lets talk wheel bearings.
 

as the title says,

when i spin my rear wheel by hand, i can hear a clicking noise coming from the rear sprocket area, i dont think its the chain, as there is nothing to click really, checked the brake disc, and took the calipar off. and still hear the clicking noise.

i can feel a very slight vibration through the wheel when i roate it by hand,

i can hear the clicking noise when the bike is coasting.

i take it this means my bearings need replacing,
there is no side play in the wheel.

and the bike handles as normal.

questions . . . .


is it safe to ride ? or is it a case of only ride if i need to.

anyone had a wheel bearing fail on them before while in motion ? what tends to happen ?
i know it can lead to a snapped chain - which is something i want to avoid.

i take it one of the little bearings has cracked, or chipped, causing resistance as the turn round ?

are you sure its not the chain going on to the sprocket teeth? cuz mine does that.
is your wheel line'd up right? if not your chain could be going onto the sprocket wonky.

ill have another check later, but the clicking isnt in synch with the chain going over the sprocket.

Chains don't wear evenly :wink:

Lube it first, it might stop the clicking

You can also get clicking from the gearbox (even in N).

Valleyboy to the thread please...

If no side play, I would look at the other solutions mentioned above. I take it you had the rear wheel off the ground at the time though? That is the proper way to check.

I could tell the front wheel bearings were going on my diversion. It would click/kadunk every rotation but only now and then and it wasn't that loud. Until one day (in largs) the sound increased and increased until an almighty CRUNCH came from the front wheel. Was fine afterwards. :shock:

1 month later and I do the front wheel bearings - Both were totally gubbed, bits of bearings just fell out. I was lucky.

i had just lubed the chain after i started hearing it. . . thats how i noticed.

then i been keeping an eye on it, and its still doing it,
im pretty sure its not the chain.

i take it bearings are a bugger to do yourself, i used to do em on my skateboard and skates, but motorcyles are quite a bit bigger.

Troubleshooting... Take the chain off and spin the wheel. If it doesn't go away, take off the rear caliper. If it still doesn't go away, it's a bearing. Or a crocodile with a clock in its stomach :)

you should be able to tell if its a bearing, with the rear wheel off the ground grab the wheel at 6 o`clock and 12 o`clock ( position not time :roll: ) and try to move it pushing top and pulling bottom then vica versa it should have little or no movement, try same at 3 and 9 o`clock positions.
if there is movement they could be on the way out, be careful the movement is on the spindle, I changed bearing becuase MOT said to, only to find it was a suspension bush!
changing them is quite ok if you are reasonable at home maintanence, usual hard bit is getting the old bearing out. I use old bearing then a socket to drift new one home.