front wheel bearings k1100

[Howard64180]

I'm in the process of fitting stainless bobbins to my front discs and thought I'd put some grease in the wheel bearings at the same time.  The bike is 19 years old, after all.  The wider of the two bearings is an angular contact double row ball bearing (looked it up).  Having removed the outer seal, I noticed that the outer bearing cage can be pulled out quite easily (allowing grease to be pushed into the inner row).  I've spent quite some time researching this and it would appear that it is normal for the cage to separate from this type of bearing, can anyone confirm this please?

[Scott_]

I'm no engineer, but bearings are sealed for a reason. The 2 items that will quickly kill a bearing are dirt and water. Keeping them sealed keeps both out.

Personally I'd just replace the sealed unit with a new one and not risk opening up the old one and trying to get it sealed back again.

[Howard64180]

OK, I agree and I've decided to replace the bearings.  More research shows I've probably mixed two different types of grease and possibly put too much in there as well.  At 60,000 miles the old bearings have done well.

[wmax351]

Honestly, by time you've removed and cleaned the old bearings, it would have been cheaper to buy new ones and save the time, in addition to being the proper procedure. They are cheap bearings. A set of chinese made ones is ~5-10 dollars. You can get good brand ones too, for a bit more.

[Howard64180]

Thanks for the replies.  Yes, bearings now ordered and old ones removed in preparation.