Chapter M-2's Technical Corner

Howard Halasz's May 2009 Technical Article


"Steering Stem Bearings"

Today I'm going to say a few words about your steering stem bearings, the little bearings that your steering stem and handlebar swivels on. The lower clamp and the steering stem make up one single weldment. This weldment is also known as the "triple tree", but in my opinion, it doesn't look like a tree at all! It has no bark, branches, leaves, roots, or sap, so in this article, I'll call it a lower clamp. On the 1983 to the present year model, the steering stem houses the automatic turn signal cancel unit.

The 1975 through 1977 Wings use component ball bearings. These bearings consist of upper and lower races that are press fit into the frame. The lower cone is press fit on the stem just above the dust seal. Nineteen steel balls are "glued" to the lower cone with bearing grease prior to assembly. The upper bearing has eighteen steel balls that are "glued" to the upper race prior to assembly. The cone is placed above the steel balls and the adjustment nut is screwed onto the stem to hold all that stuff together.

The 1978 thru 2000 Gold Wings use tapered roller bearings at the upper and lower ends of the stem. The races are press fit into the frame just like the ball bearing races are on the older GL 1000's. The steering stem assembly is similar.

Inspection and adjustment of the steering stem bearings should be routine maintenance on ALL Gold Wings, from the GL 1000 to the GL 1800. One simple way to inspect the bearings without disassembling anything is to put the Gold Wing on its center stand. Use a floor jack, bottle jack, or scissor jack to raise the front wheel up off of the floor. You can put the jack under the front engine cover, but don't put it under the oil filter or air dam. Move the handlebar slowly left and right. If the handlebar feels like it is trying to center itself sort of like a stop notch at the center of travel, then your bearings are definitely damaged and should be replaced. Move the handlebar slightly off center and release it. If the handlebar flops to either the left or right stop, then the steering stem bearings might need to be adjusted unless you ride a naked (no fairing, bags, or trunk) Gold Wing or Valkyrie.

I do not recommend that you adjust these bearings unless you are mechanically skilled and have access to the special tools required to do the job right. See your Honda dealer service department or your Honda trained technician for adjustment or replacement of steering stem bearings.

Worn bearings will make your Gold Wing drift left and right, making it difficult to ride in a straight line. Loose bearings can cause your Gold Wing to wobble at speeds between 30 and 40 miles per hour, particularly if you ride an Interstate, Aspencade, or GL1800. Adjusting the steering stem bearings will usually dampen deceleration wobble if the swing arm bearings and wheel bearings are in good condition. Proper front tire inflation also keeps low speed wobble under control.

If you ride a 2001 or later model and adjustment doesn’t stop the wobble, consider installing aftermarket tapered roller steering stem bearings or changing to a different brand front tire.

Howard Halasz, Technical Coordinator

GWRRA Spring, Texas Chapter M-2