You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
So my BB71 that came on my bike now makes a horrendous knocking noise at the bottom of each left crank stroke. After 5/6 months of use, admittedly through the shitty wet winter we've had.
After a bit of research my options appear to be:
- Another BB71, for ~£20. Will last another 6 months, maybe longer
- A BB91, upgraded shimano. Any reviews of this, any better?
Any other press fit's? All of the above will either be bodged into the frame (likely), or i'll drop some cash on the correct tools (another ~£40), or get the shop to fit it (some money each time I replace the BB).
- Or an 'upgraded' BB, I've been looking at the Hope one. As far as I can tell, I get the shop to press the cups in and then when the bearings have had enough (and I would hope they'd last a good bit longer than the shimano ones) then I can just replace the bearings without taking the cups out, correct? Anyone got one of these and can comment on longevity/ease of bearing replacement? I googled around but reviews are hard to find. These cost around £80 and then however much the bearings are each time I replace.
Is it worth the extra for the Hope?
Experiences please.
Cheers
I don't think you will see many more miles/time out of a BB91.
If you buy a headset press and tools, it becomes a simple job to replace.
Hopes are great and replacement bearings 34 quid a pair.
How long have you been running the Hope Baznav? What kinda time/mileage dio you get out of a set of bearings?
Cheers
replace the bearings without taking the cups out, correct?
Correct. Been using one for about a year and NDS bearings now starting to go - easy replace. Have been advised to pop them out and re-grease every 3 months to prevent creaking, but I've never noticed any so far.
Purchase cheap bearings off ebay. (Got 10 for 12quid). Open seals and put extra grease in. Tap out old bearings with a screwdriver and hammer. Press in new ones with home made press. (Long bolt, 2 nuts and large pladtic washers). Done this several times and takes 10mins. Ebay bearings last at least 6 months so enough for 2-3 years.
Shimano XTR BB94 http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shimano-sm-bb94-mtb-bottom-bracket-cups/aid:674910 meant to be better sealed but still shimano
Hope PF41 looks good as once the cups are fitted it'll be easy to knock out bearings and replace them but they are an odd size (37mm x 24mm x 7mm I think) so you can't get them from a bearing supplier and need to get expensive Hope bearings
Re install your existing BB to stop creaking.
My Hope PF has been great. Was a bit dubious as the price was higher and the previous ones I bought from a number of companies all wore out pretty quick (The cheap Superstar one lasted the longest for me).
The Hope one is still going smooth from the day I bought it despite some pretty crap wet rides in the Peak District this winter.