steering stem bearing

[jkosakowski]

Can you change the steering stem bearing without taking the stem out and everything?

[CJM]

Nope, gotta take it out to get to the circlip that holds the bearing in there.

If you do replace it, its a pain to get out and putting the new one will go in WAY easier if you have something good to tap it with and freeze the bearing before you throw it in and heat up the bearing area before you throw it in

[jkosakowski]

Alright thanks i sorta thought you had to take it out.

[CJM]

yea, no way around it. If you want to make it easy, disconnect the bars at the mounts on the stem itself leaving it all together and then just disconnect the stem.

To remove the tierod ends you need 2 14mm wrenches. 1 fits on the nut and the other fits on the tie rod end right under the rubber boot.

[powerbomb400]

After I take the stem out and take the c-clip off I tap mine out from the bottom upwards using a socket. I don't let the bearing get too bad so the bearing don't come apart. Normally can get it done in about 1.5 hours. Maybe 2 hours if I take a smoke break.

[Stickman400]

I just beat mine out of my frame earlier to get it PC'd. It's easy as pie to change. Pull both seals out on each side, take out the snap ring, beat out the bearing, then reverse that to put the new one in. Make sure you get the bearing fully seated along with the seals after that, and don't forget the race on the bottom.

[kt1148]

Here's a good sticky from the "How to" section:http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=360367