is there a link or can someone walk me through a wheel bearing swap on my 06.
I went through this some time back. Lots of videos on YouTube. In the end, I took it to a local shop and let them do it for $10
Pull the wheel and reach thru from the oposite side with a long punch or screwdriver hitting alternately on one side then the other so old brg isn't cocked too much while you drive it out. There's notches inside the hub where you can hit close to the outside edges of the brg. Repeat for other side, brgs should be replaced in pairs. Drive new brg in with a socket or piece of cvs pipe or anything you have about the same OD as the bearing. Tap in all around until it bottoms solid. Don't drive on the inner race with a press fit on the outer race or you can damage the new brg.
Getting bearings out is not that easy. Remember there is a bearing sleeve in the middle the axle goes through. That prevents you from being able to hit the edge of the bearing. You can only hit the middle.
A bearing remover works fast and easy. MotionPro makes one. $80-$100. I have one. It works quite well.
http://www.sears.com/motion-pro-motion-pro-08-0269-wheel-bearing/p-SPM7222451808?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5
Heating the hub to expand it and freeze spray on the bearing to shrink it makes it sometimes fall out.
Putting in the new bearing required you to seat it correctly.
If doing it once, have a shop do it or borrow tools.
I've changed all 4 wheel bearings on my current 02 GS which is most surprising to me. I've found mc wheel bearing failures to be most unusual. Had to replace the rears back in Mar 07 at 46,200 miles. The tire change guy left out the spacer between the cush brg and the left wheel brg causing the wheel brg to fail due to overload. Then a front wheel brg failed in Feb 09 at 67k miles and I changed those, bike has 97.5k miles on it now. Your right, the first brg has to be driven out catching the inner race thru the spacer tube that sets preload. No problem it only takes a minute with a big old screwdriver and a BFH.
The 4 Hondas I had plus my 97 GS never had a wheel brg replaced in over a total of 310k miles I put on them. I consider special tools for such a rare job to be quite a waste of money for myself when the job can be done right without them. I started changing car wheel bearings about 65 years ago back when they needed it rather frequently so a mc wheel brg change seems like no big deal to me. Others may find it more challenging.
thanks very much