Steering Head Bearing Replacement...
 

I've discovered that my '03's top steering head bearing has started to rust a wee bit. Even though I had the sucker packed with excess grease, it seems the clear plastic dust cap allowed a little "schmegma" to enter and degrade the top bearing and race.

Question:

Is there an easier way to remove the lower steering head bearing other than by heating it and beating the piss out of it? (For instance, is there a tool that's made that makes the extraction easy?)

Your personal tips and tricks are greatly appreciated,

TP
'03 EC 300

OTC Tools makes this race remover.You adjust it to fit the edge of the race then tap it out.
It is from a Ford transmission tool repair kit.
Snap On may be able to order one for you.

Thanks for the thumbs-up on the removal tool for the lower race; I was wondering if it worked as well as advertised.

Pit Posse offers the same tool. It looks like it'll take care of the lower race with ease.

However, I'm looking for an easy way to remove the lower bearing from the steering stem, without having to heat it and beat it into submission. :-)

If you know of a tool that'll remove the lower bearing, please let me know where to find it.

TP

To be honest I don't think there's an easy way of removing the lower bearing from the stem on any 'bike, at least not that I've found, save from pressing the stem out of the bottom yoke and pressing the bearing off the bare stem, but that's more hassle than it's worth.

I think you would have to have someone fabricate a kind of gear puller tool. I always feel a little guilty beating that sucker with a cold chisel till it come off!!

Air chisel works well also.

An air chisel, hmmmm. :confused:

I could tear all sorts of $hi# up with that! :D

Nevertheless, it'll be my first tool of choice when it comes time to extract the little sucker.

Thanks for the advice,

TP

I use a dremel with a cut off wheel and score the race in several places and then chisel the race off.

P Bryant