Replacing wheel bearings

So can I get your thoughts on replacement of wheel bearings - i.e. is this something that needs to be done, how do I tell if it needs doing and does anyone have a nice "how-to" on it?

I don't think mine have been replaced at all - should I be concerned?

Thanks guys.

 

wheel bearings are good for 20k miles factory bearings are open if your bearings are sealed then there may be life left in them if you are near40k miles.

do you have wheel wobble?
there is a how to in the diy section
REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT: How-To w/Pics

front are changed the same way

bad bearings will wobble or sieze, both will affect your ride

 

Thanks - no there's nothing discernible at all with them I just wondered if there was any kind of safety issue. I've yet to pull them out but the bikes just passed 30K miles.

 

Miles have (almost) nothing to do with it. Wheel bearings are good until the grease dries out, or crud gets inside. Clean, and repack every few years, and they are good almost forever.

Now...since almost nobody does that, here's what happens. The grease dries, the bearings overheat and wear, and eventually they fail.

Removing, cleaning, inspecting and re-packing takes a bit more time than replacing with new. It's really a judgment call, but one or the other should be done.

 

I'm planning on replacing them soon, and I'm a big proponent of preventative maintenance however just out of interest what do you folks expect to happen when they fail - I mean would it be expected to experience some warning that something is becoming a problem in time to correct it before something dangerous happens like face-planting the pavement?

 

You'll notice a noise that wasn't there before. It might not even be noticeable at first. Eventually what will happen is the bearing will get so hot that it melts/grinds the balls and races. The result can be a seized bearing, or a bearing that is so sloppy that the front end wobbles you to death. I've had a wheel bearing failure on a car. It was not a fun evening, Particularly since I had to fix the thing the next day so I could get to work. The bearing had temporarily welded itself at some point, and spun the outer race in the hub. Much cursing and shimming was needed to get the hub into useable condition.

 

Hey Ribo,

I'm in Fairfax, VA and have the bearing tools (from chacal) to drive out the old ones (and some big sockets to dive in the new ones). PM me when you want to replace the bearings and I'll help you out.

 

^^+1 better than online advice

 

Awesome dude - very much appreciated. Might not be for a little while I have to go back to Texas for a few weeks at the end of September and I doubt I'll get to this before then but I'll definitely take you up on the offer when I get to it.