250-500cc Front wheel bearing removal question

What is the deal with the retaining clip on the front wheel bearing?? I tried for about a half hour last night with some retaining ring pliers to get that sucker out and had no luck. I could compress it just fine, but then as soon as I tried to pull it out it would just snap back into place.

So, what is the secret to getting that thing off? I have some new wheel bearings that are wanting to be installed.

Just thinking this through, since the clip is only on one side, do I remove the bearing from the other side and inner sleeve first? Never had a front wheel with a retaining clip before. Funny how something so simple can leave you so stumped sometimes.

You have to have a good pair of pliers where the tips fit in most of the hole. If you have one of the cheap ones with little tips, you will struggle. I had to get a couple small screw drivers in addition to the pliers to help coax it out.

the point about a "good" pair is very important, I have ones from Snap-on and Mac that are way above the curve
two important thoughts angle is important, if the tips are not square to the work such as a bad angle or also the tool is out of its working range, either will affect the performance of the tool
secondly if the tip is worn to a point it deflects the snap ring just as it finishes disengaging it from the groove, when new the tips when magnified have a slight hourglass look to them for traction

Thanks guys I figured that would be the case. Appreciate the help. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

how to you remove the rubber seal on the outside before you can even get to the retaining clip. I'm talking about the outer rubber seal and not the one on the bearing itself?

Gently pry it with a flat blade screwdriver as far under the lip as possible your aiming for the metal ring bonded into the seal thats the spot you want.
If youve got a new seal usually supplied with bearing kit throw caution to the wind an gouge that sucker outta there

Yeah, I figured it out. I was using too small of a flat head. Pulled out the jumbo and got it.

Judging from the two wheels I have with broken hubs you are supposed to just wail on it with a blind bearing puller until the hub cracks and then realize there is a circlip and then remove it.

So even though you struggled, your way ahead of the game apparently.

Nice Job

Oh man, that is rough.


Big head screw driver for outer seal.
Circlip needle nose or jewelry needle nose (full round head to needles).
If still difficult, grab with needle nose, start to pull out and then place a small flat head screw driver behind the part of clip that is partially out from the bearing.
This helps keep the circlip from popping back in and then you can pull out the rest of it.
As for bearing removal. Heating the hub seems to be the best way to try and reuse the existing bearings.
A bearing puller is the way just to get them out for new ones.

The right tire spoon will work good to get a seal out with less chance of damaging the seal lip or spring. I put a small piece of hardwood or aluminum at the fulcrum point to protect the hub from nicks/dents.