In The Shop: Wheel Bearing End Play

WHEEL BEARING END PLAY

If you own a Harley Davidson that has wheels with conventional wheel bearings, it is important to know how to check, set, or correct wheel bearing end play. Harley Davidson changed over to sealed, non-servicable wheel bearings around the year 2000. Prior to that, all wheels had conventional bearings that needed to be inspected, cleaned, and serviced at regular intervals.

Correct end play is not only important for proper wheel function but it is also important for safety. If wheel end play is too excessive, the motorcycle may not handle correctly. In extreme cases, a rider might even experience wobble. If end play is set up too tight, the wheel bearings will become damaged upon axle tightening. Complete bearing failure might be experienced while in use creating a very dangerous situation. Wheel end play should be checked any time that a wheel is pulled for tire replacement, bearing and race replacement, or when performing a major service. End play needs to be checked with the wheel removed from the motorcycle.

In The Shop, we have a section of angled steel welded onto the end of a 3/4″ axle (1). This set up is helpful but not necessary. The stock front or rear axle from your motorcycle or a truing stand can also be used. Removal of wheel seals is necessary. Also, bearings, the center spacer, and any wheel shims need to be thoroughly cleaned (2). * Note: Not all wheels have shims. If you remove bearings and do not find any shims, that does not mean that the wheel was set up incorrectly. The end play may be set perfectly with a perfectly sized center spacer.*

The way we like to check end play is with our axle locked in a vise (3). We slide one spacer, one bearing and the center spacer onto the axle (4). Next, we slide the wheel onto the axle, followed by any shims (5). * Anytime shims are used, a “top hat” spacer is needed. The step on this spacer MUST go against the bearings inner race.* Lastly, the 2nd bearing is installed as well as any spacers and the axle nut. The axle nut is torqued to the motorcycle’s correct torque spec (6&7). A dial indicator is used to measure end play. End play should typically be between .002″ to .006″ (Refer to the correct service manual for the motorcycle.)

If the wheel does not spin freely, shims need to be added or a longer center spacer can be machined. If end play is excessive, shimming or the center spacer will need to be reduced. Shims are sold in a variety of sizes. They can be .050″ or as thin as .0015″, and all sizes in-between.

Related Videos

Harley-Davidson Wheel Bearing Replacement

Related Videos:

You can also check out this video demonstrating this task using professional tools.

FRONT WHEEL

Harley-Davidson® Front Forks Service

Replacing the Front Caliper Pad on a Motorcycle – Brembo

Harley Brake Rotor Installation

Harley Front Wheel Removal & Replacement

Sealed Harley Wheel Bearings Replacement

REAR WHEEL

Harley-Davidson® Rear Tire Replacement

Harley Sportster Rear Tire Removal & Replacement

Harley Rear Axle, Belt Adjustment & Tire Inspection

Motorcycle Rear Shock Adj, Wheel Removal

Softail Harley Belt Replacement – Removal Part 3 of 3

Sportster Rear Belt Removal & Replacement

Harley-Davidson® Belt Removal on a Touring Model

Harley Rear Tire, Drive Pulley and Inner Race Removal

WHEEL LACING

Lacing a Wheel

CHECKING AND TRUING WHEELS

Harley Wheel Truing

SEALED WHEEL BEARINGS

Sealed Harley Wheel Bearings Replacement

Harley-Davidson® Wheel Bearings Replacement

How to Pack Wheel Bearings on a Motorcycle

TIRES

Motorcycle Tire Maintenance Tips

Harley Rear Axle, Belt Adjustment & Tire Inspection

Harley Tire Change

Mounting a Tire on Your Harley

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

Make a comment:
characters remaining

No Responses to “In The Shop: Wheel Bearing End Play”

No Comments