Anyone had Front Wheel Bearings wear out?

[jcthorne]

Question for the collective Spyder community. Has anyone had a set of front wheel bearings wear out on a 2013 and newer Spyder? If so, how many miles?
I work on a lot of Spyders and have yet to come across one with front bearings needing replacement. Rears yes, but never fronts. My own bike is approaching the 100k miles point and I will replace the rear bearings again and the drive belt but got to thinking about the fronts. May just do them anyway but got curious and thought to ask the community if any have failed due to wear.

 

[Wmoater]

On dads old RTL- 2015 special addition, he had 110,000 when he traded it in. He never had the fronts done. Rear once around 80K. They started whining pretty loud. It solely saw Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada highways which is very smooth and no tar chip and high temps. All asphalt and cement. Belt was never replaced but should have. They were rounded off pretty good. He is not an aggressive rider simply a cruzer with mom.

 

[BajaRon]

We have never seen bad front wheel bearings. And we've had some pretty thrashed Spyders in the shop. I'm sure it happens. But I think it very rare.

 

[jcthorne]

We have never seen bad front wheel bearings. And we've had some pretty thrashed Spyder in the shop. I'm sure it happens. But I think it very rare.

Thanks Ron. I am leaning toward if they are not loose, just let them ride. I replaced the rears at 50k and will likely do those again at 100 but seems if the failure rate on the fronts are this low that no one sees them fail, my odds are pretty good leaving them be if they show no signs of trouble.

 

[BajaRon]

Thanks Ron. I am leaning toward if they are not loose, just let them ride. I replaced the rears at 50k and will likely do those again at 100 but seems if the failure rate on the fronts are this low that no one sees them fail, my odds are pretty good leaving them be if they show no signs of trouble.

That's the way I'd go unless there is evidence of a problem. The rear bearings are another story. Though BRP has improved these over the years.

 

[K80Shooter]

I honestly think that you would hear them singing way before they go out if they were to go bad.
Also like you mentioned, check for looseness occasionally.

Back years ago on auto's, truck and big rigs, if we suspected a bad bearing, we would lift the wheel off the ground and spin the tire with a spin balancer and listen for noise. There was no missing it if they were going out.

 

[safecracker]

On my old Spyder (2011 RTS, SM5) had 97,000 miles when I traded it in this summer. I rode double over 90% of the time and fully loaded. All of my wheel bearings were original. Same as my front brake pads and all rotors. I guess I was lucky. Bruce

 

[KX5062]

I know the original question was regarding 2013 or newer, but I think my case does apply.

I had an original 2008 Premier Edition. The front end was so misaligned from the factory it caused several front-end components to wear out prematurely, including a front wheel bearing.

 

[pauly1]

I replaced a front bearing cartridge on my 2015 F3-S, not due to bearing failure but changing out the spindle. I was trying to troubleshoot a brake run-out / wheel flange run-out. But the bearings were good.

While chasing the run-out issue, as measured with a dial indicator, I found that flange and the center ring both had significant run-out. The center ring/boss that locates the wheel, had lateral runout, a wobble, if you will. That's the same surface that laser wheel alignment magnets attach. That, and coupled with the paint, will affect the accuracy of any alignment based on that datum.