Bottom Bracket Life

[HLaB]

Its just a curiosity post really. My bottom Bracket collapsed after just over 13,000 miles, iirc I replaced the previous one at a similar distance, although its failure was more gradual and less dramatic. I just wondering how long other folk get?

 

[compo]

A UN26 failed after just a few hundred miles. I am hoping that the UN55 I replaced it with does a better job.

 

[numbnuts]

On my touring bike it went after 10,000 miles put a new one in and up to now covered 20,000 miles

 

[Bodhbh]

Been using the Shimano Deore Hollowtech 2 ones. 2000 miles, regular as clockwork, on a couple of bikes. Using up the last ones and getting round to swapping them out for Gusset EXT24 ones with replacable bearings.

 

[compo]

In the bad old days when bikes were rubbish you would fit a (old style) bottom bracket and not need to touch it again for twenty years.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I think it varies between different models, and life is also affected by riding style. My fixed had an ISIS bottom bracket fitted when I first had it, I found it would barely last a year, about 3000 miles, eventually I fitted a new chainset and a UN54 bottom bracket, thats been in over 3 years now, over 9000 miles, and is still as smooth as silk. The external bottom bracket in my best bike was changed after about 3 years, around 5000 miles, there was no free play in it but the right side bearings were running rough, if I hadn't been trying to track the source of a noise I would have waited a little longer before I changed them.

 

[Hacienda71]

I changed my Sram gxp bb last week after about 12000. The guy at the shop seemed quite surprised and said he would expect about half that although conditions and how you clean the bike play a part in bb longevity.

 

[fossyant]

Un 54 in my fixed has been there nearly 5 years so about 20k. My MTB tends to eat UN54s until recently, and had been going through one a year (developed play).

The answer is how long is a piece of string.

 

[ianrauk]

Also got 13000 commuting miles out of an Ultegra HTII BB. Started to get crunchy so replaced it over the Christmas holidays.

 

[Dogtrousers]

A quick search has revealed I can no longer go back to cups and bearings. nobody appears to be selling them any more.

There's one going for free here: http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/garage-clear-out.146697/

 

[dodgy]

Depends if you have mudguards or not, if not and you ride in bad weather, that spray of water from the front wheel directly onto the BB area comes at a cost.

 

[dan_bo]

About 4000 miles on the fixie (FSA Square taper job)
about 1000 on the MTB (One of them external thingys)
no idea, but more, on the other(s)

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Had to have the BB on my Sirrus Elite changed at the weekend, it had done 8,000 miles. Only got the bike in June, so the LBS did it under warranty.

I do ride the Sirrus in all kinds of weather and have no mudguards on the bike.

The BB on my Felt has been in it since I bought the bike in 2008, but I bet I haven't done 10,000 miles on it yet

 

[rbreid]

A quick search has revealed I can no longer go back to cups and bearings. nobody appears to be selling them any more.

Plenty NOS available on Ebay. I change out the Ball bearings every 4/5 years as I also do with my hubs and headsets and most of my BB's and Hubs and headsets are 30 to 60 years old. Bayliss Wiley, Phillips TDC, Brampton, Stronglight and TA are all excellent quality and properly fettled will outlast the user.

 

[compo]

A quick search has revealed I can no longer go back to cups and bearings. nobody appears to be selling them any more.

They are available, but modern ones seem to be made of cheese. If you really want adjustable cups you could always go down the semi-sealed BB route, but by the time you have done that you may as well go fully sealed.