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Hi guys, ive got a santacruz nomad cc, the other day i decided it was time to change the bearings as i was noticing a creaking coming from the bottom, i took the lower pivot out the frame and took it to my lbs to install new bearings, now when i have gone to put it back in my frame i notice as im screwing the axles back in i can see a few mil gap on the right hand side, it looks like its not centralizing? the bearings look fine and central, but its like its being pulled to one side as i screw it back in place? apparently there is supposed to be a small gap at one side? ive no idea as ive never done this before, anyone with a nomad can you please look at the bit where u fire grease into the nipple- is there a small gap at one side between the pivot and the frame? is this normal ? thanks...
Yes it's normal.
If you look at the axle it has a step on the end you tighten.
The step buts up against the bearing to tighten everything up.
By step you mean the tapered cone nut with the screw? , also i don't over tighten things here? apparently its like a headset just nip them up enough so no play is that also correct before i go ahead?
The axle is tightened like a headset. The screw with the tapered nut is tightened to 100 ft/lbs IIRC.
sorry i dont have a torque wrench, would that just be nipped up tight maby some locktite on to make sure perhaps ?
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The shoulder on the black axle buts up agains the bearing to keep everything tight.
Around 3.5Nm from what I remember which isn't very tight.
Just tighten it enough to take any play out and not tight enough to restict it's movement.
Definitely loctite. It's more than "just nipped up" too. The tapered washer acts as a wedge, expanding the slotted part of the axle to hold it in place.
You should be using loctite on the axle threads too, some grease on the rest of it.
Invest in a torque wrench. Otherwise you risk snapping one of the screws in an axle ..... 😳
ok ill use the loctite on the threads and a little bit more than nipped up and see how i get on, like i say with it being so clean and not full of grease ive prob not even noticed the gap on the right as its always been packed with grease in its place, i should get a torque wrench really but i wont over tighten it anyway cheers guys
It will vary slightly, but tightening it to 35 in/lbs is a pretty safe bet. This is not very tight
Taken from here.
http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-GB/node/416
😯 good way the wreck the bearings.100 ft/lbs
EDIT Or are you taking about the locking bolt?
that's 110in/lbs not ft/lbs quite a difference. 😉
yea i saw that, what did this bit mean?
Make sure it is oriented so that the bump stop properly contacts the swingarm yoke.
?
Just means make sure you don't put it in upside down. 🙂
There's a little rubber "bump stop" on that lower link. It should be the only thing that contacts the swingarm when the shock is at max extension. The link looks otherwise symmetrical so it's easy to get it the wrong way round (I think the bump stop goes towards the rear/lower)
ah right, its easy enough to get it the right way as the nipple has to be showing from the underneath to be able to get to it, it was just the way it was leaving a gap at the side was confusing me when i was screwing it in, cheers for the help guys ill have another go after 🙂
Careful with the torque spec from Santa Cruz on the locking bolts. Snapped one of mine torquing* to spec and had to drill it out. SC admit the torques are a bit high and probably don't need anywhere near that much. Loctite also affects the torque and not sure if the spec is factoring the Loctite or not, although they do specify Loctite on their diagrams. There are different types of Loctite though and I was using the easier to use stick type stuff that sets in 24 hrs but that might mess with the torque also.
And yes, axle bolt is just nip it up snug. Torque wrenches usually don't go down that low or not reliable at that level, but best way to tell is to just see if there's no play in the frame but you can still compress the shock.
Check out SC technical section. They have exploded diagrams and shows the torque for everything and what bit needs grease, what needs Loctite. Tends to be better detail on the US site.
* - sp. torqueing? - auto correct says this