Anyone? I'm trying to replace my bearings on my Foreman 450S (1998). Has anyone done this without the tool? If so, how?


Thanks,


bd

****UPDATE****

Hey guys, I punted on getting the knuckle completely separated. I was able to get the old bearings and seals out and am planning on installing Highlifter's sealed bearings and new dust seals.

My new question is this: The old bearings sat in some grooves, so do the new sealed bearings (which have backs on them) just sit in the same position as the old bearings?

It looks like the new ones will fit in there but there will be some extra space since they are sealed.

Thanks,

bd

 

i think it's a lot like a car, and the easiest way to do it is to take the nut off, and use a pry-bar to apply pressure in the direction that you want the ball-joint to come out (down for the lower, up for the upper) and use a metal hammer and pound on the body of the steering knucke that the shaft of the ball joint goes through.

You could also use a pickle-fork tool, but they usually wreck the ball joint boots.

 

Here's the method that works best on my Rancher:
Remove lower shock mount bolt and move shock out of the way. Next, remove balljoint castle nuts and keys. When every thing is out of the way, take a mallet and hit the knuckle from the bottom end first until it busts free. Then strike the top of the knuckle for the top joint. This will eliminate damaging any boots, etc.

 

Do it just as Pat89 said. It works the same way with a car. I nice hit on the side of the knuckle will usually send enough vibration to pop it free.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I'll take a few measured whacks and see what happens. If all else fails I'll try to borrow the tool from the local bike shop.

bd

 

(see first post)

 

The new ones will fit in the same spaces. Take the bearings and stick them in the freezer over night. Lightly coat the inside of the knuckle with grease. Take a similarly sized socket and tap the bearings in until they stop. Apply grease and then put the OEM seal in. You may have a little extra space, if so, just pack it full of grease. You will have two levels of sealing: sealed bearings themselves and the outer OEM seal.