How To Replace Dirt Bike Wheel Bearings

Bikers often neglect their bike’s wheel bearings, until they become damaged. But lesser they know that how much maintaining your dirt bike is important for smooth performance and safety, especially when it comes to wheel bearings, which prevent friction between the wheels.

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Bearings are one of the most important moving parts on your bike, and they are most likely to be in contact with rough terrains, water, and debris, that can cause them to fail. Over time, they wear down, which affects your bike’s handling, speed, and safety.

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In this guide, we'll teach you how to check, grease, remove, and replace your dirt bike wheel bearings with clear and easy steps. So, don’t worry if you're a seasoned rider or just a person that needs to know how to maintain dirt bike wheel bearings at home, we’ve got you covered!

Wheel Bearing Maintenance

Like its name implies, your Dirt bike is usually exposed to extreme conditions, dirt, water, mud, and dust. Maintaining them properly is the key to their durability. If you want your weel bearing’s life, then It is must to regularly grease and inspect your bearings to prevent premature wear and tear.

Now, why do wheel bearings fail? Bearings can fail over time due to friction, heat, or corrosion from water exposure. So, if you want to get the best performance out of your wheel bearings, pack them with good-quality waterproof grease to limit damage from external elements.

1. Inspect Regularly

2. Clean the Hub and Bearings

3. Keep Them Lubricated

How To Check Dirt Bike Wheel Bearings

Before jumping on to the replacing and installing, let us help you with some easy ways about how to check Dirt Bike wheel bearings:

1. Steering Head Bearings

Firstly, to check if your steering head bearings are out of order, lift the front of your bike off the ground. Rotate the handlebars slowly, and if your bearings are damaged, you will feel notches, roughness, and resistance. Also, try pulling the front wheel off the bike to see if it moves. If you inspect any noticeable play in the wheel, that could indicate worn steering head bearings.

2. Wheel Bearings (Front and Rear)

Front and rear wheel bearings allow your wheels to spin freely. You’ll feel a ?lateral movement or a rough, grinding feel when spinning the wheels, if wheel bearings start to fail. So, if your instinct indicates your wheel bearing failures, lift your bike off the ground, move the wheel side to side, if you detect any suspicious movement or hear rumbling when spinning the wheel, it's time for new bearings.

3. Linkage, Swingarm, and Shock Bearings

Have you ever checked the rear suspension system of your bike? Including the swingarm and shock, that uses needle roller bearings to provide smooth movement. To check your wheel bearings, lift the rear of the bike off the ground and check for free play or clunking noises in the swingarm. If you notice some abnormal movement or the suspension feels off, it’s a sign your bearings need maintenance.

How To Grease Dirt Bike Wheel Bearings

After checking your Dirt bike wheel bearings, if they are worn out and need some maintenance, then your dirt bike needs greasing.

Follow these steps to grease your bearings:

Step 1: Access the bearing balls

1. Remove the wheel spacer by pulling it out.

2. Once you take the spacer out, you can see the little lip at the edge acting as a retainer.

3. Now, with a large screwdriver, you need to pop that seal out. (Make sure to take it out completely.)

4. If you pry on the soft lip, you may damage the lip and/or kink the spring behind it; therefore, you should only pry on the outer edge of the seal.

5. For the next part, you'll need a flathead screwdriver. Carefully take out the rubber metal piece by gently poking the tip in the middle and pulling it out.

6. Start by gently poking the tip in the middle and wiggle it out.

7. Now you see! This is the actual bearing with a rubber seal in place.

Step 2: Clean the bearing

1. Hold the wheel with the bearing facing down and above a catch pan.

2. Spray generously with brake cleaner inside the bearings to dissolve grease and grime.

3. Wipe it down and then use the drill and the round handle of a tool to spin the bearing at high speed. This will help expel the grease quickly.

4. Repeat a few times until fairly clean and let dry for a few minutes after a final wipe.

Step 3: Grease with love

1. The bearing is now ready to be greased thoroughly!

2. At this point, you should be able to spin the bearing with your fingers.

3. Use a small flat-tip screwdriver or your grease gun to apply grease generously.

4. Once it looks "packed," spinning the bearing with the drill will spread it everywhere.

Step 4: Reassemble and ride!

1. The bearing is now ready to be closed.

2. When you press the rubber seal with your hand, you will feel it clipping onto the outer race.

3. Give the bearing a spin to make sure all is in place as it should be. The same goes for the dust seal. With your hand, put it in.

4. Tap the outer edge with a mallet if necessary, or use a large socket matching its diameter.

5. Put the wheel spacer back in, and the wheel is ready to mount on the bike!

Removal and Installation of Wheel Bearings

Removing and installing wheel bearings might seem complicated at first, but if you have the right tools and technique, you'll do it easily.

Listed below are some step-by-step instructions for replacing your wheel bearings:

1. Take Your Wheel Off: Start by placing the bike on a stand and remove the wheels. Use a socket set to remove the axle nuts and the pinch bolts on the front fork or swingarm. Pro tip:?Make sure to mark numbers so that you don’t mix up your wheel spacers if they are of different sizes.

2. Remove Seals: Use a screwdriver to remove the rubber seals. bearing removal tool if available. If you don’t have one, you can use a socket that fits the size of the bearing and gently tap it out with a rubber.

3. Remove the circlip:?Remove the circlip, and then use a “drift punch” or an iron bar, to move the central spacer and gently tap out the wheel bearings from different directions.

4. Clean the Hub: After removing the bearing successfully, clean the hub thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris.

5. Install New Bearings: Consider this pro tip as well ! Place the new bearings in the freezer for about 20 minutes before installation. It helps them fit into the hub more easily because they shrink slightly during this process. Gently tap the bearings into place using a socket that matches the size of the bearing.

6. Replace Seals: After you set the bearings in place, replace seals or snap rings that were removed.

7. Reinstall the Wheel: Last but not the least, tighten the axle and pinch bolts to the manufacturer's specifications before reinstalling the wheel.

When to Replace Wheel Bearings on a Dirt Bike?

If you wonder, when is the right time to replace wheel bearings on a dirt bike then you’re at the right place! You can prevent unnecessary damage to your dirt bike by knowing when to replace your wheel bearings.

Look out for these signs:

1. Excessive Noise: If the wheels make strange noises when they turn, it is likely that the bearings are wearing out and are grinding or clicking.

2. Loose Wheels: If you notice that your wheels are wobbling or having too much side-to-side play, it may be time to replace the bearings on those wheels.

3. Visible Damage: BYWB?recommends that you replace your bearings immediately if you find corrosion or pitting on your bearings.

How Long Do Dirt Bike Bearings Last?

A dirt bike's bearings last between 12 and 24 months?depending on riding conditions. Under regular use, bearings can last more than that. However, frequent exposure to mud, snow, and other elements can shorten the life expectancy of bearings. Water and dirt can reduce the lifespan of appliances. Therefore, regular inspections and timely maintenance are important to ensuring that machines last as long as possible.

Which Wheel Bearings Are Right for Your Bike?

If you like to ride dirt bikes, you must know how important it is to choose the perfect wheel bearings to smooth performance and durability.

Different bike models require different bearing sizes and designs, and there are aftermarket brands that offer bearings with enhanced features based on the riding conditions.

But you definitely need to stand out of some of the leading brands for dirt bike wheel bearings, that include:

● Precision Motor Bearings: Precision Moto bearings are known for their durability and high quality construction.

● All Balls Bearings: These rubber-sealed bearings are perfect for off-road use since they are waterproof and dirt-resistant.

● RHK Bearings: RHK bearings provide smooth movement and low drag, making them ideal for high-speed applications.

BYWB Dirt Bike Bearing Size Chart

Here is the visual representation of Dirt Bike Bearing size:

Conclusion

Ready to replace your dirt bike’s wheel bearings? Don’t wait until they wear out completely. As you have reached till the end of the article, we assume that you have completely understood the importance of regular inspection and maintenance of your dirt bike’s bearings. However, You can avoid expensive repairs down the road by taking care of your bearings.

So, why wait for your bearings to fail? Start inspecting and maintaining your bike’s bearings today! Keeping them in top shape will ensure you can ride confidently, no matter the terrain.

Once you start maintaining your dirt bike, you’ll definitely feel the need of top-notch grease! Spend your money wisely, start investing in high-quality, waterproof grease and the right bearing kits for your bike, and make it a routine to keep your dirt bike running smoothly. So, if you are doing it all alone, or need expert help? Contact BYWB, and get your top-rated, reliable, and smooth Dirt Bike Wheel Bearings?with the expert guide now!