Front Wheel Bearing Failure

GSequoia

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I poked around and didn't see any mention but have people seen seeing front wheel bearings fail kinda early? My 2016 has about 9,000 miles on it and the front bearing started making a loud clucking today. Odd sound but I brought it home then took the wheel down this evening and it feels a bit crunchy when I put the axle through it and spin and I can hear what I think is a softer version of the clunk (it gets so loud because it reverberates through wheel).

Bit of a pisser, this is my daily rider!
 

GSequoia

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Yup definitely bearings. This debris was in the RH bearing. I also saw evidence of water in there which must have simply been from my infrequent washings as I haven’t forded anything in the pig.

B2006C3A-9542-44D7-B37F-7FBDC6D901CA.jpeg

Guess I’m either driving the Jeep to work tomorrow or pulling my DR350 out.
 

EricV

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That sucks. There have been a few wheel bearing failures, but it's not common. Especially at low mileage. The ones I recall were off road riders.
 

GSequoia

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That sucks. There have been a few wheel bearing failures, but it's not common. Especially at low mileage. The ones I recall were off road riders.
Yeah I might have an honest 500 miles in dirt, if that, and I'm sure the previous owner never got it in dirt at all. I've had the wheel off four times and been very particular about torquing it correctly and proper usage of spacers. Hope the local dealer has the bearings and seals in stock so I can fix it up tomorrow night.

Got the DR out. Started on the third kick. Topped off the tires and the oil and I guess maybe I'll ride it in tomorrow (48 mile round trip commute through Los Angeles). I've been meaning to do that anyway but was hoping to do it after I worked on rejetting the carb, it's running a bit on the rough side at the moment.
 

RCinNC

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Any part can fail, even quality ones, but it's sure not a common occurrence with wheel bearings on this bike. I'm still on the same OEM bearings at almost 61,000 miles, and I bet that's isn't unusual at all among other guys on the forum.
 

GSequoia

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Oh I know failure. I own Jeeps :) I just found it curious.

The noise it produced sounded almost exactly like an engine knock. My stomach sank when I first heard it. When I killed the engine and coasted into the gas tation parking lot I realized I was hearing something tied to rotation of the front wheel. I suspect that now and then that chip would get jammed in the bearing and cause a click. That click was transmitted through the outer race to the aluminum wheel. The bowl around the hub on the wheel must have been acting like an amplifier along with the spokes making it produce a very loud and unique knock.
 

Cycledude

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Right rear wheel bearing on my 2013 failed with only 45,000 miles.
Spent nearly a week in a motel in Missoula Montana waiting for new bearings, Yamaha warehouse was empty and on back order so I got them from All Balls.
 

EricV

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Any bearing supply house can source you multiple brands of compatible bearings. SFK and others are higher quality than most and equal to or better than Yamaha. I was lucky to have some over nighted when I lost the front wheel bearings on the FJR. Only lost 2 days on that trip. I suppose a lot depends on where you get stuck too!
 

~TABASCO~

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Ive definitely seen this before. More times than not, its the non-drive rear that 'smokes' , and turns to dust. Everyone should check all the bearings each and every time you change your tires... You will probably find a bearing on its way out before it blows up. If you have a shop change your tires make it a point to ask about each of the wheel bearings, or stand there if possible.
In my simple opinion, I would put back in the stock bearing and don't look to save $2 with some no name "shoddy" bearings.
 
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Fortech

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Do someone have the part numbers for the front and rear wheel bearings available to quickly post, or have a link to a thread stating the part numbers?

It probably wouldn’t hurt for me to pick up a f & r set the next time I visit my bearing shop
 

GSequoia

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Ive defiantly seen this before. More times than not its the non-drive rear that 'smokes' , and turns to dust. Everyone should check all the bearings each and every time you change your tires... You will probably find a bearing on its way out before it blows up. If you have a shop change your tires make it a point to ask about each of the wheel bearings, or stand there if possible.
In my simple opinion, I would put back in the stock bearing and don't look to save $2 with some no name "shoddy" bearings.
I'll be looking close at them to be sure. I typically do when I've either got more miles on it or have subjected to known abuse. This one just caught me completely off guard due to the low miles and charmed life it's lead. Next time the rear wheel is off the bearings will be getting a very close look to be sure.

Parts ordered from a local Yamaha dealer but won't be in until Thursday. I figured that was the fastest way to go without knowing dimensions, etc.
 
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RonH

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Probably previous owner induced in some way. I suppose a bearing could go bad in 9000 miles, but not likely. I must be lucky, in 500,000+ miles I've never had to replace a wheel bearing on any motorcycle I've ever owned. I always buy new to cut out the middle man, which many times you never know what has been done, not done, done wrong. You just never know if you didn't do your own work since new what to expect.
 

GSequoia

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The previous owner had it for only 2900 miles (Yeah I robbed the cradle). The only thing I could imagine that he might have done is over-zealous washing. This thing was stupid clean and I've totally ruined it :)
 

Checkswrecks

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Happens but not a lot. The usual suspects tend to be:

Over-tightening,
Water with soap,
Pressure washing,
Any cleaning or other solvent use to remove the grease.
 
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