BB 90 Bearings: How are Yours?

velo.2010

So I've had the Madone a year and a half now. Put in new Press-Fit bearings at the time the frameset arrived and have kept them well maintained. Time, I thought, to change the bearings for the year ahead which will include a lot of longer hillier spins on this bike.

As I removed the old ones(which still worked perfectly fine) I saw how the left hand-non drive side bearing exterior had deteriorated quite a bit with rust forming on the outer plate. Keep in mind I only checked the bearings last November. Surprised with that find as I've kept this bike indoors and frankly haven't used it as much as I could have in the past year.

Has anyone with a BB90 set-up noticed any changes/damage/wear since they got their bike. Its a still a relatively new BB concept that some bike companies have steered clear from. For me they run a lot more smoothly than the regular Hollowtech system its just that there might be unknown issues as time wears on for this system!

calerbass

velo.2010 wrote: »

So I've had the Madone a year and a half now. Put in new Press-Fit bearings at the time the frameset arrived and have kept them well maintained. Time, I thought, to change the bearings for the year ahead which will include a lot of longer hillier spins on this bike.

As I removed the old ones(which still worked perfectly fine) I saw how the left hand-non drive side bearing exterior had deteriorated quite a bit with rust forming on the outer plate. Keep in mind I only checked the bearings last November. Surprised with that find as I've kept this bike indoors and frankly haven't used it as much as I could have in the past year.

Has anyone with a BB90 set-up noticed any changes/damage/wear since they got their bike. Its a still a relatively new BB concept that some bike companies have steered clear from. For me they run a lot more smoothly than the r
regular Hollowtech system its just that there might be unknown issues as time wears on for this system!

Did you use muck off to clean your bike.friend of mine has a trek ex mtb and had to change the bb due to the reasons you give.an experienced bike mechanic told him muc off is the cause as it contains a corrosive element.he used it all the time.

velo.2010

Cleaning not a problem Calerbass, just wondering how others are finding the new BB system some 2 or 3 years in. Cervelo and others wont touch it- interesting to see long term how the frames stand up to taking on the extra stress.

abcdggs

calerbass wrote: »

Did you use muck off to clean your bike.friend of mine has a trek ex mtb and had to change the bb due to the reasons you give.an experienced bike mechanic told him muc off is the cause as it contains a corrosive element.he used it all the time.

Someone was saying that yesterday around these parts as well, holy-something i think it was.

Freddy687

Have had a Madone since 2008. I have also seen this rust on the non-drive bearing. I put it down to being more exposed to the elements, even after cleaning water can lodge behind the gasket.
Lets face it you are not going to strip the drive train every weekend to ensure this is clean and dry.
I have replaced the bearings at the start of every season. New ones put in just last weekend.
It does not bother me much as this is a part that I would replace yearly even if there was no rust.

macadam

Currently getting mine replaced but having problems sourcing original bearings from Trek, if i use other shop off the shelf bearings will it void my warranty?

Seweryn

macadam wrote: »

Currently getting mine replaced but having problems sourcing original bearings from Trek, if i use other shop off the shelf bearings will it void my warranty?

From own experience the "original" BB30 bearings (same as BB90) marketed by FSA, Sram and other known cycling brands are absolute rubbish. I have a whole little box of these worn bearings. Get yourself a proper set of bearings, like NTN LLU and they will serve you well.
Unless you are cycling only in dry weather, fitting the "original" bearings is waste of time and your money down the drain.

macadam

Whats the correct sizing for the new bearings, are these easily got?

Seweryn

macadam wrote: »

Whats the correct sizing for the new bearings, are these easily got?

24 x 37 x 7mm.

Easily available from a specialist supplier / engineering shop. Just order / ask for the right ones.

Edit: just realised the BB90 is different to the BB30 standard. Size and type corrected.

macadam

Seweryn wrote: »

30 x 42 x 7mm, 6806-2RS.

Easily available from a specialist supplier / engineering shop. Just order / ask for the right ones.

Great stuff.
Any idea of price are there different qualities.

Seweryn

macadam wrote: »

Great stuff.
Any idea of price are there different qualities.

Sorry, I realised the difference in sizes between BB90 and BB30. There is not much info on the web, so if I was you, I would remove the chainset and measure the bearings, but they are most likely 24 x 37 x 7mm. I can't confirm this for 100%, as it looks like the BB90 bearings are fitted through an additional sleeve.

Top quality well sealed set will cost you around €50. You can buy the "original" bearings for about €30 AFAIK, but they are not worth it, as the quality is very poor.

Brian?

Seweryn wrote: »

Sorry, I realised the difference in sizes between BB90 and BB30. There is not much info on the web, so if I was you, I would remove the chainset and measure the bearings, but they are most likely 24 x 37 x 7mm. I can't confirm this for 100%, as it looks like the BB90 bearings are fitted through an additional sleeve.

Top quality well sealed set will cost you around €50. You can buy the "original" bearings for about €30 AFAIK, but they are not worth it, as the quality is very poor.

I wouldn't put money on this, but I think BB90, GXP and BB86 are all the same.

Seweryn

Brian? wrote: »

I wouldn't put money on this, but I think BB90, GXP and BB86 are all the same.

As for bearing sizes itself, you are probably right.

C3PO

I have either a BB30 or BB90 bearing set up (not sure what the difference us!) on my Focus CX bike and the bike is great but the bearings are a disaster!
I've had the bike a couple of years and only use it during the Cross season - maybe 20 times a year in total and I think I'm on my 4th set of bearings!! I had a new set put in before the Championships in January, rode the bike once and they had to be replaced when I took the bike down for the start of this season! It seems that water gets into the BB, doesn't drain properly and the bearings sit in a bath, slowly rusting away! For me replacing the bearings is not a DIY job - I don't have the proper tool (yet!) and I'm a bit nervous about the "hammer and gentle tapping" method!
Also don't like the idea of the bearings being regularly removed and inserted feeling that inevitably it will lead to wear on the frame over time?
All in all I much prefer the older system with threaded cups - I'm sure there are advantages to the BB set ups but in the real world ......!

ashleey

I had a Focus Cayo with BB30 and I changed the bearings myself after 2 years of use. The idea is that a tightened crank presses the seals onto the bearings to keep them from disintegrating due to rust from water ingress. SRAM cranks are ideal as they 'squeeze in' as you torque them.
After about another 18 months I noticed hairline cracks in the frame and luckily got a new frame under their replacement scheme. This uses Pressfit 30 where the bearings are in a sleeve to aid fitting and for protection as a sort of half way house to threaded cups.
The biggest weakness of BB30 seems to be fitting as you have to press them in exactly square and the frame space must also be precise. Any deviation and also the tapping and pressing in of the bearings stresses the frame. You really need the correct tools for correct fitting and it is an investment to consider.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Bottom_Bracket_Standards_2573.html