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I am thinking of getting a new DH frame (2nd hand, new to me). It will require new pivot bearings. Is it worth going for Ceramic ones? Either full or hybrid ceramic?
Are these fine to use for this or is it easier and cheaper to use good old fashioned stainless steel ones?
Also has anyone used the Superstar Components Bearing tool? It supposedly installs and removes bearings. Is it worth getting one and doing the bearing replacement myself?
In my opinion, ceramic bearings are only an advantage in this case if they are full ceramic and so provide some element of corrosion resistance. Otherwise, the advantages of ceramics are lost- they are better in high speed applications e.g. wheel bearings or perhaps bottom brackets. Suspension bearings are loaded over a few degrees only, so the the slightly lower rotational resistance is not particularly noticeable. You would be better off with high quality standard bearings
I'd stick with stainless ones and buy the tool to do it yourself. Branded bearings do last longer as they are better sealed and use higher quality grease. The superstar and RapidRacer tools are both good, sometimes a heatgun on the bearing seat is useful for hard to move bearings.
Full ceramics are very brittle, I'd avoid in pivot bearings. Hybrids won't be any better in the very limited range of motion pivot bearings enjoy. I looked into it a few years back!
Brilliant, thanks for the input. I will stick to stainless.
Full ceramics are not designed for wet/dirty situations. And their advantages will not be best used in DH bike pivot bearings.
Full ceramic bearings are best in a track bike. Where there is little chance of contamination of dirt etc.
I fitted hybrid ceramic bearing into my road wheels today. They may not be as good as full ceramics - but they roll much better than standard stainless bearings.
I did a diy roll test on each set of bearings. The standard bearings rolled for an average 40seconds. The hybrid ceramics rolled for over a minute longer. £20 for both wheels .. Money well spent imo.
The superstar tool is fine if they have one to fit your bearings. I have one and have successfully used it, and it survived to be useful again. Good tool for the price.
A total waste of time for pivots, get max compliment stainless if you can instead.
As above, max compliment stainless bearings for pivots.
Used the superstar tool the other day to do the bearings in the linkage on my FTM. Worked great both removing old bearings and pressing new ones in. Well worth having the proper tool.