BB30 Ceramic Bearings

[uclown2002]

My BB on Boardman Road Team (only 3200 miles) is a bit noisy so needs sorting.

Any thoughts on replacing with ceramic?

More expensive than I expected as can't find any under £124!

 

[ianrauk]

Are you sure it's the bearings making the noise and not the actual BB?
Have you taken out, cleaned and regreased?

 

[uclown2002]

My mate looked at at and spun the bearings finding them a little rough. He didn't clean and regrease, suggesting it might be better to replace the bearings (citing well known issues with BB30) or 'upgrade' to ceramic.

 

[User6179]

My mate looked at at and spun the bearings finding them a little rough. He didn't clean and regrease, suggesting it might be better to replace the bearings (citing well known issues with BB30) or 'upgrade' to ceramic.

I don't think the problems with bb30 were the actual bearings , think ceramic would be overkill.

 

[Rob3rt]

It is a Boardman, there was an issue with them getting a dodgy batch of bearings at one point, however this may not be the issue.

TBH, I wouldn't bother with ceramic bearings, I use BB30 on 2 bikes, using SRAM BB30 bearing assembly kits, they have been faultless. £25 or so.

 

[User6179]

It is a Boardman, there was an issue with them getting a dodgy batch of bearings at one point, however this may not be the issue.

TBH, I wouldn't bother with ceramic bearings, I use BB30 on 2 bikes, using SRAM BB30 bearing assembly kits, they have been faultless. £25 or so.

I think that was what Halfords was telling their customers about the bearings but don't think it was true, think it was the frame tolerances on the bb shells, many a boardman had the bearings changed and the click was still there.

 

[VamP]

Ceramic bottom brackets are vastly, if not entirely, overrated. There is hardly any bang, but the buck is sure big.

 

[Rob3rt]

I think that was what Halfords was telling their customers about the bearings but don't think it was true, think it was the frame tolerances on the bb shells, many a boardman had the bearings changed and the click was still there.

Fair enough, wouldn't know for certain as I don't go to Halfords, nor am I a fan of Boardman bikes

 

[uclown2002]

Thanks guys; sound advice as usual.

Went out td and couldn't hear any noise ffs!

Might clean and regrease myself!!

Any special tools needed? I do have X-Tools Bike Tool Kit - 27 Piece although hasn't seen much use

Any links to useful video? I looked on you tube but had trouble finding a specific one to help me. I'm sure there are hundreds but little confusing for me not having played with bb before.

 

[SquareDaff]

I've just had a similar issue with a Boardman BB30 bottom bracket - usual thing, clicking noise when putting down the power. Pulled the seals off and regreased. Was good for a day or so then started clicking again. I finally found the culpit and it wasn't the bearings....it was grit in between the BB30 shell and the spring washer. Took that out, degreased it, polished it up and put it back in. It's now a week and no more clicking!

 

[ianrauk]

Thanks guys; sound advice as usual.

Went out td and couldn't hear any noise ffs!

Might clean and regrease myself!!

Any special tools needed? I do have X-Tools Bike Tool Kit - 27 Piece although hasn't seen much use

Any links to useful video? I looked on you tube but had trouble finding a specific one to help me. I'm sure there are hundreds but little confusing for me not having played with bb before.

LINK to Park Tool's BB30 guide

 

[uclown2002]

Tks for that; I'll check it out later.

 

[uclown2002]

LINK to Park Tool's BB30 guide

I was quite encouraged until I got to the reassembly!
I would need a bottom bracket tool for BB30 and a headset press. Although I like the idea of DIY repairs this seems a rather expensive job!

 

[smokeysmoo]

You don't need a headset press. FSA make some simple drift tools that work perfectly well, but TBH you can get without any special tools.

If you're replacing the bearings anyway you can just drift the old bearings out with a screwdriver and a persuader, and you can drift the new ones in with a piece of wood and a persuader.

Or better still convert it to HOLLOWTECH II and never have any bearing issues or bearing replacement problems again

[EDIT] these are the FSA tools for BB30 - INSTALLATION and REMOVAL.

 

[uclown2002]

T

You don't need a headset press. FSA make some simple drift tools that work perfectly well, but TBH you can get without any special tools.

If you're replacing the bearings anyway you can just drift the old bearings out with a screwdriver and a persuader, and you can drift the new ones in with a piece of wood and a persuader.

Or better still convert it to HOLLOWTECH II and never have any bearing issues or bearing replacement problems again

[EDIT] these are the FSA tools for BB30 - INSTALLATION and REMOVAL.

That's more like it. Don't mind paying that. Those 2 tools all I need apart from grease? It still looks like it needs a headset press or something similar. Any recommendations for that to buy?