How to change dirt bike wheel bearings

Replacing front and rear wheel bearings is an important piece of maintenance that every dirt bike rider will eventually need to undertake on their machine.  

In this guide, we cover how to replace your wheel bearings in six simple and easy steps! 

Removal and install of wheel bearings:

Step 1: Remove wheels from the bike

Doing one wheel at a time will help with balancing the bike on a stand and prevent it from falling.

Step 2: Remove the wheel spacers, seals and wheel bearings

We recommend using a seal puller to remove the axle seal and a wheel bearing removal tool to remove the bearings, this will make life a lot easier. Old bearings are usually tight and can be difficult to remove, if you don’t have a wheel bearing removal tool, you can use a socket and extension, and proceed to hit the bearing out of the hub from the opposite side with a rubber mallet.

Step 3: Clean and prep the hub for new bearings

Ensure the internal hub area is clean and free of dirt and debris. Apply a light film of grease in prep for new bearings. 

Step 4: Install new bearings

Sit the new bearings in place and gently tap them into position - ensure they install straight and aren’t lopsided. Make sure they are “home” and all the way against the hub, you will hear a different tone once they are “home” when installing. Make sure to install the inner spacer once you have installed one side.

Step 5: Install retainers, snap rings (if applicable) and seals

Push the freshly greased rubber seals into place. You should be able to use your fingers for this, otherwise, you can gently use a rubber mallet to tap them in.

Step 6: Install wheels

Reinstall the wheels, don’t forget to apply a thin layer of grease to your axles and torque the axle nut to manufacturer spec along with pinch bolts and go rip some motos!

Which wheel bearings are right for my bike?

Many aftermarket brands sell wheel bearings, they are designed to fit your specific model as they do vary from bike to bike, so be sure to select your bike so you can purchase the correct bearings. Please note if you have aftermarket hubs your bearings may be different from the original hubs.

Some of the leading brands include:
- Precision Moto: high-quality moto specific bearing kit, manufactured with precision from high quality bearing steel for optimized performance and increased longevity.
- All Balls: Rubber sealed bearings for additional protection from water and dirt. Precision high-speed bearings manufactured to ABEC3 standards.
-Bearing Worx: High-quality bearings, designed to perform.
-RHK: Precision high speed, low drag bearings and double lip seals provide greater bearing life.

Wheel bearings come in front-wheel bearing kits and rear wheel bearing kits - you can also get kits that include both front and rear. They include everything you need to complete the replacement process, including bearings and rubber seals.

How do I grease the bearings?

Most wheel bearings are sealed units from the factory, so you can’t grease the bearings without removing the bearing seal. removing the axle seals and cleaning and greasing them will prolong the life of the bearings by reducing the amount of dirt and debris inside the hub area. You can learn how to grease bearings and seals in this guide How to Grease your Bearings