I have an 04 Suzuki Eiger with 1750 miles on it. The front left tire has alot of play in it and it just started to screach occasionally. I'm assuming it is the bearings. Does anyone have any step by step instructions on how to change the bearings and what all parts I should replace?

 

Are you positive it's the bearings and not the balljoints? If so, you'll have to take the knuckle off, get a blind bearing puller. That should accomplish the task. It's not too difficult, and if you took the knuckle off and brought it to dealer I'm sure they'd help you get out those old bearings.

 

I have a buddy coming over tomorrow night w/ an impact wrench to help get the castle nut off. It's on there very tight. Do you know if the castle nut is suppose to be that tight? I thought the idea of a castle nut was for it to not be too tight. I'll give you another update after we get things apart and see better what the issue is.

 

Yeah, mine was one quite tightly.

 

Got the castle nut off and the prob was definately the bearings. Picked the new ones up today and will be working on it over the next few days when I get some time.

 

I'm getting ready to change the front bearings on my 06' Eiger and wanted to know if you had any pointers to make it easier or if you had any problems changing yours?

 

The ticket for the castle nut is an impact wrench. Couldn't budge it without that. You definately have to pull the entire knuckle off to get the bearings out. My buddy's done atv bearings before and had the good ideas. We took the knuckle down to my shop vice and openned the vice enough to set the knuckle on top, but have the openning big enough to allow the bearings and seals to fall thru the vice openning. We carefully used a punch and a hammer to slowly knock the bearings out each side of the knuckle. Just be careful not to scar the interior walls of the knuckle when you knock the bearings out.

There's 2 seals, 2 bearings, and 1 spacer that I purchased at the local shop. Cost about $50. I got the spacer also for $6. I probably could have reused the old one, but for $6 I think it's worth it to replace it too.

We haven't put the new bearings in yet, but I think it's going to go back together easily enough. Let me know how yours goes.