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What’s the going rate for a full suspension frame bearing replacement with, say, Enduro bearings. Frame already stripped down and cleaned except the cranks which I lack the tool to remove. Would under £200 parts and labour be realistic?
If you've already got the appetite to strip the frame down then it's a pretty small step to DIY the bearings. For the £200 you can probably get a full set of bearings, all the presses and pullers (if needed) plus whatever you need for the crank. What frame is it?
Cotic charge £150 for their own frames. A dealer charging under £200 sounds right for a brand they stock. Expect to pay more for a frame that is an unknown.
It’s somewhat obscure by today’s standards. It’s a 2017 cube fritzz.
Say £60 for bearings, £80 for tools then whatever your hourly rate is.
I’ve never pressed a bearing in or out in my life, what would the pitfalls be? The chain stay ones look like they’d need a blind puller
You use the wrong press and stuff up the bearings.
Bearing pro tools, back tools and RRP (via Wych) do presses that make it pretty fool proof. I'm living proof that it can be done. They all fit m8 threaded rod so not some exotic set.
Link to the bearing pro tools video on bearing install into a hub but the process is similar
One caveat on the DIY suggestion - when were the bearings last changed? If they've not been done for a few years then there's a fair chance of at least one being a monumental PITA to get out so paying someone to have all that fun might be a wise move, then tackle them yourself next time.
Last changed? Erm, never! Given the bike is 8 years old maybe I’ll just take that advice and pay someone.
I've just done my 2022 Cube Stereo and it was a right pain in the bahookie. 16 bearings and most of them were a fight to get out as they were back to back. I took my time as I didn't need the bike but it must've taken me at least six hours. Although I did also do the bottom bracket and replaced the internally routed cables at the same time. Two of the bearings disintegrated when I unscrewed the bolts. And the only reason I replaced them was because of a little play in the seatstays. I'm glad I did it but now I've got the tools I'll probably do it once a year to avoid the same blood sweat and tears.
You can get an bearing press kit off eBay for about 30 quid, the blue anodised one, pretty amazing value for what you get, I always get Enduro max bearings from Kinetic, that could save you about 100 quid.
You can use sockets, offcuts of fork steerer, headset spacers etc to pull bearings out or just tap them out with a drift. No way I'd pay 200 for the job.