Durability of BB30 bearings

keithc440
keithc440 Posts: 277
edited July 2011 in Workshop
Has anyone had to replace BB30 bearings after only a short period ?

Had to have the bearings of my BB30 Sram Force replaced after 3 months of dry use approx 5 times a week (caught in the rain for a short period once) due to them becoming extremely noisy (creaking). Problem solve but now less than 2 months later I thought I heard a bit of a creak again last night. Hoping it was nothing but am not impressed if they will shortly need replacing again.

Comments

  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,538
    mine (red) have done thousands of miles and plenty of wet weather, no problems so far, only regreased once in 8-9 months, tbh probably overdue for it at the moment

    if you've got failure so soon it could be there's some other problem causing premature wear
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Maybe get the bb shell re-reamed and faced and check the condition of the circlips.
  • gaddster
    gaddster Posts: 401
    Are you sure it's the actual bearings that are 'failing'? I can see if they're not fitted well and/or not greased properly there could be creaking, it's a pretty simple system though. I have mine secured with loctite 641, not a perm bond and intended for use where bearings are required to be removed and refitted.
    ARTHUR
    "Hello oh great one"
    LARRY
    "Are you talking to me or my ass?"
  • keithc440
    keithc440 Posts: 277
    Thanks for the replies and tips. On my ride tonight I did'nt notice it so maybe it was something else I heard last night (whilst racing). Fingers crossed.
  • ADIHEAD
    ADIHEAD Posts: 575
    Sungod, I've a BB30 Cannondale and I've done about 8500 miles over 3 years. I've asked 2 bike shops the question on whether it needs greasing and they both said leave it unless there's a problem, which there hasn't been. So have I been advised incorrectly? Both said they were sealed bearings so there was nothing to grease?

    Would be grateful for clarification?

    Cheers
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,538
    ADIHEAD wrote:
    Sungod, I've a BB30 Cannondale and I've done about 8500 miles over 3 years. I've asked 2 bike shops the question on whether it needs greasing and they both said leave it unless there's a problem, which there hasn't been. So have I been advised incorrectly? Both said they were sealed bearings so there was nothing to grease?

    Would be grateful for clarification?

    Cheers

    probably depends on the bearings

    mine are sram red ceramic, sram's instructions say to grease after every 100hrs use (or sooner if the bike gets a dunking) with skf lghp2

    doesn't take long, the bearings have seals but they certainly lose grease over time, so i reckon it's necessary maintenance - the skf grease is an awful lot cheaper than new bearings would be!
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • How do you grease a sealed bearing ?
  • anto164
    anto164 Posts: 3,500
    Get a stanley blade and gently prise off the rubber seals. Pack with grease and refit.

    Surely?
  • ADIHEAD
    ADIHEAD Posts: 575
    Cheers, suppose mine must be sealed cartridge bearings then? I might email Cannondale just to check though, feels fine after three and a half years though :D
  • Redhog14
    Redhog14 Posts: 1,377
    ADIHEAD wrote:
    Cheers, suppose mine must be sealed cartridge bearings then? I might email Cannondale just to check though, feels fine after three and a half years though :D

    If it aint broke don't fix it. I had a bearing on my cross bike wear out in 12 months and then on my MTB it took 2.5 years and it did'nt just get wet from rain, add rivers, burns (streams), floods inc over my hubs...

    OP: noise and creaking from your bearing might in fact be elsewhere on your drive train, hubs, pedal bearings, even your seat post. Good luck.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,538
    How do you grease a sealed bearing ?

    the sram bearings have a plastic sealing rings at the side - just pop them off, i use a spudger*, pack them with fresh grease, push seals back in

    *old skool telco wiring tool, the at&t one with a sharp point
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny