Bottom brackets : are the expensive ones worth the money ?

[RhythMick]

Maybe not. I'm not exactly the most experienced cyclist or mechanic. Since I took up cycling 2 years ago I think every 3 or 4 months my GXP BB has developed play or gone gritty. No I don't use a pressure washer and yes I do keep everything reasonably clean.

This time I decided to have a go myself, stripped down the BB, found the cranks had play and the non drive side BB to be gritty. Checked several vids on YouTube and carefully got the seals off the bearings. Flushed them out with degreaser, dried them, regreased. I just had no confidence it wasn't all going to happen again in 3 months and I thought there must be a better way. The Chris King design looks good to me, so we'll see how it goes.

All on and working, front derailleur adjusted, all riding fine. Commute tomorrow.

 

[VamP]

I fitted a CK BB to my cyclocross bike, in a moment of rash flushness. It lasted a season, the same as a Shimano.

Cyclocross is harsh.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

but a quality BB is fit and forget.

Had a XTR/Dura Ace BB on my best bike for about 15 years - not touched it !

My Dyna-Tech was built with a Campag Chorus BB & Chainset back in 1994.

it still spins freely & has no discernible play, & the crankarms are still extremely shiney, with barely any lacquer missing (only where they've been scratched)

So, yes, I'd say quality lasts

 

[RhythMick]

A week with the Chris king and have to say I'm loving it. So smooth and I'm definitely faster on it. Of course the GXP was in a state so perhaps not a fair comparison.

 

[RhythMick]

OK - resurrecting the above thread. The CK BB has been on just over a year and has regularly had new grease injected with the proper tool. Disappointed to have a horrible clunk (been getting worse for a month, but the Exmouth Exodus tipped it over the edge I think).

Does anyone know if the CK BB can have it's innards replaced, or is it a throwaway now ? I'll ask CK.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

afaik CK has replaceable bearings. And there's the rub... they are probably the same bearings as you find in the cheaper BB's.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Just a note on the ceramic stuff, apparently the pros use them (from a friend who talked to a pro mechanic) because they can be pressure washed so cleaning the bike every day becomes quicker. No idea how true this is.

 

[Alun]

Just a note on the ceramic stuff, apparently the pros use them (from a friend who talked to a pro mechanic) because they can be pressure washed so cleaning the bike every day becomes quicker. No idea how true this is.

I would have thought that a pressure washer would remove the grease from a ceramic bearing just as well as it does from a normal bearing. The difference being that the pro doesn't pay for new bearings and the mechanic will fit them ready for the next stage, they'll probably have a new bike for the next race anyway.

 

[RhythMick]

OK - resurrecting the above thread. The CK BB has been on just over a year and has regularly had new grease injected with the proper tool. Disappointed to have a horrible clunk (been getting worse for a month, but the Exmouth Exodus tipped it over the edge I think).

Does anyone know if the CK BB can have it's innards replaced, or is it a throwaway now ? I'll ask CK.

For the benefit of others. Response from CK was basically "you could be replacing the grease too often."... I quote...

With that injection tool going in and out of the bearing about once a month, you may be effecting the inner race. The bearings are sealed and there shouldn't be any reason to service them that often, unless your riding conditions have lots of water and sand. Even then, maybe every 6 months instead of every 8-12 months.

I'm getting costs to have it serviced but suspect it won't be worth it. In the meantime I'm trying Hope

 

[RhythMick]

Ok couple of points to close this one off.

Firstly having taken the CK off the bearings feel smooth as new. No play obvious either. The play I felt on the bike (and the clunking when riding) must have been due to it not being tightened properly. My bad.

The Hope is on and feels fantastic. I think the outer seals on the Hope are much more substantial than the CK and I have high hopes for durability. The bearings are replaceable when they go too. If I was choosing again based on what I know now I'd go for the Hope.