Steering Head Bearings: Ball or taper roller?

[spiney norman]

Advice sought from knowledgeable engineering sorts please.....
We are new to this game and currently fettling the front end of out late 60's early 70's Crick chassis (16" wheel and forks that look just like the ones in the current advert for the WMR16" classic BMW for sale in the classifieds on this site).
Anyway, our steering head bearings are captive ball bearing types with a metal dust shield, not unlike you'd get on the stub axle of a trailer. RLS10ZZ size, same top and bottom. Both are rather rough, rusty and lumpy so I am about to replace them.
So, should I stick with these or replace with equivalent sized taper rollers or maybe just shut up. I am only asking as these look like something off a lorry and I was expecting taper rollers as obviously they can be adjusted for free play like what one would do on a solo motorbicycletta.
Yours in eager anticipation of anything which may or may not happen, thanks for reading, Jon, Lincoln.

[kew]

If the steering head is made for those bearings you may have to do some work to fit taper rollers.
I would just fit new bearings of the original type.
One more thing fit 2RS plastic shields, they are sealed better than steel shielded ones.
If ball races are good enough for your front wheel they should be OK for your steering.

[spiney norman]

Thanks very much Keith, will take your advice and order a couple of the 2RS plastic shield type at the bearing suppliers on the way to work tomorrow. Thanks for responding fella, I have come from 125 racing to classic sidecars and so have never seen bearings like these on racing tackle! So much fun this though this three wheeler business, our 1st season, in particular the vintage races with the morgan 3 wheelers, best memories for sure! Thanks again, Jon

[oldbelly]

I havent ever come across anything other than taper roller steering head bearings on a British built outfit Thats Windle Crick Windrick Jacobs Baker or DMR.

[mr.mrs.floppy]

Have run ball races in my steeering,16'' outfits , for years with no problems.

[666]

I used taper rollers in my first bike, since then I have used early mini rear wheel bearings which are called angular contact balls. (I bought a job lot) I use them in all of my wheels and swinging arms as well. I use these for several reasons,they are better than sealed bearings which some people use because they are easily dismantled cleaned and re greased and easier to use on steering head as they don't drop out with the spacer like a taper roller sometimes does when fitting the forks (I am a little clumsy)

[spiney norman]

Thanks so much for the advice everybody, I am very grateful and have bought a pair of RHP plastic shield captive ball races, they are imperial and were nearly £60 the pair, eeeek, yes, yes, I know I'll have been ripped off but they were on the counter in front of me, the first place had ordered the wrong size as they "couldnt understand my accent on the phone" (!) and I just wanted to get on with the job.
Turns out.... modern BMW road bikes, GS,RT etc have these type of bearing, just like stub axle bearings, no adjustment on them so if any play occurs just knock out and replace. Weird I thought at 1st but them Bavarian blokes know what they are doing. Well usually. Thanks again, Jon.

[kew]

Jon,
If they will last thousands of miles as wheel bearings they will last thousands of years as steering head bearings.