New headset bearing recommendations

pprendeville

Could someone recommend ceramic/tiramic bearings that correspond to these sizes, that is if it's possible to buy them seperately. Nothing wrong with these but I'd like to upgrade as I was reading about stresses that a steerer is under and I think it would be worthwhile (reading the Chris King literature on integrated headsets would frighten you). Have contacted a few bearing suppliers (Brammers, efox, Dickson Bearings) in Dublin but awaiting replies so in the meantime I thought I'd post up here.

Going by the Park Tool website (http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/headset-standards#is) this headset corresponds to IS42 and IS52. Does this mean a complete Campagnolo hiddenset would do me. Do Cane Creek have any headsets to suit this type? Not sure what price the ceramic bearings will come in at.



Mods: Had this post in another thread but got no replies.

B Morrissey

Have you tried emailing your frame manufacturer to see which type you need. Then contact Chris King to see if they have anything to suit. I'm no expert but Im not sure if ceramic would make any difference in a headset. Chris King standard bearings are supposed to be pretty good.

macnab

I am replying from my phone so I dont have the tools at hand to do much searching on google etc. That looks like a bearing set for a tapered steerer which is nominal 11/8" and 11/2". If so then I use Crane Creek bearings in my bike. I understand your worries about stresses after reading those reports, but IMO they mostly apply to profesional cyclists and even then to the really strong sprinters. Unless you fall into this category then just fit good quality off the shelf bearings and enjoy your bike.

Morgan

pprendeville wrote: »

Nothing wrong with these but I'd like to upgrade as I was reading about stresses that a steerer is under and I think it would be worthwhile

You want to replace (what appears to be) a perfectly good pair of steel bearings with ceramic ones? How would that reduce "stress" on the steerer? I don't get it.

Squidgy Black

To be honest, for the price of ceramic bearings you could buy a brand new headset. Ceramic bearings are ridiculously expensive, you're talking almost 60-100 pounds a set.

There's hundreds of cheaper and more effective upgrades to make for that kind of money. You probably won't tell even a slight difference in bearings unless they're shot altogether.

henboy

I'm replacing the bearings in my headset at the moment . The bearings are well worn down it's a fsa headset . I was looking in to getting ceramic bearings but to be honest they were way out of my league as in price.

So I just went on to chain reaction and ordered the normal ball bearings . It was my first time going near the headset to take it apart to clean it, glad I did now.

Donelson

What failure mode are you concerned about? Sudden bearing failure even in large kW machines is extremely rare. If you are concerned about bearing failure regular inspection it's the way to go. I would recommend bearing dotor from nsk if it's not on their website I'm sure they would send you a copy with a bit of blagging.

pprendeville

B Morrissey wrote: »

Have you tried emailing your frame manufacturer to see which type you need. Then contact Chris King to see if they have anything to suit. I'm no expert but Im not sure if ceramic would make any difference in a headset. Chris King standard bearings are supposed to be pretty good.

Got the bearings from HongFu in China so not worth contacting them (nothing to be made on it for them and shipping). I know Chris King will have a huge markup like any brand. Maybe you're right and I should be looking for just better bearings. I was working as a mechanical engineer long long ago and I used SKF and Igus a lot and they are industrial standard so should probably contact them. Have been in touch with Brammer, Dickson Bearings and efox but no replies yet. I'm only small fry for them.

pprendeville

macnab wrote: »

I am replying from my phone so I dont have the tools at hand to do much searching on google etc. That looks like a bearing set for a tapered steerer which is nominal 11/8" and 11/2". If so then I use Crane Creek bearings in my bike. I understand your worries about stresses after reading those reports, but IMO they mostly apply to profesional cyclists and even then to the really strong sprinters. Unless you fall into this category then just fit good quality off the shelf bearings and enjoy your bike.

Yes you're right. It's part of an integrated headset 1 1/8" to 1 1/2".

pprendeville

Morgan wrote: »

You want to replace (what appears to be) a perfectly good pair of steel bearings with ceramic ones? How would that reduce "stress" on the steerer? I don't get it.

Yes I phrased it poorly. They won't reduce the stress but Compared to steel balls, Ceramic balls are "lighter, smoother, stiffer, harder, corrosion resistant, and electrically resistant" (taken from a precision machining website) so essentially I'm interested because of the reduced maintenance required and their durability and quality.

pprendeville

stetyrrell wrote: »

To be honest, for the price of ceramic bearings you could buy a brand new headset. Ceramic bearings are ridiculously expensive, you're talking almost 60-100 pounds a set.

There's hundreds of cheaper and more effective upgrades to make for that kind of money. You probably won't tell even a slight difference in bearings unless they're shot altogether.

Where are you getting your estimates from?

Mycroft H

pprendeville wrote: »

Yes I phrased it poorly. They won't reduce the stress but Compared to steel balls, Ceramic balls are "lighter, smoother, stiffer, harder, corrosion resistant, and electrically resistant" (taken from a precision machining website) so essentially I'm interested because of the reduced maintenance required and their durability and quality.

Cereamic bearings are total overkill for a headset. Even for a MTB.

pprendeville

Donelson wrote: »

What failure mode are you concerned about? Sudden bearing failure even in large kW machines is extremely rare. If you are concerned about bearing failure regular inspection it's the way to go. I would recommend bearing dotor from nsk if it's not on their website I'm sure they would send you a copy with a bit of blagging.

Not worried about a specific failure mode. I just want to ensure my headtube doesn't get damaged should bearings be of poor quality.

Googled Bearing Dotor NSK but no hits. Is it a type of bearing?

coastwatch

Try "Bearing Doctor NSK"

Flandria

I work for a bearing company and while many bike bearings are standard enough sizes, sadly headset bearings are almost always proprietry and available only from manufacturer. Ceramics in headsets are a very, very expensive luxurious waste of time btw. If there is no need to upgrade - don't.

pprendeville

so are bearings in the pic hard to get from bearing companies including your own?

Flandria

pprendeville wrote: »

so are bearings in the pic hard to get from bearing companies including your own?

Afraid so, generally headset bearings are not available as spares (the heavy chamfer makes them a special design, and therefore not suitable for too many other applications) though Enduro list some for Cane Creek and FSA http://www.enduroforkseals.com/id178.html