Mud + Wheel Bearings = FAIL

In preparation for a ride this weekend, I was doing some pre-ride checks. I looks like the rear wheel bearings finally gave up the ghost. The tire could rock over an inch, and you could see the movement. I must say, I am quite satisfied. With the constant mud and water, and with larger tires, I am satisfied with the wheel bearing life. I got almost 1500 miles (~275 hours) out of the OEM parts. So that is what I went with for replacements. I even took the easy way out by ordering the whole knuckle assembly. 

Here are a few pics of the right rear wheel. And I do apologize for the dirty Rhino. It's been raining a lot here lately. Mmm, more mud!



Look, no wheel!




They were getting funky




New hub and bearing assembly. I added extra grease before installation.






I don't know if the extra grease is good, bad, or indifferent. But maybe it'll help displace water for a little longer.

Do you have a lift or just shocks?  Are the shocks longer?

Swampdonkey wrote:

Do you have a lift or just shocks?  Are the shocks longer?

 Yes, I have the 3" catvos lift. 
And yes, the aftermarket shocks are a little longer. 
I have to be careful with the 30" tires. The tire will hit the bottom of the bed and not bottom out the shock if I jump it real hard. I have only done it one time and that was hitting some pretty decent air for this kind of setup. It has not been a problem at all in normal driving, even spirited driving with a passenger.

Dirty Rhino? Thats pretty clean if you ask me!
1500 m is phenomenal for a set of bearings if you ride mud and water!!
I may get half that.

What kind of grease u using chris?

I have 2100 miles on my 06 660 and still have the original bearings in her. I live in south florida and ride mud and water every outing and the wheels don't rock at all. My 01 big bear 400 didn't need front wheel bearings until 2007 and I rode the piss out of that bike. No hour meter on it so can't tell you how many are on it but it has got to be WAY up there. I would assume 10,000 + miles. I can't kill it. Still have it today. Only thing that went was a frozen throttle cable and a locked up drum when it sat for a little bit. I swear by Yamaha and there Orem parts.

x2,hard to beat oem!!

I didn`t see any dirt,extra grease is good .

if any of you guys wanna replace the whole knuckle they are 120.00

the other night while measuring my backspacing I noticed my rear tires have some play in em as well. i just did the front bearings now time for the rear. that's the only downside to big heavy tires with a good offset. plus I ride very rocky terrain.

I live about 10 minutes from all balls racing. that's what I run. I have had good luck with em in the past.

I'm lucky to get much more than 5-600 miles out of those...the fronts seem to wear faster than the rears.  I'm gonna stick w/the yamaha's...got over 1500 out of them !!