Axle Bearings

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Are my axle bearings shot? Today I was riding at the track and when I turn I can feel my axle moving all over. Yesterday I went to tighten the chain and I pulled the carrier as far back as it goes and it barely made a different in the slack.

It also makes a really bad sound when riding. Either chain hitting something or something to do with the axle. not sure.

Can anyone help?

[nelzar13]

throw your quad up on a bucket or something so your back wheels are off the ground and grab your axe and wiggle it. if it wiggles your in need of new bearings... you can also stand on your pages with all wheels on the ground and rock side to side. if you feel a clunking your in need of some bearings... basically if any thing feels loose your looking at bearings, but thats providing your lock nut on your axle is tight and all.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Well I did some more looking and my lock nut was not tight. But that didn't stop it from wiggling like it was doing. And the chain still wont tighten up.

[slightlybent47]

There could be several things going on with it.
Sounds like it’s time to pull it apart and check everything out, seals and bearings.
You should pull it apart every season and repack it anyway.
It doesn’t take much slack to make it wobble around if everything is not tight.
It’s an easy fix for the beginner, just basic tools are all you need.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Ya I think I need to check it out but it looks like its no fun to do.

Also I think the axle was chewing up the billet carrier because the billet carrier is all chewed up around the outside? (Maybe thats what the loud noise was)

Totally unsure !!

[nelzar13]

dont fell bad i did the same thing this weekend. my bearings went so my axle was floppy around inside my carrier just reaking havok. i have'nt bothered to take it apart yet because i dont wanna know what i have to replace!

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Me either. I already spent a bunch of money grr. Whats the seals and bearings cost?

[nelzar13]

you can get the bearings themselfs on ebay for 20-30 bucks. not bad. i just ordered some my self incase when i take my carrier out it salvageable

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-TRX400EX-Rear-axle-Bearings-seals-stock-carrier-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5d2d9eb6acQQitemZ40019 7334700QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[slightlybent47]

The lock nut usually comes lose and then it wobbles around a bit letting dirt get in past the seals, that’s what chews up the bearings, once they get lose you need to remove it and clean it real good and re install it.
Then there are those who never repack them and the bearings get dry and destroy themselves.

Like I said it’s an easy job to remove the axel and clean and lube it. The seals are not hard to get out and replace ether. The bearings are not hard ether but you do need a puller or a punch with an off set to it so you can pull it or knock it out from the other side. Ether way works fine.

There are several threads that explain how to do it, just use search. http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=359350

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Looks a little difficult but I guess we will find out.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Got it tore down finally and the inside is all caked in crud and junk. Where are the bearings and the seals even at??

[Honda4LifeWes36]

And how to clean it and lube it again??

[CJM]

The bearings and seals are in the carrier itself. You should see large black plastic/rubber like rings in there-those are the seals. Pull them out with a screwdriver or a large pick, then you can get to the bearings.

I highly recommend you buy the bearing puller from rocky mountain. Otherwise you will find it will be a very fun job to get them out. http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/productDetail.do?navType=type&webTypeId=140&navTitle=Tools%2FShop&webCatId=22&keyword=carrier+bearing+puller&prodFamilyId=27816

What you want to do is take a torch and heat the carrier itself up after you put the puller on. Then yank and yank till the bearing comes out. It will not be all that easy.

Without the puller you need to cut the bearing casing and then you can push the bearings out but its very easy to mess up.

Go on ebay, rocky mountain, moto sport, etc and look for pivot works bearing kits. It comes with all the bearings and seals you need. Kit should be roughly 40-50 bucks.

To clean everything out you need lots of carb or brake cleener.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Alright thanks CJM. I'm working on getting that retaining c-clip off. Its like the last thing to get before it all comes off. But of course I don't have the right tool so therefore I will have to struggle with it.

[CJM]

Well worth buying the right tool. Sears or any auto parts store should have retaining clip pliers-usually less than 10 bucks.

[slightlybent47]

Once you’ve done it the first time, it should be easy to do in the future. I would suggest you pull it out once a season and re pack. It sure saves a lot of headache down the road.
If it’s never been off or is neglected for a long time it makes it hard to get off.

I made a tool out of an old piece of bar stock and ground a hook on the end and used it ti drive out the bearing. I am too cheap to buy a puller.lol

[Honda4LifeWes36]

I got the carrier off but I see nothing inside of it??

[CJM]

Did you remove the dust seals? There will be metal rings inside the carrier-those are the bearings.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

This is what I had when I pulled it off.

[BuB400]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by slightlybent47
[B]Once you’ve done it the first time, it should be easy to do in the future. I would suggest you pull it out once a season and re pack.

You can't repack the stock bearings, they're sealed bearings. Thats why no grease zerk on the carrier. And by the look of your pic you may need a new carrier.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Well mine is an Lonestar Racing one. But ya its pretty bad.

[CJM]

Yea man, looks like a new carrier is what ya need.

Go on ebay and look for one, you can get an entire unit with the dual row bearings, usually a billet one for about 100 bucks. Comes fully assembled too.

[slightlybent47]

It’s hard to tell from the pic but it looks like the inner race is gone and the bearings as well.
The only thing I see left is the outer ring of the bearing, there should be a spacer tube inside the bearing, and you’ll need to get the bearing race out with a puller or by knocking it out from the opposite side.

I know there sealed bearings but if you let it get dry then the axel can and will seize up on the bearing and it makes it a ***** to get off. By servicing it every year you avoid that and can replace any bad parts if needed.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

There was a tube that came out with my axle in that general area. I really didn't know what it was to be honest with you.

[CJM]

Thats the spacer tube, it goes between the bearings.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

LOL thanks guys. As you can tell, I know nothing about it. This is my first time therefore I come to you guys!!

[BenHonda400ex]

Yeah my carrier was even shot more than that. I couldn't drive without the chain wanting to pop off. It cost me like 300 some dollars for a new one from Rockymountainatvmc

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Something like this should work right?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/369-HONDA-400EX-BILLET-AXLE-BEARING-CARRIER-400-EX-ATV-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27b9af7c41QQitemZ17061 9010113QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[CJM]

Originally posted by Honda4LifeWes36
Something like this should work right?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/369-HONDA-400EX-BILLET-AXLE-BEARING-CARRIER-400-EX-ATV-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27b9af7c41QQitemZ17061 9010113QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Yep, should be fine. Its an exact copy of the lonestar too (if not the same thing lonestar charges 2-3x more money for!).

[Honda4LifeWes36]

I noticed its almost identical to the one I have now but yes mines Lonestar. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't a knock off junk piece.

But I think I'm gonna buy it. I think it says the bearings are pre greased and inserted for me so I can't screw something up LOL!

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Also, how many teeth does the front sprocket have stock? I ordered a new rear sprocket since I have all the stuff off now just to change it up and see if I like it.

[CJM]

15 tooth is stock front, 38 tooth is stock rear.

larger rear means more torque, smaller rear is speed, larger front is more speed, smaller front is more torque. dropping 1 tooth up front is equivalent to dropping 3 teeth in the rear.

[slightlybent47]

You should change the chain, front and rear sprocket all at the same time, an old chain on a new sprocket will wear the sprocket out very quick. Change the whole set.
The front is a 14T

[Honda4LifeWes36]

New back sprocket is 39T with a stock front sprocket still. Still looking in to getting a different one.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Well I think I'm gettin carrier in tomorrow.

It's not too much of a pain to get assembled is it?

I got everything ready to go back on the way it came off.

[CJM]

So long as the bearings are in there its super easy.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Thanks for the help CJM!

[CJM]

what help lol..

But yea its easy, reverse of how it came apart. Might want to have a block of wood handy to smack the axle in fully. I also like to use some wheel bearing grease on the axle itself when I install it.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Well its a nightmare for me to get it back on.

First off, I replaced the back sprocket. New one wouldnt go on without the chain hitting the rubber deal to keep it from smacking off the guard.

Next, my brake rotor wont go on because somehow the skid plate is too far up? I dont know how it came off without hitting it. Now its like a 1/4 inch from going on. Having a hell of a time so far.

[kaleb]

my 400ex did that and they were shot and tore up the housing in the swing arm

[CJM]

Its how you have the carrier in there, try and rotate it a bit before you put everything back on.

[BenHonda400ex]

Hmmm.. That's kind of weird. Mine was that hard all we did was push it back in and tighten everything up, fit like a glove. But it's a pain without have the axle lock nut wrench

[slightlybent47]

I find it easier to take the sprocket/ break guard off when I do the axel.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Might take it off. Just worried about putting it back on and not fitting??

I moved the carrier about as far back and up as I could go.

[CJM]

For what its worth:

I dont put the sprocket back on till the axles all on and ready to go. For me, I noticed I had very little room going up in sprocket sizes, a 38 fits fine but 39 is really close to my skid.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Can somebody post a picture of that rearend so I can make sure I get things back the way they go please? :D

[quad2xtreme]

Originally posted by Honda4LifeWes36
Well its a nightmare for me to get it back on.

First off, I replaced the back sprocket. New one wouldnt go on without the chain hitting the rubber deal to keep it from smacking off the guard.

Next, my brake rotor wont go on because somehow the skid plate is too far up? I dont know how it came off without hitting it. Now its like a 1/4 inch from going on. Having a hell of a time so far.

Line up the brake rotor before sliding the axle through the carrier. Some swingarm skidplates wrap around the rotor more so your only choices are to unbolt the swingarm skidplate or hold the brake rotor in place while you slide the axle into place.

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Well shes all back together so I'm gonna find out if its right tomorrow. I think its back together right.

Thanks guys!

[Honda4LifeWes36]

Sorry to bring this thread up again but...my friend had some trouble and I have a couple questions.

I guess he said he bottomed out and heard a noise so I checked it out and his carrier was cracked and broken! Not sure how that happened.

Secondly, he called the local shop and priced an aftermarket on (after he heard the price he is going through ebay like I did LOL) but they told him you could not run an aftermarket carrier without an aftermarket axle?

Thats what Ive been doing since '06?

[CJM]

That shop is an idiot, never bother with them again. Of course you can, I have had both an aftermarket axle and the stock axle in my lonestar carrier.