[Closed] Frame pivot bearings. FAG or Enduro max?

Is that bearing shop prices???

Would be expecting a lot less than that.

Max, it's what they're designed for. Bigger balls for higher load. Plus no cage means they're less likely to rock back and fourth on a single point accelerating wear.

If it rolls, skf, ina, fag etc. If it rocks, max bearings (or journal bearings but that's not an option for you).

A frame pivot has a limited range of movement so the bearings don't need to move as much. No movement but plenty of force through them - hence using full complement bearings suits the use better

They should still be sealed properly - make sure its a 2rs (2 rubber seals) and you'll be fine. Different brands will provide different levels of quality balls and sealing. I just ordered full complement ones from mb bearings and they sent out Enduro max ones. The six full complement ones for main pivot and bottom bracket pivot cost about 4 quid each. and the other cheaper ones for the seat stay link and Horst link were about 3 quid each

Onzadog - Member

Max, it's what they're designed for. Bigger balls for higher load

The bearing size can be the same- it's the race dimensions that limit that rather than caged or not.

TBH, I think it's not worth losing sleep over... Full comp in theory are better for "rocking" rather than "rotating" parts as they're less stable so the bearings migrate around more, stopping them wearing small parts of the race. Though most bike bearings rotate through a fair angle so that's probably not as big a benefit as it could be. And caged are better for speed but we don't run our bearings fast enough to care.

Quality is probably more important tbh. And IME enduro bearings are not great, though I've only used the BB bearings they were very shortlived.

Fair point, the max designation doesn't mean bigger balls but enduro do use bigger balls in their full complement bearings.

Oddly enough, I had great service life from enduro 608 max in an intense tracer and the bottom bracket bearings from last year are still going strong. Best of all though, were the higher abec rated hub bearings. In my hope front hub, they just spin and spin and spin.

Ah, that makes sense then- I never bothered to open up the BB bearings, but if they use smaller balls in the non-maxes then that could explain why they were so poor, the max ones might well perform better.

Thanks chaps. Interesting discussion, i'm still not sure lol.

Papa, for your application, enduro max would be the way forward for you. The less rotation you have on the links, the more appropriate they are.

Fair point, the max designation doesn't mean bigger balls but enduro do use bigger balls in their full complement bearings.

Bigger balls than what? There's only so much space between the races, and using smaller balls than possible would imply having thicker races - I've never seen a bearing where the balls weren't just about as big as possible. It's not like the increased load bearing of a max bearing is that important for a bicycle bearing either!

Bigger balls than the same size bearing that uses a cage. Can't find it on my phone but all the spec was there on the enduro site when I went looking for pivot bearings for my intense.

So what you're telling me is that Enduro's caged bearings are lower spec than they could be?

Also, tmb467 "The six full complement ones for main pivot and bottom bracket pivot cost about 4 quid each. and the other cheaper ones for the seat stay link and Horst link were about 3 quid each"

Interesting, they list the full complement at 4 quid but the enduro max at 6 quid so you did well there.. Cant find one of mine in the full complement list either hmm. Anyway, looks like full complement are the way to go, cheers.

No, that's not what I've said. Have you used any of the various types of bearing that enduro offer? Or read any of their stuff about bearings?

Enduro max are just full compliment, not bigger balls..

See this is what's starting to bug me. I know bigger balls doesn't make sense. More balls of the same size would increase load capacity as well. But there's something in the back of my mind that says they were bigger balls.

I could be wrong, but I remember not being convinced myself.

Either way, they do carry greater load and they are better for rocking applications like suspension pivots. Are we all at least agreed on that? Just to actually answer the op.

Edit:- I wonder if it's the bottom bracket blurb I was remembering? They've got a smaller bore than Shimano so would have room for bigger balls, but even then, I think they used deeper grooves to get bigger still.

Then again, when a bottom bracket has died on me, it's usually contamination and corrosion, not disintegrated balls.

Either way, they do carry greater load and they are better for rocking applications like suspension pivots. Are we all at least agreed on that?

Do we also agree that the difference in load bearing is irrelevant? So it's only the benefit for rocking applications (I have to admit I don't know anything about that, so will defer to those who do).

Just to actually answer the op.

Pah - what's the OP got to do with it?