| Author | Message | ||
     Motorbike |
Just looking for opinions here. I checked the steering bearings today on my 08 XT using the method suggested in the Service Manual. It takes about 5 lbs of pull to move the forks from full right to the center position, which is within specs. I cannot feel any roughness nor can I feel any play when I grab the fork legs and pull them back and forth with the bike lifted by the muffler. I was originally thinking about changing the fork oil, just to be good to the bike but a lot of guys on here suggested I wait a while, as I only have 12,600 easy miles on the bike. Now, after reading about steering bearing issues, I wonder if I should take the time to tear it all apart to check the bearings and then change fork oil while I have it apart. Or should I just leave it alone for now. When I was riding last summer, I noticed a click a few times when the front brakes are first applied but I'm not convinced it is the steering bearings. I am planning to ride out to the Black Hills of SD from SE MN this summer and want the bike to be right. What do you all think? Thanks! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Check not only the "pull" to steer the head, but also the torque on the head bearings. Follow the manual procedures for what to loosen, torque, and retighten. Your click could very well be pads shifting, or your rotor shifting on the mounts (original mounting hardware? Or EBR setup?) My 06 has about 30k on it and I have a loose spot on-center that I can feel when doing the pull test. Next service will include full front end service - new bearings and fresh fork oil. | ||
| Ourdee |
I didn't replace mine till they clicked every time under heavy braking. Thought I was going to break something getting the bottom bearing loose. | ||
| Motorbike |
Thanks for the replies so far. Ratbuell, I just installed the new EBR 5mm Finned Rotor, EBR mount kit and EBC HH pads. I have not ridden it yet to see if anything changed, concerning the click. The bike is still in storage in my workshop and will be for a while. We just got another foot of wet, heavy snow here in MN and it's still snowing. Probably won't test ride until mid-April. Right now is the best time to work on the bike since it is in storage anyway. I just put my new belt on yesterday. If I need to do anything else, I might as well do it now but I don't want to take it apart if there is nothing wrong with it. I will probably wait on the fork oil change and bearing check, not sure yet. Thank you. | ||
| Buellerxt |
You know your bike better than anyone else, Motorbike, but with 12,000 easy miles I'd think all is good. I have 21,000 on mine, an 08XT as well, and it shows no signs of an issue. The Black Hills aren't far away from you so even 'if' an issue developed you'd be good until you got back. I'd leave it be but whatever you decide, best of luck. | ||
| Arcticktm |
Motor, As you know from other threads, I just change my steering bearings on my 29k mile '06. They were clicking under braking. Had been doing so for more than 1 year, though. They were loose (inner race had excessive free play, especially the lower bearing). I replaced with the tapered All Balls setup. Rode for first time yesterday about 30 minutes and all felt OK. No clicking anymore. As for fork oil, I would change it because I believe the first service is the most important, but that is just my opinion. I doubt another season would kill anything, if it's not convenient to do it before the snow goes away up there. | ||
| Motorbike |
Yeah, the Black Hills are only 625 miles one way, no big deal really. Even if the bearings are just starting to go bad, it's not like they will keep me from getting back home, like a broken belt would. I just get a little too picky about this bike sometimes and expect it to be perfect when really, nothing is. Kinda hard on myself sometimes. Now, this is just my opinion, I think the steering bearings go bad mostly due to the vibration of these bikes at idle. If there is any play in them at all, the constant hammering of the engine just beats those poor bearings to death.  I really don't want to have to replace them every few years either. Thanks. | ||
| Arcticktm |
I am picky, too. Seems like the steering bearings aren't likely to fail dramatically on a trip, like the wheel bearings might. That's why I waited until I had the time, which happened to be last month. We'll see how these tapered deals work out. Nervous because they are cheap and a different than OEM design. thanks for reminding me to pack my old belt on my April trip. Only about 350 miles 1 way, but still too far to push! |
