Hi All, I was washing the bike yesterday and noticed the left front wheel bearing has grease all around it. The right one is clean, so is that a sign the bearing is going out? I'm about to put some long miles on the bike and don't want to get stranded.

Thanks a head for your thoughts.

Beary

 

If grease can get out crap can get in

 

I can't speak from experience but, since the bearings are supposed to be sealed, I would guess that grease around the outside of the bearing indicates there is a failure in the seal. Before I made a trip, I would change out both sides.

 

Leaking or seeping ... There's a difference but if noticeable amounts of grease are coming out you'd be wise to service it now in stead of being out somewhere waiting for someone to pick you up and tow it in.

 

i would say yes it's on it's way out. always replace if you suspect something wrong. it's your life going down the road. the new style wheel bearing are junk anyway.

 

is the bike new. if grease coming out then its packed good.. thats what i want after i pack my bearings and by the way. i pack sealed bearings all the time. ive never seen grease come out if a bearing is failing. noise maybe but not grease coming out

 

also. what is the recent servicing of the bike

 

Mine did that and went out at 17000 miles, may be a good time to take a look at it.

 

You didn't mention whether or not you have ABS, I am just curious. Have you had the wheel off the front of the bike lately?

Are you sure it's grease and not silver anti-seize lubricant? If you have an ABS bike, the front left bearing is the ABS bearing. They rarely fail. If the axle was coated in anti-seize, as it should be when installed, then sliding the axle through the bore of the ABS or a non-ABS bearing (if you don't have ABS) bearing will tend to "pile-up" some of the anti-seize lubricant on the outside of the inner bearing race and make it look messy.

Edit...avoid pressure washing in the area of the wheel bearings. You can accidentally force water under the seal and displace the lubrication over time, leading to premature bearing failure issues.

 

18500 miles on the bike. Bearing is not making a noise. Right bearing is not leaking at all. This one is leaking a lot.

My fear is that I will take the bike in to get the bearings replaced and come out with a new bike. I see it happen to folks on this forum all the time.

I do have ABS.

Beary