Steering Stem Bearing Kit Install

Hi,

I've been replacing wheel bearings this week and thought I'd tackle the steering head while I had the front wheel off. I paid a bit more than I should have ($60CAD) for the AllBalls Kit, but it didn't come with any installation tips.

I had a heck of a time pounding the old races out. In the photo below I've matched everything up and I'm pretty sure I just have to hammer the new races in carefully and lube up the rollers, right?

The lower race of the lower bearing was really jammed on to the steering stem, does that need to be hammered into the stem or will it press itself onto the stem as that funny nut is hammbered tight? THe PO really wrecked that funny nut as well as breaking off the bolt on the front brake union mount. Gawddamn POs!!!

With the wheel bearings done, it's been a long week of pounding.. ahem, on bearings!

Hi Inline,
No the funny nut will not serve to seat the lower cup. I suggest that you look around for a good size match amongst your larger sockets. Find one that'll fit without damaging the actual race way and drive it home. The most important think is to keep it squared up and driving straight. To drive the cone over the steering stem I use a sixteen inch piece of 1 1/4" EMT conduit as the driver.

Good Luck
KZCSI

piece of 3/4" allthread a couple 1-1/4 pvc fittings a couple 3/4" nuts and a couple really big fender washers,make yourself a press!

hey there

did you get your kit installed? I am in chilliwack and have the same kit to chuck in, wondering how yours went.

xc

I am installing an all balls kit on my 76 LTD. Haven't received the kit yet but it should be here soon. I have been wondering if one needs to reinstall the stock bottom steering stem seal and that flat washer below that. I guess the kit comes with a seal for the bottom bearing.

I saw the all-thread trick for installing the steering stem bearing parts in the frame head on American Chopper. It seemed to work great for them.

76LTD wrote:

... I have been wondering if one needs to reinstall the stock bottom steering stem seal and that flat washer below that. I guess the kit comes with a seal for the bottom bearing....

I've done this replacement on the 400 and the 750. On the 400, I managed to reuse the washer at the bottom with the rubber seal somehow. On the 750, there was just no way to reinstall the seal. I tried it a couple ways and it just wouldn't work. so, no bottom seal for me. I just made sure the bearing was well-packed (make sure you learn how to properly "pack" a bearing), and I'll just check up on it later...

OK, trying to revive this thread, since it is *exactly* what I am up to right now. Got the AllBalls kit today, since I noticed (once I got everything off the trees) it is a bit grindy, and has that "center dimple effect". OK, it came apart easy enough (39 balls hitting the floor - I will *never* find them all!), but now I need to bang out the races inside the stem, top and bottom.

I have beat the crap outta the lower one with a large flat screwdriver and a 1lb hammer (Figured it would be easier than going "up" on the top one) going around trying to keep it going out even. My hands are sore, my arms ache, and that sucker has moved ever so slightly (Think glacial movement).

What's the trick? PLEASE tell me there is a trick! :blush:

EsaPro wrote:

....going around trying to keep it going out even. My hands are sore, my arms ache, and that sucker has moved ever so slightly (Think glacial movement).

What's the trick? PLEASE tell me there is a trick! :blush:

Sorry dude, that *is* the trick.

Watch it though - you think you're even and not be. If you get just a teeeny bit off, you catch the side and start digging in to the metal.

If you absolutely are getting nowhere, as a last resort, you might want to tap it back and check to make sure you're not digging in...

Thanks, BT. I got it out just now. I did dig a bit but it does not look too bad. The new race is about 1/2 again thicker than the old one, so hopefully it will be OK.

Now that one is out of the way, I need to find something that can slide up the stem housing to hit the upper one with even force. A big socket comes to mind, and I saw those "axle nut sockets" at the parts store, but I hate to spend $15 on something I may use once in a blue moon. Hmmm, maybe the neighbor kid has one of the appropriate diameter I could borrow? :evil:

I am eying my 15" clamps (for woodworking) as possible presses for the new ones....

EsaPro wrote:

...I need to find something that can slide up the stem housing to hit the upper one with even force....

What I do is go to the local hardware store and buy a section of steel rod or pipe to cut and keep around for just such things.

If I remember, I used about an 18" piece of steel pipe for the races (to go through the headstock), and a rod for the wheel bearings...

Must be the day 4 steering stem bearings I just installed mine 2 day on project - 79 - 1000. it was a breez this time but in the past its bin a real pain.

it was a breez this time

:Looks down at grease-stained, aching hands - remembering that he has one more race to drive out::

I don't wanna hear how easy it was!!!!!!


:lol: