headset bearings

[Heel Drop]

when standing over the frontwheel facing the seat and I pick up the bike on the front shock with both hands and move it side to side I feel some sort of friction and suspect it could be the headset bearings

 

does any one know ? How do I check ? Bike was in for a major service and fork service less then two weeks ago should they not have picked it up?

[Helpmytrap]

First make sure that it is not your cable housings or brake hoses rubbing on one another.

[BrandonF_]

Just replace them anyway, then you know its good for the next couple of months, doesn't cost that much and you can do it yourself, take them out and to Bearing man or SKF, mines also shot now, after a year

[Heel Drop]

First make sure that it is not your cable housings or brake hoses rubbing on one another.

checked it seems not the cables

[Skylark]

If the bearings are shot it will be all notchy when you lift the bars and turn them.

Only one may be shot, normally the lower bearing that gets water contamination.

Just regrease the good one if it's fine and replace the other or both.

From my experience headset bearings can only be bought at LBS, as they are bike specific.

R40 each at my LBS, that's for standard 1 1/8' if yours are integrated or tapered they can get to R150 a bearing

[Johan Bornman]

Just replace them anyway, then you know its good for the next couple of months, doesn't cost that much and you can do it yourself, take them out and to Bearing man or SKF, mines also shot now, after a year

 

Tell you what, go Bearing Man on Monday for those bearings and come report here how many they had in stock and at what price. Try SKF too.

 

Don't let Male Answer Syndrome (MAS) make you respond to every question. If you don't know the answer, don't answer. You loose marks here for wrong answers.

[PeterF]

Johan is right, you will not find then at Bearing Man or SKF, but if you are lucky and they are not badly damaged you can remove the rubber seals, wash them in paraffin and re-grease them and should be good to go.

[Skylark]

Johan is right, you will not find then at Bearing Man or SKF, but if you are lucky and they are not badly damaged you can remove the rubber seals, wash them in paraffin and re-grease them and should be good to go.

 

But if they are knotchy no amount of cleaning and greasing will save them...

Although is you don't mind notchy bearings on your headset then bombs away

[Heel Drop]

took them out today and they are scratchy when you turn the bearings , do I buy the complete bearings set , one top and one bottome .Bottom is big and top is smalller.

 

Was thinking of taking them tot he LBS and get another set to replace the old ones?

[RexFuzzle]

Cyclelab has them... R130 for a set if I remember.

[Heel Drop]

Cyclelab has them... R130 for a set if I remember.

was thinking of getting them from fourways _shot thanks

[Rapunzel]

Johan is right, you will not find then at Bearing Man or SKF, but if you are lucky and they are not badly damaged you can remove the rubber seals, wash them in paraffin and re-grease them and should be good to go.

I just serviced my headset and did this. The lower bearings were fairly shot but opened them, cleaned, regreased and then reassembled (with the more worn bearings at the top this time) and it feels good for a few more months.