Bottom Bracket - Approx Life Length

[MartinGT]

Guys

I had a noise coming from my bottom bracket on my road bike, so removed it and gave it a clean and turned it and the bearings feel fine. I put new grease on the threads and have put it back in.

Whats the approx miles a BB can do before it needs replacing? 10k miles?

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Guys

I had a noise coming from my bottom bracket on my road bike, so removed it and gave it a clean and turned it and the bearings feel fine. I put new grease on the threads and have put it back in.

Whats the approx miles a BB can do before it needs replacing? 10k miles?

No way to really put mileage on it. Depends on so many things but do what you did about once per year or twice if ya ride in the muck. If it feels crunchy, replace.

 

[MartinGT]

Thanks, will keep doing that

 

[TourLeTour]

I had to replace my MTB bottom bracket earlier this year. I had ridden the tour de France on the bike, with 30kg luggage, I had completed adventure races where the bracket was submerged in mud for hours at a time, I had raced cross country events in the wet, and the dry, I had raced through sand, I had done international stage races, I had done off road tri's, I had toured with my girlfriend across several countries, I had commuted in the rain, sleet and snow, not to mention the salt spray that comes with snow in Europe, and all together it made about 30,000km. Oh yeah, and I had to replace the one on my roadie race bike after about 8,000km on dry tarmac...

 

[veganrob]

If it is FSA, 6 mos to a year. If you are lucky, then longer. But really, there are so many variables. Square taper generally very good. Splined were crap. External, eh. BB30 don't like. PF 30, no.

 

[dsut4392]

If it is FSA, 6 mos to a year. If you are lucky, then longer. But really, there are so many variables. Square taper generally very good. Splined were crap. External, eh. BB30 don't like. PF 30, no.

Agree. Add RaceFace BBs to the "6 months" list.

In contrast I still have the original Shimano Deore DX loose-ball square taper on my 1991 Raleigh Technium Chill. Once my MTB, it has also done touring duty and now serves as my commuter. Tens of thousands of miles on it and it is still smooth. Haven't even re-greased it since about 2002...

In external bearing BB's, I've been most happy with Enduro bearings as an aftermarket replacement (of the rubbish race face originals). These lasted 3 years on my MTB which gets lots of abuse in mud, and only failed after I mis-aimed the pressure washer (seized up when I didn't ride that bike for the next fortnight).

 

[veganrob]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Race Face. Do you remember their adjustable BB? Oh man that was bad. Then the external on the Deus. After replacing two sets in one year I just put Shimano XT BB in. Love the Race Face cranks though.
I just ordered some Enduro Bearings to replace in a PF 30.

 

[marathon marke]

Enduro BB bearings

I replaced the FSA bearings twice in my BB this past year (one was free and the other very cheap). About 2 months ago I installed a Dura Ace BB. So far, so good. But I've been hearing a lot of good news about Enduro lately. Can anyone tell me why Enduros seem to last longer than other brands?

Thanks!

 

[dsut4392]

I replaced the FSA bearings twice in my BB this past year (one was free and the other very cheap). About 2 months ago I installed a Dura Ace BB. So far, so good. But I've been hearing a lot of good news about Enduro lately. Can anyone tell me why Enduros seem to last longer than other brands?

Thanks!

I think with the Enduros there are two factors at play. Firstly I believe they use a higher grade of bearing than some brands (Enduro actually offer several different grades). Secondly they sacrifice some free spin to using a better seal with more drag.

 

[marathon marke]

I think with the Enduros there are two factors at play. Firstly I believe they use a higher grade of bearing than some brands (Enduro actually offer several different grades). Secondly they sacrifice some free spin to using a better seal with more drag.

Thanks for the reply.
It just so happens that yesterday's ride was a real test for the DA BB. It was a century in hard, driving rain, with stiff headwinds for the second half. I'm going to check out my baby tonight and see how everything fared. If the BB is crunchy, I'll just order myself an Enduro.

 

[marathon marke]

Well, here's the update on my last post. I know that just one century in solid, hard rain should not trash out a BB, but after the short lfe span I had with the last one (FSA), I was prepared for anything. I'm happy to say though, that the Dura-Ace BB is still as smooth as silk and not the slightest hint of noise or roughness.

 

[dsut4392]

Well, here's the update on my last post. I know that just one century in solid, hard rain should not trash out a BB, but after the short lfe span I had with the last one (FSA), I was prepared for anything. I'm happy to say though, that the Dura-Ace BB is still as smooth as silk and not the slightest hint of noise or roughness.

Make sure you dry the bike out thoroughly. Regardless of the make of the BB, it's not the instantaneous ingress of water that kills it, but corrosion of the bearings and races over the following weeks if it doesn't dry out.
If your frame doesn't have a drain hole at the BB, drill one, and/or pull the seatpost and hang the frame upside down to dry.

Probably the best way to to stop your BB seizing up with rust is to ride more. Every time I have had a trashed BB (4 times ) it has happened when the bike has hung up in the shed for a week or more after a wet ride (I'm spreading the love between 4 bikes, so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised if one of them refuses to perform if it hasn't had a ride in a while)

 

[marathon marke]

Make sure you dry the bike out thoroughly. Regardless of the make of the BB, it's not the instantaneous ingress of water that kills it, but corrosion of the bearings and races over the following weeks if it doesn't dry out.
If your frame doesn't have a drain hole at the BB, drill one, and/or pull the seatpost and hang the frame upside down to dry.

Probably the best way to to stop your BB seizing up with rust is to ride more. Every time I have had a trashed BB (4 times ) it has happened when the bike has hung up in the shed for a week or more after a wet ride (I'm spreading the love between 4 bikes, so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised if one of them refuses to perform if it hasn't had a ride in a while)

Thanks for the tips. I was thinking I should check inside the frame for moisture. I don't have a dedicated drain hole, but I can just remove the screw that holds in the cable guide and that should do it.