Bottom bracket knackered (I think)....which replacement???
Bottom bracket knackered (I think)....which replacement???
Author
Discussion

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

264 months

Wednesday 8th April 2009
quotequote all
I was out for my first proper tour of the season yesterday and after about 10km, my bike started clicking and vibrating on every stroke while pedalling at the same point every time.

My pedals are a little worn, but they're ok and I've worked out it can't be them since I span them around and the noise should have been on the opposite side of the stroke yet it remained in the same place.

(Confused? Yes, me too).

Anyhow....I think it must be the bottom bracket so I'm going to replace it and see what happens.

I've got two in mind.

A Hope ceramic and Hope stainless set.

Of course ceramic is more durable, but is it really work almost twice the price of the stainless bracket?

At €50, the stainless one is a reasonable buy. Otherwise, what other brackets could be recommended that are durable and good enough to take another two years of punishment?

Parrot of Doom

23,075 posts

257 months

Wednesday 8th April 2009
quotequote all
Buy the stainless set, and when they break send it back to Hope (their customer service is excellent).

Of course if they take a couple of years to break, Hope would charge you, but you don't need to do that as you can get new bearings from here:

http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/result.asp...

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

264 months

Thursday 9th April 2009
quotequote all
Cheers for the tip. Stainless it is then. Hopefully it'll last a little longer than 2 years....

Mr_C

2,496 posts

252 months

Thursday 9th April 2009
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I had a creak/click like that.

Changed 3 BB's, cranks etc. turned out it was a cracked frame, at the BB weld.

JeepJunkie

88 posts

210 months

Thursday 9th April 2009
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I just get the shop to fit the cheapest these days as in my experience they all wear out and can't tell much difference anyway...

Bike used daily all year round and that reminds I badly need a new BB frown

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

264 months

Thursday 9th April 2009
quotequote all
Mr_C said:
I had a creak/click like that.

Changed 3 BB's, cranks etc. turned out it was a cracked frame, at the BB weld.
yikes

Well it's under warranty since you get a lifetime warranty with Specialized if you buy from new as I did!!!!

How did you find the crack?

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

264 months

Saturday 11th April 2009
quotequote all
Just thought I'd update this topic.

I've overhauled my frame looking for the slightest crack and there's nowt. What I did find however was side-ways motion on my crank indicating a loose bearing in that area.

Since the bottom bracket is the only bearing for that point, it must be this that's broken.

I've ordered a new Hope stainless steel bracket from CRC so as soon as it arrives, I'll get it fitted and see how that works.....hopefully I won't have to replace the crank!!!!

snotrag

15,499 posts

234 months

Saturday 11th April 2009
quotequote all
Hollowtech II cranks, yes?

Your Crank will be fine.

Make sure your frame has been properly faced when swapping them over.

Your Hope will last much longer than the stock shimano, fear not.

Parrot of Doom

23,075 posts

257 months

Saturday 11th April 2009
quotequote all
I replaced the bearings in mine. Whacked the old ones out, put new ones in. Job done although I did quite fancy upgrading to a Hope unit. Shiny, mmmm.

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

264 months

Saturday 11th April 2009
quotequote all
snotrag said:
Hollowtech II cranks, yes?

Your Crank will be fine.

Make sure your frame has been properly faced when swapping them over.

Your Hope will last much longer than the stock shimano, fear not.
Well, it's hollow if that's what you mean! wink

I've got one of these fitted on the bike: Truvative Stylo 2pc GXP S/A/A

It came standard with the bike. I did think about upgrading it to an XT unit last year but I ended up having to replace the chain rings in an emergency so I left it for another time.

Also....what do you mean about facing the frame?

Edited by beanbag on Saturday 11th April 12:27

Jimbo.

4,167 posts

212 months

Saturday 11th April 2009
quotequote all
Ensuring that the faces of the BB shell are flat and parallel smile Requires a smidgen of material to be shaved off the edges of the BB shell. Costs what, £10-20ish (?) at a bike shop.

Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th April 14:57

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

264 months

Saturday 11th April 2009
quotequote all
Jimbo. said:
Ensuring that the faces of the BB shell are flat and parallel smile Requires a smidgen of material to be shaved off the edges of the BB shell. Costs what, £10-20ish (?) at a bike shop.

Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th April 14:57
Right, I see....this doesn't affect the frame warranty though?

I've already booked my bike in for a major service along with the BB replacement so I'll mention it while it's in.

Cheers for the info and I'll let you know how it all goes.....

snotrag

15,499 posts

234 months

Saturday 11th April 2009
quotequote all
beanbag said:
Right, I see....this doesn't affect the frame warranty though?
Nope, no worries.

As said - if they've already got the bits off anyway, it shouldnt cost you much more than a fiver more, just to cover the price of the (hideously expensive!) facing tool.

On some frames you can get a bit of a buildup of paint/powder coat on the face that the BB cups tigthen up to - this can lead to them being ever so slightly off-linewith each other, and you fit your new bb and it wears out straight away because the bearings are being pulled about.

The facing tool just cleans up the surface to make sure your bb is installed perfectly straight and square.