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Would you expect any LBS to be able to change the bearings in a Santa Cruz frame and swap the airshaft in a Rockshox fork or is this a Santa Cruz dealer job and a send off to Sram undertaking? From a quick Google I hadn't thought that this might be a problem (both procedures just look fiddly rather than specialised). I guess that they just might not want the work because it's a pain to do I suppose (and I haven't used them before).
Wouldn’t be a problem for mine.
it is a ridiculously busy time of year for lbs’s though, maybe they are picked to the rafters?
At work we are close to a fork and shock specialist so don’t do any suspension jobs.
But pivot bearings jobs for any brand are normal enough.
Just as above this time of year is crazy so a 7-10 day wait for long jobs like that
I'd do the air shaft no problem.
I'd turn down the bearing swap though, not much money in it and massive potential for costs if it goes wrong.
I'd do both jobs myself so would expect most LBS with a decent workshop / mechanic to be able to do them. Need a few tools but nothing that specialised (unless SC bearings are particularly difficult / unusual). Whether they want to take on the jobs is a different matter, as suggested above.
Depends on the shop.
Some road specialists dont do much suspenion work. Some shops dont do too much tech stuff, they focus on "normal" repairs, just depends on their mechanics/tools/skillsets (and what is most profitable if they are being more business orientated than many bike shops)
Where are you based? Somebody might recommend somewhere that can do it close.
I can do both, but am fully booked for the next month.
(unless SC bearings are particularly difficult / unusual).
Not really, Santa Cruz tools make it easier, but they are just bearings. Because the bearings are in the links you can remove one link at a time and replace the bearings without fully stripping the frame.
Neither are terribly complicated, both are easy home DIY jobs really. As above, a shop that doesn’t see much suspension might balk but I’d expect anywhere I called my LBS to be happy to do the jobs even if they needed to quote a lead time due to other work.
Both DIY jobs. Though....
I've a mate who's a team mechanic on EWS circuit and a total suspension nerd who does good things with my suspension.
Bearings wise, I wouldn't trust a shop monkey to do it, rather do it properly at home.
And what is “doing it properly at home” ?
Both of those jobs are DIY jobs. I can't think of a single job I'd want the LBS to do. Doing it properly at home is just that, you know it's been done correctly with care and not some hamfisted bodge by the Saturday lad.
Bearing puller kit, 24mm socket, circlip pliers, Allen keys, and a rubber mallet are all you need for the jobs you mention. Fork oil, slick honey grease and a good assembly grease along with the frame bearings and you're good to go.
The tools would probably cost similar to the LBS doing the job once. If you buy them not only can you do the job again you can do other jobs with them.
My LBS certainly wouldn’t have a problem with that.
If the shop is a Santa Cruz dealer they might be able to get the bearings FOC, just need to pay labour.
“doing it properly at home” ?
Using the appropriate tools, not a big hammer, popping seals off the new bearings and packing with more grease etc.