Caged Headset bearings
 

Can you guys give me the right headset bearing size ( caged) for replacement, I got a 1 inch steerer tube, need the upper and lower , Its for an older Peugeot. I am not good at US sizing. Thanks.

The last time I did a loose ball replacement, the bearings must have been 5/32 because they were smaller than front wheel bearings. As little as they cost, just either order loose or caged bearings, both 5/32 and 3/16 and figure it out from there. Or go to the troybikerescue.org. I've dropped parts off there and they seem like a helpful bunch.

Should be 5/32" as oddjob2 alluded.

Take care not to damage the original cages when replacing the balls, or dispense with the cages and just fill the races with loose balls, full-complement, using extra-heavy grease to retain the balls and to prevent the grease from falling out while riding.

Be sure that the headset isn't the slightest bit too tight, which puts heavy pinching loads into the bearings (which can dent the races) when the steer tube inevitably flexes over bumps in the road.

Bearing cages for 1" headsets are made in slightly different sizes for different headsets, so you definitely don't want to have to go searching for the right ones.

I would go loose balls. More trouble than caged sets, but you can add one more ball, usually, sometimes two, which helps spread the load more evenly, I think. Fill race with grease, fill with balls until no more fit, then remove one.

+1 on all this, but it normally isn't good to see "5/32 bearings" and "dropped" in the same posting. :D Unless they are covered with grease they scatter like bugs and hide under the furniture. (A mechanic's magnet is your friend.)

As RB said, the usual rule of thumb is to fill the space then remove one. It may seem like one is missing but that gives them space to move.

Caged bearings are more convenient, but loose ball bearings aren't that hard to deal with, and as everyone else has said, you can get more balls in there. Magnets are your friends...get one of those cheap magnetic parts trays from Harbor Freight, makes the loose balls a lot easier to manage.