Steering head bearing

Sets can be ball bearings (caged or loose balls) or more durable taper roller bearings. They must be preloaded correctly with the adjusting nut: too tight makes steering heavy, too loose creates play.

Symptoms of a problem

• A slight "notch" felt when the bars are in the straight-ahead position
• A clunk or play when applying the front brake
• Weaving at low speed, shaking at the bars

Replace the bearings together with their races as a set.