MTB Bottom brackets - how long should they last?
Discussion
Aside from tyres and brake pads the most consummable component on my bike is the bottom bracket!
In 10,000km I've been through 3 and now need a fourth. The first two were SRAM Truvativ BB and the last is a Shimano Hollowtech. I have to say the Shimano lasted twice as long as as the Truvativ but is, say, 5,000km of off-road a reasonable life?
Obviously being a PH'er I am powerfully built but I would have thought they would last longer. Now whilst they aren't particularly expensive to replace I'm wondering whether it would be worth upgrading to, for example, Hope BB (SS or ceramic) or just accept that every year or two shell out £25 for a new Shimano BB. Any thoughts?
In 10,000km I've been through 3 and now need a fourth. The first two were SRAM Truvativ BB and the last is a Shimano Hollowtech. I have to say the Shimano lasted twice as long as as the Truvativ but is, say, 5,000km of off-road a reasonable life?
Obviously being a PH'er I am powerfully built but I would have thought they would last longer. Now whilst they aren't particularly expensive to replace I'm wondering whether it would be worth upgrading to, for example, Hope BB (SS or ceramic) or just accept that every year or two shell out £25 for a new Shimano BB. Any thoughts?
caiss4 said:
Aside from tyres and brake pads the most consummable component on my bike is the bottom bracket!
In 10,000km I've been through 3 and now need a fourth. The first two were SRAM Truvativ BB and the last is a Shimano Hollowtech. I have to say the Shimano lasted twice as long as as the Truvativ but is, say, 5,000km of off-road a reasonable life?
Obviously being a PH'er I am powerfully built but I would have thought they would last longer. Now whilst they aren't particularly expensive to replace I'm wondering whether it would be worth upgrading to, for example, Hope BB (SS or ceramic) or just accept that every year or two shell out £25 for a new Shimano BB. Any thoughts?
That's not too bad, TBH: I've seen them last 1/10th that in appropriately horrible (Welsh mud, grit etc) conditions with unsympathetic cleaning (jet washing, soaking in degreaser etc). I'd stick with Shimano, personally: cheap 'n' easy to replace.In 10,000km I've been through 3 and now need a fourth. The first two were SRAM Truvativ BB and the last is a Shimano Hollowtech. I have to say the Shimano lasted twice as long as as the Truvativ but is, say, 5,000km of off-road a reasonable life?
Obviously being a PH'er I am powerfully built but I would have thought they would last longer. Now whilst they aren't particularly expensive to replace I'm wondering whether it would be worth upgrading to, for example, Hope BB (SS or ceramic) or just accept that every year or two shell out £25 for a new Shimano BB. Any thoughts?
Well part of the reason I posted was that the guys I ride with never seem to mention that their BB's are shot and need replacing and some of them do a good deal more miles than me.
I just must be more 'powerful'
Anyway still would be interested if BB's at >£60 a go would be likely to last longer.
I just must be more 'powerful'
Anyway still would be interested if BB's at >£60 a go would be likely to last longer.
Windy Vortex said:
Newbie question - How would I know my Bottom bracket needed replaced or was on it's way out?
Play in the cranks (side to side wobble)has been the first sign that mine was on its way out. I'm on my 3rd hollowtech II in 2 years so I think the OP is doing OK.HS bike discount in germany are very cheap for XT bottom brackets.
I haven't a clue how many Km's I ride, but I expect mine to glide through summer and die as winter arrives, so about 12 months.
Mate of mine was recently recommended a brand called token by a LBS they're only £18-£25 online and run really nicely, not sure on the longevity only fitted yesterday.
Mate of mine was recently recommended a brand called token by a LBS they're only £18-£25 online and run really nicely, not sure on the longevity only fitted yesterday.
Is this an upgrade on a bike that originally had a sealed cartridge bottom bracket (ie not hollowtech)?
The rumourmill says that the ends of the bottom bracket hole in the frame have to be very parallel for hollowtech stuff, more so than if they'd started life with a conventional BB.
That said, 10,000km sounds a lot to me. Most of my cars don't make it that far...
The rumourmill says that the ends of the bottom bracket hole in the frame have to be very parallel for hollowtech stuff, more so than if they'd started life with a conventional BB.
That said, 10,000km sounds a lot to me. Most of my cars don't make it that far...
Edited by robg2 on Saturday 19th May 22:37
mdavids said:
Windy Vortex said:
Newbie question - How would I know my Bottom bracket needed replaced or was on it's way out?
Play in the cranks (side to side wobble)has been the first sign that mine was on its way out. I'm on my 3rd hollowtech II in 2 years so I think the OP is doing OK.HS bike discount in germany are very cheap for XT bottom brackets.
I replaced two yesterday - one in the MTB after about 5,000km of commuting and proper mud but over a 5 year life, the other in my 2nd hand fixie that has probably done c.10,000km in all weathers over 3 years.
Getting them out was interesting.
I ended up using the metal pole in my washing line to improve the leverage.
I popped the pole over the handle of the ratcheting spanner thing that was holding the BB tool and then attempted to balance the whole apparatus horizontal (over a bike flat on the ground) so the tool didn't just jump out of the BB.
I am glad the neighbours didn't pop round as I was spread-eagled in the garden sweating over a bike and cursing violently at the washing line/spanner combo.
Normally I go for a cheap and cheerful Shimano BB but the one from CRC came with a PLASTIC cup for the LHS.
That was crushed pretty quickly just putting it in under very low torque (honest).
I mean PLASTIC!!! WTF???
I had to re-use one of the cups from the BB I had just extracted in which I had also managed to nearly grind off the whole lot of the teeth.
I will be replacing this one well before it gets too crusty otherwise it is never coming out.
I usually find that mine sound like they are crushing a bag of nails as I pedal or just creaking like crazy and hence I know it is time for a new one.
Too much washing of the bike isn't a good thing IMHO. Any sort of water pressure around the BB is dangerous to BB lifespan.
Getting them out was interesting.
I ended up using the metal pole in my washing line to improve the leverage.
I popped the pole over the handle of the ratcheting spanner thing that was holding the BB tool and then attempted to balance the whole apparatus horizontal (over a bike flat on the ground) so the tool didn't just jump out of the BB.
I am glad the neighbours didn't pop round as I was spread-eagled in the garden sweating over a bike and cursing violently at the washing line/spanner combo.
Normally I go for a cheap and cheerful Shimano BB but the one from CRC came with a PLASTIC cup for the LHS.
That was crushed pretty quickly just putting it in under very low torque (honest).
I mean PLASTIC!!! WTF???
I had to re-use one of the cups from the BB I had just extracted in which I had also managed to nearly grind off the whole lot of the teeth.
I will be replacing this one well before it gets too crusty otherwise it is never coming out.
I usually find that mine sound like they are crushing a bag of nails as I pedal or just creaking like crazy and hence I know it is time for a new one.
Too much washing of the bike isn't a good thing IMHO. Any sort of water pressure around the BB is dangerous to BB lifespan.
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