Headset bearing replacement

[Desmond O'Connell]

Hi guys,

Rebuilding my 2013 Ghost frame for my missus and have come across some issues. I am wanting to replace the bearings in the headset and am wanting to know if I can replace the existing bearings with internal bearings and what would that entail? I have tried an internal bearing on the bottom and it does not fit the existing race in the frame. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you! The front suspension is also tapered.

[100Tours]

you have to match the bearing to the race - i.e. they come as a matched set. if you have a sealed bearing design then you need to get the appropriately sized bearing.

 

you can buy a new headset (cups and bearings) and replace the lot.

[Wannabe]

Head over to the Parktool website, read up on the various headsets available under their section "Headset Standards"

 

But when you buy a new headset, you get the cup / insert with the bearings. The old one gets pressed out, a new one (mated to the correct sealed bearing) gets pressed in, and voila, you have an upgraded headset.

 

Your new headset should look something like this.

[David Marshall]

That is a semi integrated head set with what looks like semi serviceable bearings.  I am assuming that you want to fit sealed bearings.  If so you will need to knock out the cups that hold the bearings into the head tube and replace them with a whole new semi integrated headset with sealed bearings and the same sized cups as the ones you took out.  You will also need to replace the race on the fork crown.  The new one will come with the headset.

[Martin PJ]

With the headset it is normally the bottom one that is gone, the rest is OK. If you can pull out the bottom and get a matching one from the bike shop, then just replace that.

 

Otherwise take it to the bike shop and see if they can sell you the whole lot and press it in while you wait. I don't replace the whole headset myself because it you buy the wrong one and then DIY it is money wasted.