Replacing bottom bracket on my Giant Defy 2

[ColinC]

I've got the exact same bike as you and my BB started creaking and I could feel the bearings weren't right. I was told by my bike shop (Really good Giant suppliers in Clapham) that I could only replace my BB with the mega Exo (which I got after calling various local bike shops). I was also looking at other BB's, as the reviews and my own experience of it (mega Exo) wasn't that good. I had only completed about 6000 miles all in all weathers.

One bit of advice I was given was that the pressure washers that are used for cleaning the bike can push the grease in the bottom bracket out, which leads to further wear.

- Have you tried opening it up (you need the tools) and tried cleaning and re-greasing it? If not a new one is likely to set you back £40-50.

I'm a little bit skeptical about the guys in Clapham who told you that you'd have to replace with another MegaExo. I really want to go for something different, and based on the dimensions of my BB, I reckon I should be able to replace it with another UK standard BB?

Or is it that I need to replace the whole chainset along with the BB in order to use a different one?

 

[the_mikey]

I would replace the whole chainset.

 

[Dmcd33]

I'm a little bit skeptical about the guys in Clapham who told you that you'd have to replace with another MegaExo. I really want to go for something different, and based on the dimensions of my BB, I reckon I should be able to replace it with another UK standard BB?

Or is it that I need to replace the whole chainset along with the BB in order to use a different one?

It should be possible, but from experience, once you open it up, all you need is one slightly differeing dimension or size and the thing won't fit a snuggly as you would like.

Please let me know if it works though, as I want to upgrade my BB next time round (which wont be too long considering the last one went so soon)

 

[ColinC]

So it sounds like replacing the BB on it's own is risky, and I'm advised to replace the whole chainset.

Does anyone have any link on chainreactions/wiggle to a whole chainset package that would work for my bike?

 

[the_mikey]

Depends what you want and budget, but essentially if you want shimano dura-ace bottom bracket shells then you can purchase them, but you'll need a shimano hollowtech2 compatible chainset, so tiagra, 105, ultegra etc..

 

[boydj]

So it sounds like replacing the BB on it's own is risky, and I'm advised to replace the whole chainset.

Does anyone have any link on chainreactions/wiggle to a whole chainset package that would work for my bike?

No reason why a knackered bb should need a whole chainset replacement. Google the megaexo bb and find the cheapest supplier. Unless you can afford the extra couple of hundred pounds for a chainset?