Need advice replacing steering head bearings

I need to replace the steering head bearings. My friend tells me not to use the stock bearings. There is some kind of other type that are longer.
I saw that the stock ones are different size on the top and bottom. I saw another site where someone said something about the new bearings made them stick out farther.

Where is a good, cheap place to get updated bearings for the 83 XJ750?

Do they come with the different size upper and lower?

Any other things I need to know?


Thank you,
Chris.

 

Tapered bearings are what most people are changing to. There are a few threads on the subject, shoot a PM to chacal and he will sell you some for a decent price

 

Unless you have a reason to change them out, like frozen steering, or a "notch" feeling while turning the handlebars lock-to-lock, dont worry. Just be sure to repack with grease per standard maintenance.

Mine were notched, and I switched to tapered on my 82 XJ750. It was easy enough, but required a good amount of front-end disassembly. It'd give you a good reason to take your shocks apart and service them too!

No special tools needed. Just a hammer, a variety of various length screwdrivers, a freezer, and some ingenuity. Expect it to take a day if you're not mechanically inclined.

 

I have a notch. In order to ride it I had to loosen the big nut on the top. Can anyone verify the different size top and bottom? Anyone had the tapered be bigger so it sticks out?

Just did the forks the week before. Would of been nice to have the guy hit me before I did the forks.

I'll post later about what happened so others can learn or get reminded how easy things can happen when on a bike. Not a big deal but it's what could of happened.

Chris.

 

All of my experiences with bearings and rubber seals says go with the "All Balls" brand bearing and (specifically fork) seals. I know for my '83 XJ900, the Yamaha parts dealer I went to sold me the wrong lower race and bearing because the parts fiche is incorrect from 30 years ago.
Don't mean to pitch another sales sight on here (pardon Chacal), but BikeBandit has the set for ~$40.

 

bikebandit shows $30 and $40. Someone asked which one to order and they can't tell you.

Chris.

 

That's the nice part about ordering from chacal, you know you'll get the right size parts for the bike. Sometimes can be hard finding stuff for these around town I've found but maybe I'm not looking in the right places yet.

Keep us posted on how this goes Happy, I need to do this as well as I also have the notch feeling. It'll be my first time really diving into the bike and thinking about doing it this or next week.

 

I just put a set of all balls in my honda not sure about the xj but they are universal fit on the honda comes with 2 washers You have to measure the height of the lower bearing and put the correct height washer . And they do stick up on the top. Don't remember how the xjs fork ears are but had to make spacers for the honda. Was not impressed with the kit having to grind part of the upper nut also. They work great but a lot more work with the all balls kit. Hopefully Chacals kits are better. personally i don't want to mess with all those little balls the stocker has its to easy to bump and knock a ball bearing out of place without knowing