Servicing Wheel Bearings

[Banjo]

My back wheel; on the Scott Speedster is making a rumbling sound when I spin it with the bike up on the wall rack.

As the bike is less than 6 months old I phoned the shop and they said bring it in for them to service the wheelbearings as its probably a bit of grit or something got in there.

Not sure if they will charge me or do it on warranty but either way I am tempted to have a go myself.I have watched the tutorial with the American guy called bike tutor and it seems straight forward enough to strip down clean and replace the ball bearings.

Should I leave it to the shop or give it a go and what pitfalls should I avoid?

 

[chillyuk]

Let the shop do it on a relatively "young" wheel. If they fail to cure it and it needs a new wheel then it is down to them. Do it yourself and they will blame you, even if you do a good job.

 

[Banjo]

Let the shop do it on a relatively "young" wheel. If they fail to cure it and it needs a new wheel then it is down to them. Do it yourself and they will blame you, even if you do a good job.

Yeah good point. I think I will service mrs banjos wheels first as they are long out of warranty etc and cheaper wheels anyway.

 

[dodgy]

I'd be surprised if servicing a wheel bearing overhaul/service would be covered on warranty?

 

[bad boy]

I also doubt this will be covered under warranty its generally deemed wear and tear.

I have had to do my rear hub twice this winter due to the appalling weather, it was making a similar sound to what you described.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Yeah good point. I think I will service mrs banjos wheels first as they are long out of warranty etc and cheaper wheels anyway.

Yep - practise where a balls up will be less serious and cheaper to sort out.

S'not difficult BTW. You'll need some cone spanners for older/cheaper wheels. I am yet to experience cartridge bearings in wheels but I expect they are out there somewhere.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Yep - practise where a balls up will be less serious and cheaper to sort out.
S'not difficult BTW. You'll need some cone spanners for older/cheaper wheels. I am yet to experience cartridge bearings in wheels but I expect they are out there somewhere.

When the cartridge bearings in the wheels on my Pearson needed changing I had the LBS do the job, they charged fifteen quid a wheel which seemed reasonable.

 

[Armegatron]

I had to do the front bearing on my Scott this winter. I'm a novice but was surprised by how straight forward it was. It defiantly helped having a grease gun though, so might be worth considering a purchase.

 

[accountantpete]

If you can ascertain the size then an upgrade can be performed by getting Grade 10 bearings - these will be smoother and rounder with the same strength than the originals.

a pack of 50 costs £7 or so - these guys are recommended for service and quality

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/

 

[Banjo]

If you can ascertain the size then an upgrade can be performed by getting Grade 10 bearings - these will be smoother and rounder with the same strength than the originals.

a pack of 50 costs £7 or so - these guys are recommended for service and quality

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/

Thanks for that. I have given it to the shop to do this time but will get the neccessary bits and bobs needed to diy in future.

 

[andyhunter]

very easy and simple to change wheel bearings, though make sure not to damage the new ones when you put them in as you need a special tool to do it which is sort of like tweezers, make sure you also replace with the exact same size of bearings you took out. i got ceramic bearings out of chain reaction cycles for 28quid each for my mavic es wheels to put in the rear as i already got the front done by a bike shop. They told me bearings should be replaced every year which is true, some difference between the old feeling and the new feeling.