bostthehause
04-09-2011, 10:16 PM
After noticing some play in the axle of my 400ex I decided to replace the rear axle bearings. When I removed the bearing carrier from the swingarm I found that the bearing on the chain side of the axle was completely destroyed. All of the balls in the bearing were gone and all that was left was the inner race (which I was able to remove) and the outer race (that was stuck in the bearing carrier). As you can see in the picture, the outer race is still stuck in the carrier and the inside of the carrier where the seal sits is chewed all up. The bearing on the brake disk side of the carrier was in much better condition and I was able to remove it from the carrier. Correct me if I am wrong but I have decided that the carrier is trashed and I will be ordering an aftermarket one soon.
After further inspection I found that the axle had been damaged too. In the picture I posted, area #1 is where the bearing contacts the axle. This area appears to be worn down slightly. I am concerned that it may be too worn to re-use but I don’t know how to tell. I can measure the diameter with a micrometer but I don’t know what the correct measurement for this axle should be and I can’t seem to find the specs anywhere online or in my manual. I guess I could compare it with a measurement from the area of the axle that the bearing on the brake disk side contacts. Does anyone know how much of a difference in the two measurements would render the axle useless?
Also in the picture posted, area #2 is the part that the bearing carrier seal seats against to seal out dirt, water, etc. As you can see, it is chewed up to the point that a new seal would be destroyed with just a few turns of the axle. This area is not part of the actual axle; it is part of the sprocket hub that comes pressed on to the axle. I know that one option is to smooth out this area with a dremel or something similar. However I am concerned that smoothing out the area will reduce the size to the point where the new seal will not seat tightly enough against it to keep dirt, water, etc. out of the carrier. Another option that I have considered is to replace the whole sprocket hub. However since it is pressed on to the axle, would I have to get it pressed off and then have a new hub pressed on? Or I could just buy a used axle that comes with the sprocket hub already on it. What do you guys think is my best option?
After further inspection I found that the axle had been damaged too. In the picture I posted, area #1 is where the bearing contacts the axle. This area appears to be worn down slightly. I am concerned that it may be too worn to re-use but I don’t know how to tell. I can measure the diameter with a micrometer but I don’t know what the correct measurement for this axle should be and I can’t seem to find the specs anywhere online or in my manual. I guess I could compare it with a measurement from the area of the axle that the bearing on the brake disk side contacts. Does anyone know how much of a difference in the two measurements would render the axle useless?
Also in the picture posted, area #2 is the part that the bearing carrier seal seats against to seal out dirt, water, etc. As you can see, it is chewed up to the point that a new seal would be destroyed with just a few turns of the axle. This area is not part of the actual axle; it is part of the sprocket hub that comes pressed on to the axle. I know that one option is to smooth out this area with a dremel or something similar. However I am concerned that smoothing out the area will reduce the size to the point where the new seal will not seat tightly enough against it to keep dirt, water, etc. out of the carrier. Another option that I have considered is to replace the whole sprocket hub. However since it is pressed on to the axle, would I have to get it pressed off and then have a new hub pressed on? Or I could just buy a used axle that comes with the sprocket hub already on it. What do you guys think is my best option?