How to change wheel bearings.

This is a test article for a new section we might have against each bike forum.

The original posts were from Yen and I've just cut them out, as you will see they aren't complete but are good to demo this method.


As I said last night, my rear wheel bearings were Donald Ducked so I shot to work this morning on the bike but tonight decided to swap my spare rear wheel (borderline tyre though) until I sort the bearings on the proper wheel.

Tonight I got the bike's back wheel in the air by using the side stand (as welded by St Chas of the Blessed Virgin's chastity) and placing a car axle stand under the right hand side of the swing arm.

I swapped the wheels over and set about removing the bearings which if anyone wants to know are the following codes/sizes (XRV750, RD07A, UK 2000 model)

6203
6204
6303

Here is a demo of bearing changing for the deaf, once again, one handed piccy taking.


Use a screwdriver to carefully prise out both seals.

You will need a hooge hammer and a nice flat ended drift like the one shown. Screwdrivers as used by 'professionals' will just cause you grief and take longer.

Use the drift to push the internal metal sleeve to one side so you can put the end on the lip of the opposite bearing. WHACK THE BUGGER SMARTLY. Then use the drift on the opposite side to push the sleeve again and repeat mit der wack. Move around the bearing in a criss cross pattern

If you've been careful and brutal at the same time the opposite bearing and the sleeve will have fallen onto the floor with a satisfying clunk.

The opposite wheel bearing can now be very easily knocked out after turning the wheel over.



The sprocket carrier (which should be lifted out before wacking commences, has it's own bearing. There is also a sleeve inside this bearing. This needs to be reused so tap it out carefully.

This is the sleeve above.

Two of the old bearings.