Best bearings for MTB

zeroseven
zeroseven Posts: 347
edited January 2011 in MTB workshop & tech
Sealed? Open? Steel? Ceramic?

Looking to rebuild a 2006 Stumpjumper FSR. OEM bearings are usually fairly second rate.... any suggestions for replacements?

Thank you.

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    for what parts?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    i used superstar bearings, they had a good offer on ceramic ones a while back :D
  • zeroseven
    zeroseven Posts: 347
    nicklouse wrote:
    for what parts?

    Everthing, total rebuild as far as is practical
  • zeroseven
    zeroseven Posts: 347
    welshkev wrote:
    i used superstar bearings, they had a good offer on ceramic ones a while back :D

    Thanks for that, any disadvantage you've found with Ceramic?
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    It's like everything else, there's good and bad bearings out there regardless of material, a low quality ceramic is worse than a high quality steel bearing. And poor sealing is worse than good sealing.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • zeroseven
    zeroseven Posts: 347
    Northwind wrote:
    It's like everything else, there's good and bad bearings out there regardless of material, a low quality ceramic is worse than a high quality steel bearing. And poor sealing is worse than good sealing.

    Well....yes.... I used to run open (no seal) ceramic bearings on 1/1th RC cars years ago lubed with dry teflon only, so horses for courses,

    Re quality...... Care to name names?
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Oh, yeah, that'd help :oops: SKF are good, though their bearings generally come with a half fill of grease for higher speed use, so it's worth opening them up and fully packing them with a quality grease. FAG are also good, and have a funnier name. Koyo seem decent but I've not used many of theirs as they don't do some of the sizes I needed.

    Course the other approach is to get dirt cheap ones and replace more often, works OK in wheels and BBs where it's so easy to knock them out but not so good in suspension pivots I think. But mtb use is a bad environment for bearings so good seals are worth their weight in gold IMO.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    The BETD bearing kits and the enduro bearings are both pretty good. You can get frame kits so you know you've got the right ones/can upgrade the suspension bearings.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Mmm, I got the Enduro kit for Shimano BBs and it was rubbish, outer seals didn't fit well and the lifespan was about half that of an XT BB. Not sure I'd trust them again. They also do something I hate- they sell max complement bearings as if it's an upgrade, even though caged bearings are often more suitable. But Enduro MAX!!1! sounds like it's better than just boring Enduro.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • Neily03
    Neily03 Posts: 295
    I really like SKF bearings. :)
    Transition Covert.
  • mozzy10
    mozzy10 Posts: 179
    skf bearings are great. they have already out lasted the stock enzo bearings in my bottom bracket by double the milage. They have a much better seal, and because of the tight seal spin less freely when brand new, but once they're worn in they spin freely.

    I also tried akf (i think), and they were rubbish, last only 60 km in the mud. I'll only buy skf now; i think they are the bearing in hope components.
    It\'s not your aptitude but your attitude that determins your altitude
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Expensive bearings in pivots are a bit of a waste IMO, they move through such a small range of motion that anything will seize!

    Cheap ceramics are worse than decent steel ones. You won't go wrong with SKF stuff.
  • edjo
    edjo Posts: 50
    good quality bearings such as SKF or FAG are the way to go. as previously said, opening the seal and cleaning out the bearing and using a good quality grease is the best thing you can do...use a waterproof grease as it'll last longer - but, it won't stop water getting in so good maintenance practices still needed.
    as for the pivots, biggest problem is that the type of bearings used are designed to rotate not oscillate so push grease out and then wear quickly and seize or go sloppy. these can be filled and with regular re-greasing, will last a long time, same goes for headset bearings.

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