Front Wheel Bearing & Seal Kit (Drum Brake) | Honda CB450 / CL450
The front wheel bearings on an early CB450 or CL450 carry your braking and steering loads, and most of these bikes are still rolling on bearings nobody has touched in decades. This kit re-bearings the front drum-brake hub on the CB450 K0–K2 and the CL450 Scrambler with a matched pair of European made bearings and a fresh speedometer-drive seal.
Why You Need This
Wheel bearings are a heavy wear item and an easy one to overlook — right up until the front end feels vague. Worn front bearings show up as a crunchy feel when you spin the wheel, grease weeping past the seal, or lateral play (back-and-forth movement perpendicular to the axle). Because they steer the bike, front bearings are worth staying ahead of.
The factory bearings are single-sealed — sealed on the outer face only — so once they are dry or notchy, replacement beats trying to repack them. Our kit gives you a fresh matched pair with ample grease, plus the speedometer-drive seal that rides behind the drive gear.
What's in the Kit
- Matched pair of front wheel bearings (6302)
- Speedometer-drive seal (34 × 48 × 7)
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Replaces OEM Parts | 96120-63020 (front wheel bearing) |
| Fits Models | CB450 K0–K2 (1965–1969), CL450 Scrambler K0–K6 (1967–1974) |
| Sold As | Kit (matched pair of bearings, speedometer-drive seal) |
CB450 owners — check your front brake: Only the CB450 K0 (Black Bomber), K1, and K2 came with a front drum brake, and that is what this kit fits. CB450 K3 and later switched to a front disc — if yours has a disc up front, you need the disc-brake front wheel bearing kit instead. Every CL450 Scrambler (K0–K6) used the front drum.
Note: The front hub's bearing retainer plate is not part of this kit. It is a simple screw-on plate — reuse yours if it is in good shape, or grab a fresh front wheel bearing retainer if the old one is chewed up.
Installation
Difficulty: Intermediate
The 450 drum retainer is the friendly kind — a plate held by three screws, with no peening to drill out like the disc or rear hubs.
- Pull the speedometer drive, then back out the three screws holding the bearing retainer plate and lift the plate off.
- Heat the hub with a heat gun to expand the aluminum, then drive the old bearings out with a long punch worked at an angle on the inner edge. A hot hub usually gives them up with light taps — if you are swinging hard, add heat.
- Note the distance collar that sits between the two bearings and keep track of it — it sets the spacing for the new pair.
- Toss the new bearings in the freezer for an hour before the job. Install the bearing on the lipped-seat side of the hub first, then the collar; that first bearing and the collar set the depth so the second cannot be driven in too far.
- Drive each bearing in with a large socket or tube just smaller than the bearing's outer race. Do not press on the inner race or the dust shields — that damages the bearing.
- Fit the new speedometer-drive seal and repack the speedo drive with fresh grease, then reinstall the retainer plate and its three screws.
Our wheel bearing replacement video walks through the whole job, front and rear, on this family of bikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a CL450 or early CB450 with a front drum — is this the right kit?
Yes. This is the front bearing kit for the drum-brake hub on the CB450 K0–K2 and every CL450 Scrambler. If you have been finding only disc-brake or 350 kits, this is the one for your bike.
Will this fit my CB450 K3 or later?
No — the CB450 K3 (1970) and later moved to a front disc brake, which uses the disc-brake front wheel bearing kit. This drum kit is for the K0–K2 and the CL450.
How many bearings and seals come in the kit?
Two identical 6302 bearings (a matched pair) and one speedometer-drive seal. The two bearings sit on a distance collar inside the hub; the retainer plate that holds them in is a separate part.
Is the bearing retainer included?
No — the screw-on retainer plate is its own part. Reuse yours if it is sound, or replace it with a fresh front wheel bearing retainer if it is damaged.
What else should I do while the front end is apart?
New front brake shoes are cheap insurance while the wheel is out: CB450 / CL450 front drum shoes. New tapered steering head bearings are another good job with the front end down.
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Last updated: June 2026
