017 at 2:28am
	I just removed and installed a set of bearings in my home garage so here it goes for anyone just now reading this. This was my first bearing job and I did not have a clue what I was doing at first which is why it took me several weeks to finally get it done. Thanks YouTube, friends and forums and an extreme amount of patience with myself. I just had to do it myself which was important to me. I bought a blow torch but I really hate using the stupid thing, it keeps going out when I tilt it from side to side and if it is cold forget it. What really works best is a heat gun!! It is consistent and has no open flame to hurt the paint and it doesn't go out. When you heat up the wheel hub it gets bigger around and expands away from the bearing ever so slightly. No they won't just fall out- but you should be able to now move the spacer tube to use a puller or alignment punch. I also smeared a bit of grease around the inner hub. One time the wheel had cooled off and I just couldn't get the thing to budge so I heated the hub back up again (not the bearing itself) and it came right out with only a few more bumps with the slide-hammer puller. When installing new bearings, heat the wheel hub with a heat gun moving it around. You'll know when it is hot enough and then have your new bearings in the freezer for at least a couple of hours first and with a little grease and the proper driver set they should slide right down evenly, just enough to seat into the lip flange. Make sure the spacer tube can still be moved and retainer clips should pop right in and out. I had lot's of people that worked at bike shops tell me not to attempt it myself, but I am so glad I didn't listen and waited to do it at home. Don't over torque.
	2014 Orange/Black ZX14R (former busa owner)