Steering head bearings: how to replace and adjust without special tools

Need to replace, adjust or repack the the grease in your steering head bearings? Watch Pete from Garage Night TV fix the steering head bearings on his bike. It's not that difficult but we have some great tricks at tips! More videos at our KZbin channel or the official Garage Night TV website.

[@PikeyScott]

7 years later and this video is still helping people. Earned my sub. Thank you. Looking forward to going thru your video catalog.

[@GarageNight]

Glad it helped!

[@MuffinKingStudios]

Hell of a video here. Everyone should watch this.

[@jimmcconville624]

i want to thank you for the idea of cutting the old bearing out with snips and using the old bearing inner race as a bearing driver. i ended up using these same techniques on my bike last night and it worked perfectly.

[@14meatloaf]

great video guys, after watching those ideas I was able to replace the steering head bearings on my YZ125 with no specialized tools!

[@matttriestodothings]

Thank you for the tip about cutting the old bearing with an angle grinder to use to push the new bearing on. Just used that method and it went smooth. Great vid.

[@GarageNight]

Glad it helped!!

[@spigot993]

Great tips and banter there guys, I also love how there's beer bottles and cans strewn about the workshop.

[@aviewfromthesaddle4160]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to put this together. Found it nice and easy to follow. This is a job I've done several times before, but watched your video for a refresher before tackling it again this weekend on my own bike. I picked up some good tips - I much prefer your demonstrated method for swapping the bearing on the stem. And a rod of solid is definitely a better driver than a big screwdriver - I shall be picking one up in the morning!

[@regcook7084]

Excellent practical advice! I followed all of this and it worked a treat on my GSXR. My only problem was that my beer was too good to use to quench the hot bearing race, so I had to use water.

[@GarageNight]

We never find water as quenching as beer ...

[@johnborron1059]

That's friggin' genius, all that vice improvisation. Great video.

[@bunberrier]

Used your rear wheel bearing replacement video as a primer before doing my own last week. Big help, and that jobs now done. Next, steering bearings. Again, thanks.

[@christcrucified6385]

Man dude, thanks a million! You should change your heading to "changing steering bearings with no special tools" because that is what I and many others search for and yours is the only video that actually shows that. It took me forever to find your video. I have been riding with a bad bearing for over a year because I did not want to spend hundreds of dollars buying special tools. Almost everyone has a grinder or dremel tool and a vice or something similar they can use.

[@anotherdayinparadise005]

Awesome stuff.. helped me out a lot on my GSXR600 frontend swap on my 2nd Gen SV650. I pretty much went through every step of this video without using any special tools 😁. Thanks!

[@GarageNight]

Glad it helped! Great to hear we made a difference for you.

[@c4hydro284]

Love the ingenuity. No special tools no press. Works perfectly. Now time to install new ones on my fatcat

[@GarageNight]

Sweet

[@yatishvasa3560]

I’ll be replacing the stem bearings on my interceptor 650 tomorrow. This video is so fun to watch and informative at the same time. Cheers.

[@GarageNight]

Great, how did it go?

[@acecardhi]

Very useful video guys glad I didn't chuck out the old bearings yet. The old xr250 will be very thankful when I put her back together!

[@gmatos123]

Nice tutorial. It sure made it easy for me to see how it's done without specialty tools

[@Tarantulakid89]

Best video I can find for changing my head bearing. Thank you now I won't have to take it to the garage and pay someone.

[@GarageNight]

Thanks for watching!

[@StirlingMArcher]

Thanks for the video guys. Used these techniques to replace the bearings on my KTM 300 today (first time for me). I used a pipe to press the bearing on the yolk. Had trouble tapping the bottom race into the bike, and ended up putting the bike on it's side to get better purchase. Had all sorts of trouble trying to tap it in as the KTM is seated deeper on the race, and needed to use the old race and a piece of flat metal holding it in place while i hammered it in. Fingers were just getting in the way trying to hold the old race. Cheers Mick

[@DEeMONsworld]

such a polite greasing technique :) I usually slap the bearing with both hands full of grease, like making a mud pie.

[@321scooper]

Doing this job right now. This vid has been really helpful (especially for dealing with those pesky lower bearings).

[@iriepeaches]

Nice job! You can also try putting the races in the freezer for an hour, so. Should be easier to install after.

[@brians1116]

Great video complete with important details and real world workarounds for avoiding the (potentially) expensive installation tools! Subscribed!

[@jimmcwhirter3798]

Awesome tip converting the old bearing into an installation tool! I was struggling to find a pipe with appropriate OD and ID and then came across your video, and when I saw you do that I stopped, ran out to the shop, cut up the old bearing - boom! Problem solved. And I'll save it for next time. Thanks :-)

[@GarageNight]

Great stuff! Glad we could help

[@Breezy-Leaves]

Thanks Guys! Some handy tips there, especially the lover bearing remove and install were a great help. The Mushman have done it again.

[@centuryfreud]

Awesome! I was able to swap out both races and bearings on my DRZ400SM really quickly due to this video! THANKS!!!

[@PBhawaiiTLR200]

Very practical. Saved $$$ doing it the "Garage Night" way. Thx much!!!

[@dannymullane9252]

Thanks for a great video. Finally you explained it so good. Stay safe

[@EscapePowerSports]

so helpful, I thought I was squared away with just service manual and a clymer's book, but this video was perfect for seeing it happen in a real garage without the 7 special tools listed in the book haha, all info, no b.s. thanks for the vid, going out there to try it now, Cheers guys

[@GarageNight]

You're welcome!

[@twalters4]

Thank you for sharing the knowledge in this video. Using the same method, I was able to replace the bearings on my 1984 Honda Shadow using simple shop tools.

[@David-vk9oy]

Great methods in here guys, I just used this video to help remove and install the bottom bearing on my YZ250 triple tree. Thanks!

[@MaxwellBenson80]

Thanks for sharing this! I'm doing a bearing change on my yz250 and don't want to break the bank on special tools.

[@Dozeyish]

that idea of putting the old bearing cup up too the new one and turn it upside down in a vice then knocking the bottom of the triple tree was a cracker . Thanks for that

[@GarageNight]

thanks, that’s one of mine! waz

[@wclintf]

used a number of the techniques in here, had to get a slide hammer and collet for the lower race though. either way, great walk through on the procedure.

[@mjfirthau]

Thanks guys, great video, complete with blood and beer, liked the comment about the palm getting a workout.

[@arebrec]

Educational, informative and funny too. Nice one fellas.

[@MrStevecro]

thanks fellas. I just bought an older Speed Triple (not an abused one) that feels a little weird from straight ahead. I'd better lift the front and check the play before resorting to this ... but your video has bolstered my confidence to tackle it - have OK tools and vice.

[@dtr125]

These are useful tips, i'm about to swap my notchy ball-bearing yoke bearings for tapered roller bearings, and i don't have the proper tools for the job so these methods will come in handy.

[@GarageNight]

Good luck!

[@ponytrishpip]

Thanks guys. Had actually done the job a few weeks earlier was good to see I got it right

[@RideOrangeKTM]

That was fun to watch!

[@melmwood9065]

Basically identical to my '77 XS650 I'm about to tackle. This will help a ton.

[@GarageNight]

Hope it went well!

[@jollg.3205]

Thanks very much for the video and tips on it. I did the bearings in my vfr and without this vid i would have paid to have it done.

[@kwakkers68]

You can use your freezer to contract a bearing, prior to inserting; or in this case, the steering stem itself (so you might need a chest freezer, for the size of the object), - worth trying, as it minimizes the stress applied to the bearing during fitting. Equally, you can use heat to make a part expand. Physics can be damn handy, sometimes :-)

[@treysadler2994]

You would not freeze the steering stem you would heat it to expand it you would freeze the race to shrink it

[@GarageNight]

@@treysadler2994 you would do like we did in the video and you would be fine 😀. i think you are getting steering stem mixed up with steering head. the stem is on the bottom yoke/triple clamp. the head is on the bike. i would not recommend heating up the steering head to try and make a bearing cup fit in.

[@philipsquire9056]

I'm literally just about to start this job on my KTM450. Hope it's even close to as easy as this looks.

[@murrayminimotors1674]

Great video help alot💪👍👍

[@macawdor5065]

Good stuff guys..

[@rarra]

Thank you. Such a good video

[@powerdec]

Good and clean job dude!

[@simpsonkid100]

Great video gentlemen. Thanks very merry 🇨🇦✌🏼

[@GarageNight]

Our pleasure!

[@ariseno]

Excellent tutorial, I've just subscribed. I'm going to replace my head bearings on my vtr 250. Thanks heaps. You guys are awesome.

[@yeahitskimmel]

The real key to jobs like this is to just get into it and not give up even if it doesn't seem to be working

[@paulbryan9091]

very good but would always recommend wearing safety glasses when hammering bearings, they are hardened steel and chip easy.

[@hukabuktx6753]

Brilliant. You guys did the same thing I did. Damn special tools cost a small fortune.

[@marklucey5499]

Thanks guys. Will be a great help with sorting klr 650 out.

[@Dubczyk]

Thanks for this video. 👍

[@SlingBlade79]

Great vid guys!! great subject and the accents add to the entertainment..lol

[@richardburces6076]

put that glob of grease in the corner of a sandwich bag with the bearing and release all the air. Push the grease into the bearing without touching it.😀

[@GarageNight]

Made my sandwich all greasy dude!

[@austinlane5533]

Building a fresh bike from scratch and this bit of info really helps. 👌 Thanks for the tip.

[@jeremybeckett6]

I got it mixed up with my gunja!

[@rubickon]

awesome. thank you.

[@steveebee5084]

I also put 2 notches with a small round file in the lower seat to enable easy removal ie something to hit on if the bearing is flush with the seat you have no surface to hit on

[@laszlobauer5274]

Great video! Subscribed!

[@smoothoperator7306]

Thank you.

[@ralphhill6872]

Your vid and a couple of rum and cola's = job done. Great tips.

[@GarageNight]

Glad we could help Ralph

[@daydreamer1246]

Great tips. Bearing installation tool makers are not happy to see this vid. Lol

[@johnniecarter681]

Thanks for the video.

[@GarageNight]

No worries!

[@michaelpresey2273]

Hammer the old race half way into a 2x6 board then drill and hole into and get your self a threaded bar out the bar through the hole with a big washer and nut and then stick the bar up through and get another 2x6 on the other side with a nut and washer as well and then tighten it until the old race pushes the new race all the way in

[@AwesomePlayers]

I will be changing the bearings on my F800 soon and there were some great tips in this clip. Cheers.

[@DwayneWalker]

These guys used to do a video podcast with thier videos. true, helpful, strait forward. All of that. hopefully they will post more of their videos on KZbin as they have several helpful and good ones.

[@GarageNight]

Excellent. Please help us get the word out about our new home on KZbin!

[@sudhirsharma3713]

Very helpful video in this video are knowledgeable for ever one

[@peterbunnell2373]

I've drilled and tapped in a zirk fitting into the steering head tube and filled the entire thing with grease!

[@kretktzable]

Great stuff lads. Keep that up ;)

[@ixxifan]

Thanks guys, great advice

[@soldozer]

Cut a groove in the inner race with a dremel, hit it with a little heat then spin it with a punch. Once you can spin it, it will slide off.

[@GarageNight]

Have done that one too. Found that after nicking it with a dremel or grinder, I could break the race with a hammer and cold chisel

[@MachTuck]

Thank you guys! im about to try that

[@GarageNight]

Did it work?

[@MachTuck]

@@GarageNight yes it did!, worked perfectly. Where I had hard time was getting the bottom race from the steering head, there was no edge or groove to punch it out, did some dremel work for the next time. Thanks again guys

[@79sketches]

Great tips i will use soon

[@andrewwhite1216]

Absolutely hacking away 🤣

[@johnconner8974]

the best way to pack em!!!

[@mohitsharma-ns8rf]

u guys are so lucky to have tapper bearing

[@HadrienATF]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@Indy509]

I'll give this a shot. Don't know why but it looks like my stem was welded into the bottom triple tree clamp so I've been scratching my head as to how to get that sucker off there

[@GarageNight]

Assuming we mean the same thing by 'stem', you shouldn't need to get the stem out of the bottom triple clamp to replace the bearing. You drive the bearing or the inner race off, as shown in the video. Hope you get there!

[@treysadler2994]

Your cup it's called the bearing race and as far as the freezer goes you would freeze the race to shrink and slitely heat up the neck on the bike and when the race is frozen it should fall right in.

[@GarageNight]

You can call it a cup especially when it's not integral to the bearing. We're good with our method thanks mate - yes you could put the it in the freezer, it might help a bit, or it might not.

[@ludditeneaderthal]

for installing the bottom bearing, id toss the steering stem in the freezer a few hours (assuming you don't have defrost a pot roast to do so). with that aluminum one, the OD would actually shrink a couple thou, making a much easier drive

[@milesrogers8314]

You guys really do things the hard way. Try freezing the steering stem and heating the bearing to around 100 degrees C and it will slide right on no hammer required. Same goes with the steering outer races. Heat the head freeze the race.

[@GarageNight]

We're good thanks

[@nixonn3]

Thanks guys..

[@motorcycleridingadventures2023]

Heat expands metal / freezing will shrink it, remember this, it will save you heaps of grief.

[@rzrkilleriwishiwereahonda3625]

I eather just use a air hammer with a chisel bit they pop right off the stem or a bearing splitter in a press

[@f.8522]

AWESOME thank you so much guys :D

[@mohammedzaman8977]

Good info thanks for the video ..i may try doing my zx9r ..but am scared the bike will fall off the rear stand for changing rear tyres ..any tips to secure the bike at home ?

[@Eve....747]

Excellent idea 💡 .... so simple when you know how, now to improvise a vice!? 🤔... lol 😂, but give this 1.... 👍

[@GarageNight]

Thank you! Cheers! When you've built your vice post a video ...

[@johnoleary9317]

Brilliant Sub's & liked. Great idea of spreading then knowledge...friendship wealth and beer

[@denisrailey777]

Great tips without buying more tools.

[@bajajimy07]

I have seen some people use a piece of all thread and some washers, sized the same as the outer race, one on top and the other on bottom. then tighten a nut on either side and it would press the races into place, rather than trying to tap it into place with a hammer or drift and risk deforming the the outer race.

[@GarageNight]

I have heard of people doing that but it seems more complicated than is necessary - a rubber mallet followed by some finessing so it seats properly works fine

[@bajajimy07]

Ya i feel ya, Some people lack finesse so just a different way you can go about it.

[@painmagnet1]

Steering races are tough. Unless you are beating them in crooked or using a hard drift, no damage will occur. Replaced many sets with a hammer and drift, never once had an issue. Linkage bearings on the other hand CAN be damaged with the hammer and punch method, they are much less robust.

[@zaran1]

Thank you so much for this video. I have to replace the steering bearings of my Yamaha Majesty, I got the fork off, but I was now wondering how to remove the bearing races. For adjusting the bearings, the service manual mention two torque, first tighten at 25 ft-lbs, then loosen a quarter turn, then tighten at 17 ft-lbs... Why is that? Is 25 ft-lbs enough to seat properly all bearings if they are not fully inserted?

[@GarageNight]

Hey there. I'm not sure - it may be to help seat the bottom bearing on the yoke, and/or to seat the bearing cups into the headstock. Regardless, always follow the advice in the service manual for your bike. If there's any difference compared with what you see in our videos, do what the manual says!

[@zaran1]

GarageNightTV Well, I did as per the service manual to adjust the steering head, but your video helped me a lot nonetheless. Removing and reinstalling bearings was much more difficult than I first thought, and I learned a few nice tricks thanks to you... Slotting the old bearings and using them to install the new ones, such an elegant, simple and efficient trick... Now after many hundred miles, my bike still steers like a charm, and I saved a few hundred bucks. Thanks again.

[@thakiid1013]

Nice!

[@ashleyburton8605]

Thank God I don't need to buy any fancy tools!

[@EvokDubstep]

Put the steering column in the freezer first. The bearing will fall right on.

[@waya121]

You guys are having too much fun and being too much like mates doing this job! Where is all the frustration, stress, and anger? Maybe snide remarks or maybe at each other's throats?

[@EddieErion929]

Easier if you freeze the races and grease the frame and races to press in

[@GarageNight]

Personally I wouldn't grease something like this that is designed to be an interference fit ... unless you are dealing with dissimilar metals and worried about electrochemical corrosion etc

[@sweetlowfatjesus9663]

Step 1. Get a huge table vice grip. Got it. ✔

[@troyangelo3999]

Real easy way to remove a bearing race if you have a welder is to run beads along the race. After about three beads the race will shrink up some (not sure why it does that) and you can remove the race with pair of pliers.

[@michaelandsarabeth]

+Troy Angelo Guessing it is like heating a bolt when it's stuck. Heating it causes it to swell then, when it has cooled, will cool at a faster rate than the stem does, thereby the inner diameter pulls away just enough from the stem. I'm going to try your trick. I have used a torch on the bearing before, without much luck. Using a welder, on the other hand, much higher heat at a very localized spot. Old 77 GL1000 needs her bearings pulled and I'm installing racer bearings rather than the old school ones.

[@mcdk72]

200-500 grams resistance measured at the outer handlebars.

[@GarageNight]

Interesting stat ... might try that with some fish scales next time

[@mcdk72]

@@GarageNight yes.. i use a 2 kilogram fish weight.. and a strap. Move a long both sides. Find a sweet spot.. ride adjust...ride.. I have 3 bikes..even my 2007 with 30000 km was in need. Totally different bikes when changed. It is my conviction that a lot of people have accidents cause to poor handling. Even front fork oils is a mess.. the viscosity labeled will often vary from one manufacturer to another. There is no standard as with engine oils.. The dealers don't know it.. not the ones i have used.. Worst case.. gsxr1100r 93.. dealership change gaskets.. and return with motul 10w (which they use in almost all forks). But.. stiff fork. To damped.. compression and rebound total out.. to damped... When you loose the bike in a corner.. is it due to tyre.. or a stiff fork.. It's a disgrace.. I am down to a putoline 2.5.. which is twice as light as a motul 2.5.. and i have adjustability now.. Use Dave Moss for "how to" Use this link to find your proper fork oil; transmoto.com.au/Comparative-Oil-Weights-Table/ Spread the word.. safe lives.. drive spirited on a safe bike;)

[@marloncruzada2865]

is it ok to change my front wheel tire from 120/70 R17 to 130/70 R17..?does it will affect the performance of the bike..is there will be no wobble?

[@nicholasavallestero0791]

5:20 be buggered 😆

[@jefftilghman9059]

In the US we call the "cup" a "race".