Steering head bearings aren't that hard. LOL. I might do mine this winter. I got a short list of stuff I wanna get done over the winter. Power Commander 3 USB and dyno tune in my 2nd dyno class(FI bikes, doing carbed bikes now) fork springs and oil, probably do bearings at the same time, new rear shock, chain, and sprockets, and brake pads front and rear.

 

You go to MMI?

Luis

Steering head bearings aren't that hard. LOL. I might do mine this winter. I got a short list of stuff I wanna get done over the winter. Power Commander 3 USB and dyno tune in my 2nd dyno class(FI bikes, doing carbed bikes now) fork springs and oil, probably do bearings at the same time, new rear shock, chain, and sprockets, and brake pads front and rear.

 

If you want to mess up your steering head bearings, do lots of wheelies. That will really mess them up quick. I learned that years ago with my KZ1000.

 

Only if you slam the front end own everytime...

If you are on the throttle, you can bring the front end down nice and easy...

If you run out of RPMs, shift and give it throttle... You will still be able to land like a pro...

Luis

 

so just to verify all i will need is the suzuki special socket? the other tool listed in the service manual i believe is just a suzuki tq wrench, and a tq wrench i have.

09940-14960 : Steering stem nut wrench socket

have half a mind to get i think it'd be a 1 1/4" deep socket (if it were going to be long enough) and cut the grooves out i would need for it to fit into the ring, but for the trouble its worth i think i'll probably just buy it. 74.30 on Ronayers, had to hold back laughing at the dealership when he said it was 178 bucks canadian, i think i'll order it from the states.

EDIT: looking closer at the pic it looks like its actually a 2 piece tool? and that i would need both pieces.

09940-14911 : Steering stem nut wrench

can anyone who has the tool confirm? now were talking 200 with shipping, thats getting a bit more pricey, i dont plan on having to rip the front end out of the race bike on a weekly basis, maybe it is better to just take it to the dealership.....

 

I have used a BRASS drift punch to do my adjustments.

Slight gentle taps and the brass deforms instead of the nut.

You can get these for under 10 bucks from harbor freight.
My brass drift punch set comes from Snap-on and I paid twenny-something.

 

so you dont worry about the tq spec then?

 

Used the fishing scale for measuring what the static friction was on the fork per factory manual. I got it to 8.5 ounces and left it there.

 

figured that might be what you said, so get it close and then just tighten down the lock nut nice and tight. good enough for me

 

so... its gonna be over 300 to get it fixed at a shop...

when you do a gsxr front end swap.. do you change out this part of the triple?

cause if so then ill just do that instead

 

I'm in the middle of a GSXr swap and yes, the bearings get opened up and can be changed then.

I noticed on mine, I had a pretty large (maybe 1") blob of aluminum shavings, left over from the machining of the frame, right next to the bearings. It hadn't gotten in, (mine were smooth) but it would've made the bearings catch or be "clicky" if it had.

 

well two and a half hours of labor plus parts would be around 300 after taxes..

im in LA...

but now im eyeing the gsxr front ends on ebay...

 

Let me get this straight ... you are going to put a gsxr front end on the bike and you can't do the labor yourself on replacing the bearings on what you got?

How much do you expect to spend in labor putting a gsxr front end on the bike?

 

Currently is right dont even consider a gsxr swap if you are not comfortable setting the preload on your steering bearings. If you want to make yourself feel better rather then using a drift, measure the diameter of the tension nut, buy a cheap socket at AZ, lay it on top of it, and make notches in the socket. That way you could torque it to spec. But I will tell you this I own an auto shop and have considered the gsxr swap and havent done it. If you are worried about time and money issue's wait until you try the swap.

 

i was going to build a socket tool but my 1 1/8 deep socket was about a good inch and a half too short to get over the steer stem, either 1 1/4 or 1 3/8 would probably have the right outer diamtere but i'm not sure if it would be long enough.

The drift punch and measuring with a fishing scale doesnt seem too bad. Try downloading a copy of the factory service manual and seeing it written out in steps might make it seem less intimidating. Not sure if the gsxr swap would use different tq values and initial force to turn but i'm sure that info is somewhere on this forum. I know nothing about bikes either if it makes you feel any better.

 

well.. its a priority thing...

i have more than the mechanical ability to do it... but just taking off the front end to fix the bearing.... i might as well put on the gsxr front end...


the only reason i would have a mechanic do it... is that im in law school and i dont have the time to fix it myself... but since its gonna cost a significant amount, i think ill wait till xmas break and do it all myself

 

Are you sure? These are your previous post.


(1)so im 99% sure i have bad steering bearings.. i have the clunking noise when i go over bumps etc, and my bike is a salvage from a prior reck...

i've been driving on it fine for a year now... do i really need to get them fixed? will it be alot better if i do or not make that much of a difference?


i watched the video of the british dudes fixing it which makes me think i could... or a shop will do it for parts plus 3 hours of labor = $$


(2)the mechanic told me mine were going... and explained that i can tell by lifting the front wheel off the ground, and pulling the forks forward and back...



but he didnt explain if it was a necessary fix safety wise. i dont see how the bearing will make the lower tripple fall off though...


(3)i still havent quite understood the danger... is it like bald tires dangerous... or broke chain dangerous

Since post four didnt matter.


(5)well two and a half hours of labor plus parts would be around 300 after taxes..

im in LA...

but now im eyeing the gsxr front ends on ebay...


(6)so... its gonna be over 300 to get it fixed at a shop...

when you do a gsxr front end swap.. do you change out this part of the triple?

cause if so then ill just do that instead


No disrespect you may have the ability to do it. But based upon your post, which are all above. I think its a larger endeavor then you may think. I Think you need to follow what currently said or me and the other poster and make a socket and check the tension on the bearings. If you are confident in your ability to do a gsxr swap you should be able to do this since you will have to do it when you do the swap.( you will have to set the tension with the new forks and triple)

 

No disrespect you may have the ability to do it. But based upon your post, which are all above. I think its a larger endeavor then you may think. I Think you need to follow what currently said or me and the other poster and make a socket and check the tension on the bearings. If you are confident in your ability to do a gsxr swap you should be able to do this since you will have to do it when you do the swap.( you will have to set the tension with the new forks and triple)

ouch... my pride...


well.. i could see your point.. i mean.. im not an expert with the front end of the bike mechanically.. i made that clear by asking about the severity of the bearing...

but i wanna learn...

and my only point of doing the gsxr swap is because it was something i wanted to do.... and i'd rather do it all at once than fix the bearing, and then do the swap ...

i

 

yeah... i think it should be fun..

and i got all you guys as a big disfunctional family to look over my work




i definitely have my heart set on just swappin it all at ounce.... i hate taking the fairings off

 

so i'm just trying to figure out the easiest way of doing this.....at first i had the bike on jack stands by the sliders but with the suspension still partially compressed. Had it all apart....now have the lower tripple with steer tube, forks and front wheel bolted in with the top of the forks way above where the top of the upper tripple would be.

Bout time i get a triple tree stand anyways. Only way i can see this working.....

-put bike up on triple tree stand,
-tighten down the collars on the top of the steer tube with a brass drift punch as per the manual
-put top triple on, raise forks into triples and tighten downtriple clamps with bars installed.

now for the fun part. I'm thinking i'm going to have to take it off the triple stand put it on jacks on the engine case, test the resistance on the bars.

If the resistance on the bars is wrong, have to take it back off the stands, put it on triple stand, Thinking it would be better if the weight of the forks/wheel wasn't on the steer tube so i'll have to take everything back apart?

If it takes me 5 tries to get the pre-load just right MY method of doing it involves a ton of pissing around, can someone see the flaw in my work process and suggest and easier way of doing this.....

 

Tie the front part of your frame to a rafter with a ratcheting tie down?

That is how I did my first front end job.

 

I agree with Currently. Hanging the bike from something solid sounds much safer than balanced on something.

I have mine hung up in the basement with a couple ratchet tie-down straps. Not the junky little ones, but the 2" 10,000 pound type. (they're like 12 bucks each at Sam's Club) I give a visual look at the hooks and wood above and with the 2 of them, if one were to fail, it's more of a swinging motion than slamming down to the floor.

 

What do you want put on the tomb stone, either fix it or sell it. that bike will kill you.

 

lol did you just read the first page and decide to throw your .02 cents in?

back on topic that sounds like a better plan. I have an engine picker that i can probably find a way to hang the bike from with some ratchet straps....

i'll work on it tmw and post back if i run into issues.

 

I used an 8' step ladder and a come-along:

 

lol... i didnt even realize he was talking about me!





and.. i've been able to ride with it for over a year... if that is the thing that does me in i will let you know.

but yes.. i am going to fix it

 

and.. i've been able to ride with it for over a year... if that is the thing that does me in i will let you know.

Actually, you wouldn't be able to let us know.

If you need a great and very fairly priced shop, and they really know SVs, westcoastgpcycles.com is in West LA--in case you do not know already and if you decide to take it in rather than work on it yourself.

 

i think i might take you up on that

 

Please have a mechanic inspect your vehicle. The life you save may be your own.

 

the main point of these forums is aftermarket parts and DIY, thats a silly comment really, its a steering stem, not a freakin engine build. Are we allowed to clean/wax our own chain? (altho people have totall ****** that up in the past lol)