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1999 st4 steering head bearings

600 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  ScrappyDuck, 
ScrappyDuck
Hello all. I’m looking to do the tapered roller bearing upgrade on my 1999 ST4. Can’t seem to find an All Balls kit that specifically fits the bike. Does anyone have any info on replacing these?
thanks in advance!
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JPTL
I know this doesn't answer your question, but I'm assuming you've diagnosed worn steering head bearings. What were the symptoms and how did you diagnose head bearings as the problem?
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chris_f
According to All Balls it is 22-1039. They have them, Gotham has them as Im sure others do.

www.allballsracing.com

22-1039

All Balls Steering Bearing Kit - No. 22-1039
www.allballsracing.com www.allballsracing.com

Ducati Tapered Steering Stem Head Bearings / Races SUPERBIKE 1198 748 916 916SPS 996 996SPS 998 998S 998R 998 98S FE 749 749S 749R Hypermotard 1100 1000 Monster 999 999S 999S 999R 999R 848 1098 ST2 ST4 ST4S ST3 ST3S Multistrada 93010041A,70240041A

Ducati Tapered Steering Stem Head Bearings / Races SUPERBIKE 1198 748 916 916SPS 996 996SPS 998 998S 998R 998 98S FE 749 749S 749R Hypermotard 1100 1000 Monster 999 999S 999S 999R 999R 848 1098 ST2 ST4 ST4S ST3 ST3S Multistrada 93010041A,70240041A
www.gothamcycles.com www.gothamcycles.com
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B
they're a 32907 bearing, and a name brand will be more than the all balls. the all balls come with seals that will drag on the bearings and cause heavy drag if you adjust the clearance out.

i use the oem seals - 93010041b - and use the original spacing washer you'll find under your lower bearing and seal - 85211031a - to stop the drag. the spacing washer goes between the seal and inner bearing to keep the seal off the outer cone.
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JasperST4
I replaced mine with the All Balls tapered bearings last summer. Mine felt fine but I had the forks off for an oil change so I figured I might as well do her. One tip, if you don't have the tool to seat the races is I used a half inch threaded stud and found the extra spacers for my bench grinders were the perfect size. With a nut on each end I was able to crank them in pretty easily. I did find a minor amount of corrosion on a few roller balls of the top bearing.
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B
Mine installed fine with the provided seal with no drag.
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ScrappyDuck
JPTL said:
I know this doesn't answer your question, but I'm assuming you've diagnosed worn steering head bearings. What were the symptoms and how did you diagnose head bearings as the problem?
Click to expand...
chris_f said:
According to All Balls it is 22-1039. They have them, Gotham has them as Im sure others do.

www.allballsracing.com

22-1039

All Balls Steering Bearing Kit - No. 22-1039
www.allballsracing.com www.allballsracing.com

Ducati Tapered Steering Stem Head Bearings / Races SUPERBIKE 1198 748 916 916SPS 996 996SPS 998 998S 998R 998 98S FE 749 749S 749R Hypermotard 1100 1000 Monster 999 999S 999S 999R 999R 848 1098 ST2 ST4 ST4S ST3 ST3S Multistrada 93010041A,70240041A

Ducati Tapered Steering Stem Head Bearings / Races SUPERBIKE 1198 748 916 916SPS 996 996SPS 998 998S 998R 998 98S FE 749 749S 749R Hypermotard 1100 1000 Monster 999 999S 999S 999R 999R 848 1098 ST2 ST4 ST4S ST3 ST3S Multistrada 93010041A,70240041A
www.gothamcycles.com www.gothamcycles.com
Click to expand...
Thanks so much!
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ScrappyDuck
JPTL said:
I know this doesn't answer your question, but I'm assuming you've diagnosed worn steering head bearings. What were the symptoms and how did you diagnose head bearings as the problem?
Click to expand...
so, When riding it has a bit of a head shake if I let go of the bars. Also, I have the forks off right now for seal replacement. With the forks off of the bike, the bars feel very “notchy” when turning side to side. This is classic symptom when grooves have been worn into the races by the ball bearings. Third, I just want tapered rollers because I think they are better than ball-style for steering heads.

cheers🙂
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ScrappyDuck
JasperST4 said:
I replaced mine with the All Balls tapered bearings last summer. Mine felt fine but I had the forks off for an oil change so I figured I might as well do her. One tip, if you don't have the tool to seat the races is I used a half inch threaded stud and found the extra spacers for my bench grinders were the perfect size. With a nut on each end I was able to crank them in pretty easily. I did find a minor amount of corrosion on a few roller balls of the top bearing.
Click to expand...
Dude thanks for that tip. I don’t have any of the special tools for this job, so I’m trying to achieve as much as I can through “hacks”.

cheers bro!
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ScrappyDuck
belter said:
they're a 32907 bearing, and a name brand will be more than the all balls. the all balls come with seals that will drag on the bearings and cause heavy drag if you adjust the clearance out.

i use the oem seals - 93010041b - and use the original spacing washer you'll find under your lower bearing and seal - 85211031a - to stop the drag. the spacing washer goes between the seal and inner bearing to keep the seal off the outer cone.
Click to expand...
Hey, I appreciate that tip. I saw on YouTube, a pro Ducati mechanic outlined that exact same issue with the exact same solution. So I’m going to save the OEM seal and use the spacing washer. Thanks.
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D
My SS steering head bearings were much worse than I thought they would be when I serviced them. Totally worn, dry, pitted balls and worn races. You could turn the bars both ways and it felt normal.
They are hidden and ignored unless a problem comes up.
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D
I use boat trailer wheel bearing grease because of the water resistance , same with wheel bearings and swing arm.
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rennsportmotorrad
I normally use Amsoil synthetic grease on things like this, basically because I have plenty of it in the shop --It works very well & seems to last longer then conventional grease. --
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wolf900ss
ScrappyDuck said:
Hey, I appreciate that tip. I saw on YouTube, a pro Ducati mechanic outlined that exact same issue with the exact same solution. So I’m going to save the OEM seal and use the spacing washer. Thanks.
Click to expand...
That pro Ducati mechanic on YouTube and Belter have a lot in common:)
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ScrappyDuck
duc96cr said:
My SS steering head bearings were much worse than I thought they would be when I serviced them. Totally worn, dry, pitted balls and worn races. You could turn the bars both ways and it felt normal.
They are hidden and ignored unless a problem comes up.
Click to expand...
Ya I believe it. With the forks on, the steering felt fine on my ST. It was only once I got the wheel and forks off that I felt the notchy-ness when turning the triple clamp side to side.

happy to be replacing
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