removing the lower steering head bearing...

[Antonn3]

how are others taking the lower steering head bearing off.?  the bearing on the lower yolk ....
..any way to save the lower rubber seal?

Thank you,
Tony

[FJmonkey]

how are others taking the lower steering head bearing off.?  the bearing on the lower yolk ....
..any way to save the lower rubber seal?

Thank you,
Tony

Many have ground them off from the inside. With no lip to catch a drift on it is crap shoot. If you have access to a welder you can weld something to the race and then just knock it out. I am gonna have to do this soon for my FZR front end upgrade. Might be a week or two before I can report back what I did.

[Harvy]

Yep, flip the inner race through 90 degrees and weld it to the outer race, then knock it all out with a drift........ done it twice now and is oh so easy!

Harvy

[Antonn3]

Yes, that is the method I used to remove that part (weld metal piece, then punch it out),  but actually Im referring the the other half of that roller bearing that is on the steering stem?
Hope that makes sense?

Thanks,
Tony

[Harvy]

Yes, that is the method I used to remove that part (weld metal piece, then punch it out),  but actually Im referring the the other half of that roller bearing that is on the steering stem?
Hope that makes sense?

Thanks,
Tony

Yes..... I understand, sorry Tony.......Yes I ended up ruining the rubber seal doing mine. Had to knock a flat blade screwdriver behind it on both sides to get it moving. Once its unseated, it will fall off...... but it is a bugger to start with.

Harvy

[Harvy]

Thinking about it now.....maybe you could use the same method......weld something on that allows you to knock it off?

Harvy

[FJ Flyer]

Are you asking about the inner race, on the steering stem?  Or the outer race in the head stock?

Sounded like the inner race.  I ground mine with a pneumatic die grinder and stopped just before I got thru it.  Then I gave it a hit with a cold chisel and hammer.  Cracks and pops right off.

The outer race is another story.  Tried that method and found it almost impossible to get a good angle with the chisel.  As others mentions, welding tabs is a good option.  Hippie Cain saved me with his in house designed tool and I was lucky to get it out.

[MyFirstNameIsPaul]

I think I used an old Honda bearing remover, but it was so many years ago I don't remember, and since I installed a zirc fitting I don't plan on ever opening the thing up again.

[Antonn3]

yes FJ Flyer, Im referring to the inner race, on the steering stem.. The way you recommend by cutting and using a chisel was my next move..

Thanks,
Toy

[JCainFJ]

 If your FJ has an aluminum lower triple clamp, just press the stem out of the triple (from the top) and the inner bearing will drop off. Then press the stem back into the triple, replace the seal and press on the new inner bearing and you will be good to go.