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My pedals seem to munch through bearings rather quickly at the moment. It seems to be poor sealing/high water exposure that's getting them as it all cleans up fine and runs okay for a while until contaminated again.
So, bearings with more grease and better seals are my next port of call. But which seals better for a pedal bearing against the crank? LLU or SRS? Any experts in the house?
What pedals are they?
Thanks, I know what the suffix means, that's why I'd choose LLU over LLB, I'm just not clear on whether the SRS or LLU gives the better seal.
The LLU gives two point sealing edges with a void between them, while the SRS uses a snap run to hold the seal material against a flat face.
I supposed I could get one of each and see which lasts longer although as I ride left foot forward, the right pedal seems to suffer the most.
In theory, LLU is less good a seal but will have a less friction to rolling. The opposite is true with srs.
In practice, LLU may as well not be sealed for MTB applications. Been there, tried it. It's only a tiny gap, but it's enough for water to penetrate. Stick with the snap ring and contact seals.
Cheers. That's what logic told me, but the SRS was claiming low seal friction which was counter intuitive.
I'll take the greater friction if it keeps the crap out. The SRS was ABEC 5 as well although I'm not sure I'd feel it in a pedal!
SRS is good for servicability but I think past that it's likely to come down to execution tbh (you can do things with an assembled part that you can't really do with a solid part, basically laying in the seal then bringing the casing down onto it rather than squeezing everything in... But that's no guarantee of actual real world performance really.
Got to be worth a try before I bin the pedals. Basically, one wet ride and they're goosed.
I think the low friction comment is there to deal with people's fear of drag. I'm sure it's an issue in other applications.
Get pedals with bushings instead, at the cruddy end at least. Bushings just wear down. No hassles with seized bearings, grinding, rubbish seals. Just replace bushing after a while or just pull off and regrease.
^^^ A lesson I've learned the hard way. However, now I've get them, I'll try to make them work rather than just bin them.
Shimanos bearing iteration is the only one I entertain for pedals. It's quite clever, super easy to service and very well protected from the elements.
isnt it 2rs? vs llu. in that case the llu will provide a better seal
Nope, 2rs is standard rubber seals. LLB is two light contact lips in a groove, LLU is two firm contact lips in a groove. SRS is a snap ring on top of the seal.
Onzadog - that's good info, something I didn't know. Thanks. 🙂
Can you convert to bearings with a seal one side only and add a grease nipple? This would often be the best solution to these issues in MTBs an I never understand the reluctance to do this by manufacturers. So you end up with a seal on the side facing outward and the ability to pump grease into the bearings from the centre.
Possibly. Enduro do a specific bearing as you describe with a directional seal that doesn't pop out due to grease pressure. Only in limited sizes though.