Bottom bracket life?

[daihard]

Hello,

Hoping for some advice or other people's experiences here if possible please?

How long does your bottom bracket last?

I have a hard tail and a full suss and seem to go through shimano Deore external bottom brackets every couple of hundred miles or so on both bikes.

Weirdly it always seems to be non drive side that start to fail first indicated by creaking when pedalling.

The conditions on the mountains round here (South Wales) aren't great particularly in the winter but shouldn't I expect them to last longer than that?

Happy for any recommendations on bottom brackets that may last longer too if anyone has any.

Cheers

[POIDH]

I had this on a bike once - had a wonky bottom bracket tube, clearly welded in at the factory like that.
Worth having a shop check it for straightness and perhaps faced so it's flat as well?

[dontlookdown]

I only cycle on the road really, where a BB should last for years and 1000s of miles.

If you're going through them at that rate, even allowing for mud etc, then as posted above it's likely tube is either bent/wonky or the ends need facing so the bearings are aligned properly.

[daihard]

That's a good shout although it'd be unlucky if that was the cause on both my bikes!

Am I fitting the part wrong maybe?

[dontlookdown]

The fact they are both doing it does seem a bit odd I admit.

Are you so powerfully built you are destroying the bearings with your immense strength?

[daihard]

Haha if you saw my Strava you'd have immediately ruled that out!

[numtumfutunch]

Ive just replaced the BB on my gravel bike

Its heavily used year round and lasted 3 winters - from December to April the trails are filthy mud which gets everywhere

Best road bike gets ridden in rain but not mud and filth - BBs last years

Cheers

[witko999]

Do you clean the bike carelessly or with a pressure washer?

The bearings on my old mtb lasted forever whereas my bro used to be regularly changing his. Different bikes, but mine was usually left pretty dirty whilst his was always spotlessly clean.

[daihard]

Cheers for the replies.

Sounds like I'm going through them quicker than I should be then!

I must admit I don't wash the bikes as often as I should but when I do I just use a hose, not a pressure washer. I do try to avoid blasting any areas with bearings too.

I think I'm gonna replace BBs on both bikes and note how many miles they last this time using Strava to keep track.

The full sus is Nukeproof Mega and the HT is Ragley Marley

Cheers

[flight147z]

I've done over 15,000 miles on one of my bikes on the original BB. It's a road bike though. Are you sure the noise is coming from there? I've been caught out by a loose derailleur hanger a couple of times - makes a loud creak under load!

[TGCOTF-dewey]

Pull the cranks and look for witness marks on the spindle. 5 min job.

It's not a rare occurrence for bb tubes to be out of spec or not faced properly.

[daihard]

Yeah it's definitely the BB. When the creaking starts I take the cranks off and can feel the bearings are shot. It's weird as it's always the non drive side, and on both bikes. Replace BBs and the creaking stops. For a bit!

I didn't notice anything on the cranks last time they were out but wasn't specifically looking so will check that when I change both BBs, thanks. Be strange if same issue on both bikes but guess it could be

Thanks

[ucb]

Non drive side creaking after 1k miles on my all weather road bike.
It's only tiagra spec so £20 but PITA it's gone so quick

[WPA]

Shimano bearings are made of cheese, look to upgrade to something better

[daihard]

I've been using Deore (I think)

Any recommendations for an upgrade?

Don't mind paying if I know it's gonna last!

Cheers

[oddball1313]

There is something definitely out of alignment, my canyon endurace is 7 years old and has done 1000’s of miles and is my winter bike so salt mud, rain etc. almost every ride. Still on the original BB bearings and runs perfect.

[daihard]

Can you let me know what the bearings are in the Canyon please? Will order a few sets! Cheers

[dontlookdown]

WPA said:

Shimano bearings are made of cheese, look to upgrade to something better

I took a Shimano square taper BB out of my oldest bike a few weeks ago. 23 yrs service and has done thousands of miles. It's still in perfect condition;)

[Random84]

Got a 2015 Cube agree that's done about 12000 miles in all weathers and it's still on the original pressfit BB.

Every time I hear a creak I expect it to be the pressfit BB but it's always something else, after thinking about it the BB is one of the few original (Consumable) parts!

[oddball1313]

daihard said:

Can you let me know what the bearings are in the Canyon please? Will order a few sets! Cheers

Pressfit 86 according to the website so 6706 bearings. I’d go to a local bearing supplier and buy a good brand (INA, FAG, NTN, SKF). I still suspect you have an alignment issue though, even low quality should last more than 200 miles