SKF Rear Wheel Bearing & Seal Kit for KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas

The SKF VKWB-FR25-A Rear Wheel Bearing and Seal Kit is an OEM-replacement service kit engineered specifically for off-road hubs on KTM, Husqvarna, GASGAS, and Sherco motorcycles utilizing a 25 mm rear axle assembly. Rear wheel bearings endure extreme radial impact loads from rock strikes, whoops, and hard landings, as well as relentless exposure to high-pressure bike washing, deep mud, and abrasive silt. When factory seals fail, water and grit contaminate the internal raceways, causing ball galling, excessive lateral wheel play, and catastrophic hub damage.

Manufactured by SKF—the global benchmark in precision bearing engineering—this kit includes two high-precision deep groove ball bearings (6005-2RS) and two low-friction, double-lip elastomer wheel seals designed to work seamlessly with factory OEM wheel spacers. The bearings feature precision-ground, case-hardened steel races pre-packed with water-resistant synthetic grease, while the proprietary SKF wheel seals deliver high contamination exclusion with minimal rotational drag.

Features:

• Precision Deep Groove Ball Bearings: Low-friction raceway geometry engineered to withstand severe radial impacts and lateral side loads.

• Double-Lip Contamination Protection: Patented SKF elastomer seal lips mechanically block water, silt, and fine silica while retaining internal grease.

• Reduced Rotational Drag: Low-friction seal compound and precision ball geometry minimize rolling resistance at the rear hub.

• OEM Spacer Compatibility: Direct-fit replacement engineered to interface cleanly with factory OEM wheel spacers or aftermarket equivalents.

• High-Purity Bearing Steel: Resists surface fatigue, spalling, and raceway brinelling during repetitive hard landings.

• Pre-Lubricated Assembly: Factory packed with high-adhesion synthetic grease resistant to water washout and emulsion.

What's in the Box:

• 2x SKF Deep Groove Ball Bearings (6005-2RS / 25 mm ID x 47 mm OD x 12 mm W)

• 2x SKF Custom Double-Lip Wheel Seals (32 mm ID x 47 mm OD x 7 mm W)

• (Note: Internal center distance tube and external wheel spacers are not included; reuse OEM or replace if grooved).

Fitment:

• KTM Compatibility (Rear Wheel):

  • 125–530 SX / SX-F / XC / XC-F / EXC / EXC-F / XC-W / XCF-W (2000–2026+ equipped with 25 mm rear axle hubs)

  • Freeride 250 R / 350 / E-XC (2014–2026+)

  • 85 SX / 105 SX (2003–2026+)

• Husqvarna Compatibility (Rear Wheel):

  • 125–501 TC / FC / TX / FX / TE / FE (2014–2026+ equipped with 25 mm rear axle hubs)

  • TC 85 (2014–2026+)

• GASGAS Compatibility (Rear Wheel):

  • 125–450 MC / MC-F / EX / EX-F / EC / EC-F (2021–2026+ equipped with 25 mm rear axle hubs)

  • MC 85 (2021–2026+)

• Sherco Compatibility (Rear Wheel):

  • 125 / 250 / 300 / 450 / 500 SE, SE-R, SEF, SEF-R (2014–2026+)

• Husaberg Compatibility (Rear Wheel):

  • All 125–570 TE / FE / FX models (2004–2014)

• Axle Size Verification Caution: Select 2023+ KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS motocross/cross-country models feature a smaller 22 mm rear axle assembly. Verify your rear axle diameter and hub bearing size prior to ordering.

Fitment Notes:

• Bearing Seating Sequence (Preventing Side-Load Binding): When installing rear wheel bearings into a KTM/Husky hub, the installation sequence dictates bearing life. Always drive the first bearing (typically the drive/sprocket side) all the way until it seats firmly against the hub's internal stop shoulder. Slide the internal center spacer tube into the hub. Then, carefully drive the second bearing inonly until its inner race lightly contacts the center spacer tube. Never hammer the second bearing completely tight against the second shoulder if it pinches the spacer; pinching the tube binds the inner races inward, creating severe lateral pre-load that will overheat and destroy the bearings within one ride. Once installed, the inner distance tube should still be movable with firm finger pressure.

• Wheel Spacer Grooving Inspection: A brand-new seal cannot keep water out if the wheel spacer is worn. Factory aluminum wheel spacers develop a deep circumferential groove where the seal lip contacts the collar, allowing water, clay, and sand to bypass the seal directly into the bearing. Run your fingernail across the sealing surface of your wheel spacers. If you feel a distinct lip or groove, replace the spacers immediately with hardened steel-sleeved units. Reusing grooved spacers will ruin new SKF seals within a few wash cycles.

• Hub Temperature Differential & Driver Tool Placement: Never strike the inner race or rubber dust shield of a new bearing during installation. Always use a DEDICATED BEARING DRIVER that contacts strictly the outer steel race. To make installation effortless and prevent galling the aluminum hub bore, gently warm the outer hub shell with a heat gun to approximately 150°F–180°F, and place the new SKF bearings in the freezer for 30 minutes prior to assembly. The thermal difference allows the bearings to drop into the bore with minimal driver force. Before pressing in the dust seals, pack the cavity between the bearing face and the outer seal with high-quality waterproof grease to establish a secondary barrier against water intrusion.

Part Number: VKWB-FR25-A