i haven't tryed yet, but will the bearings slide onto the axle easy?? can u smear a bit of grease on axle so the bearings will slide on easy??

 

??
I have an 03 and you install the bearings (packed) in the rear axle housing.Then you slide the axle into the housing. Then you pre-load. Then you set to spec torque.
Get the shop manual if you can.

 

How are you supposed to torque those bearings? Or where do you take the torque setting from?

After replacing mine I just tightened that thing on the left side of the rear brake rotor till there was no play in the axle. Then I took it for a rip and checked it again.

 

there is a special wrench available from dealer that fits the axle nut and a torque wrench is inserted into a square hole so torque can be measured. if you are familiar with torque and do a lot of stuff like this, it is not totally necesary, but if you are not confident in getting the bearing load set right then it may be the best way to go.

 

I bought both tools because I have no idea what I'm doing.....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Seriously, the axle nut wrench is very helpful and inexpensive even by dealer standards. You do need a 1/2" drive Torque wrench thou.

 

I think the rear was changed in 04 to a different type. I think there is no pre-load nut.
Don't tell anyone, but I used a pipe wrench on mine.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]
The whole thing is easy once you try.

 

the cdrom for 01 says to torque it by hand then tighten the locking bolt on the adjusting nut to like 89 inch lbs so that is what i did with my 02, you think that is ok or should I go by the crowfoot and torque it? there is no play in the bearings and the axle rotates smoothly, alot better than before with the crunching sounds lol

 

Wrong! I have an 04 and there are specific details about how to preload the bearings in the manual by using the "crowfoot" tool and a 1/2" drive torque wrench. I don't have the manual with me now but I believe it says to preload the nut to 69 Ft lbs, then back it off and reapply the torque to something like 24 ft lbs......You need a manual!

 

This is what the manual says for a 2001



Section 06 DRIVE TRAIN
Subsection 03 (FINAL DRIVE)
06-03-4 VMR2001_022_06-03A.FM
Reinstall in their proper order all removed parts.
Secure with a new cotter pin.
Preload Adjustment
Turn adjusting nut counterclockwise (towards
front of ATV) and hand tighten only.
CAUTION: Do not over tighten using a tool; this
would cause tapered bearings to overheat and
thus reduce their life expectancy.
Ensure axle turns freely and without bearing play
and then tighten adjusting nut lock screw no. 21
to 10 N•m (89 lbf•in).

 

hey oldmanracing I checked with my dealer and he said the carrier for a 2001 is 69.00 and the carrier for a 2002 is 134.00 he was not sure of the why there is a price differance, i preloaded mine acording to the 2001 directions with hand tightening, my cdrom only goes up to 2001 if I didnt do it right can someone please correct me? I just figured they were like tapered bearings on your trailer or front spindles on your car or van hand tighten till you feel a little resistance then back of just a hair so it spins freely, any other suggestions?