Free hub bearings

[Beowulf46]

Hi guys, would appreciate your advice please. Bought a brand new giant tcx2 cyclocross bike at the end of November last year and have used it for my daily commuter and some gentle cyclocross rides. Have kept it well cleaned and maintained (or so I thought) but when I took it back to the shop for a service they told me the free hub bearings were basically ruined. They aren't sealed bearings and there was like a paste inside that had done a lotta damage. They said it 's just one of those things what will all the bad weather we've had and the usage the bikes had it. Is this level of wear and tear normal?? The dilemma is do I just replace the free hub (and possible have the same problem again) or do I upgrade the wheel set (as the one I 'Ve got on is quite basic). Proper dilemma as I need to keep the cost down and not sure what a decent wheel set is gonna cost.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I was looking at this as replacement wheels, they have sealed bearings.
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k632/a87372/racing-7-cx-shimano-8-9-10-11-speed.html

 

[Beowulf46]

Yeah, that's the sort of thing I'm after as sealed bearings are gonna be a whole load less hassle. Saw some campagnolo vento wheels for about 181 quid but they got mixed reviews. I think given the amount of use the bike gets gonna bite the billet and just upgrade the wheels. Thanks for that mate.

 

[Beowulf46]

I was looking at this as replacement wheels, they have sealed bearings.
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k632/a87372/racing-7-cx-shimano-8-9-10-11-speed.html

Yeah, that's the sort of thing I'm after as sealed bearings are gonna be a whole load less hassle. Saw some campagnolo vento wheels for about 181 quid but they got mixed reviews. I think given the amount of use the bike gets gonna bite the bullet and just upgrade the wheels. Thanks for that mate.

 

[goody]

So a brand new wheel lasted 4 1/2 months. I think the shop should at least replace the hub free of charge or if you want to upgrade the wheels give you a massive discount. How many miles have you covered in that time?

 

[Beowulf46]

So a brand new wheel lasted 4 1/2 months. I think the shop should at least replace the hub free of charge or if you want to upgrade the wheels give you a massive discount. How many miles have you covered in that time?

I've done about 1400 miles as it's my commuter bike but I was still surprised to find the bearings as bad as they were as I've had loads a other bikes and never had such a problem. Took it back to the shop and they just fobbed me off saying it was because I was riding all day everyday in the adverse weather conditions, salt on the roads and a lack of maintenance by myself that had caused the problem. They also said on an 800 quid bike they usually compromise somewhere on the components to keep the price down and Giant had compromised by putting on a basic wheelset. Reckon I might go back and stand me ground especially as I just paid 25 quid for a service anyhow or might even ring Giant direct and see what they say.

 

[e-rider]

the freehub isn't a part that is usually replaced - they are expensive as a spare part - usually pretty much the same cost as a new hub (which comes with a freehub).
4.5 months is shocking - I've got wheels over 10 years old and 10,000+ miles all with the original freehubs. Actually I've never replaced a freehub in 25 years.
What is surprising is that the shop has looked at the freehub bearings - I don't actually believe this for a second. Are they a bunch of idiots that are confusing the freehub bearings with the hub bearings of the rear wheel?

 

[Beowulf46]

the freehub isn't a part that is usually replaced - they are expensive as a spare part - usually pretty much the same cost as a new hub (which comes with a freehub).
4.5 months is shocking - I've got wheels over 10 years old and 10,000+ miles all with the original freehubs. Actually I've never replaced a freehub in 25 years.
What is surprising is that the shop has looked at the freehub bearings - I don't actually believe this for a second. Are they a bunch of idiots that are confusing the freehub bearings with the hub bearings of the rear wheel?

I'm not sure mate as my mechanical expertise is limited to shopping chains and cables really. I did think it was odd given the short time I've had the bike tho as like you I've never had this problem before. The more posts that are coming in the more I am thinking of owing back and causing a fuss until it gets sorted at their own cost. Forgot to say in earlier posts that the chain snapped twice after about three weeks of riding. I repaired it once the. Took it back to the shop who said it was a faulty chain which they swopped. Am beginning to wonder if I've just had a duff bike!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I'm not sure mate as my mechanical expertise is limited to shopping chains and cables really. I did think it was odd given the short time I've had the bike tho as like you I've never had this problem before. The more posts that are coming in the more I am thinking of owing back and causing a fuss until it gets sorted at their own cost. Forgot to say in earlier posts that the chain snapped twice after about three weeks of riding. I repaired it once the. Took it back to the shop who said it was a faulty chain which they swopped. Am beginning to wonder if I've just had a duff bike!

Never thought of Giant as British Leyland of the bike industry. I currently have a set of Weinmann XR18's I got with the bike 4 1/2 years ago, pretty naff wheels as the spokes keep braking, but never had a problem with the hubs or freewheel they are Quando, if there hadn't been so many changes at home just recently, I would have got a set of those Fulcrum by now.

 

[Beowulf46]

Never thought of Giant as British Leyland of the bike industry. I currently have a set of Weinmann XR18's I got with the bike 4 1/2 years ago, pretty naff wheels as the spokes keep braking, but never had a problem with the hubs or freewheel they are Quando, if there hadn't been so many changes at home just recently, I would have got a set of those Fulcrum by now.

Ha, that made me smile. Thanks for your help and good luck with your wheels.

 

[Canrider]

This sounds very fishy, as others have said. 1400 miles you wouldn't expect unsealed bearings to break down that much unless you were seriously abusing the bike over those miles--and this is a CX bike, so it's 'expected' to be ridden through mud and off-road.

I'm curious what maintenance you were supposed to be doing to it that you (allegedly) neglected? Did they say?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

This sounds very fishy, as others have said. 1400 miles you wouldn't expect unsealed bearings to break down that much unless you were seriously abusing the bike over those miles--and this is a CX bike, so it's 'expected' to be ridden through mud and off-road.

I'm curious what maintenance you were supposed to be doing to it that you (allegedly) neglected? Did they say?

As you say, 1,400 miles is nothing, I cleaned mine out twice this winter, and seems fine to me (mind I might not now the difference).

 

[Beowulf46]

This sounds very fishy, as others have said. 1400 miles you wouldn't expect unsealed bearings to break down that much unless you were seriously abusing the bike over those miles--and this is a CX bike, so it's 'expected' to be ridden through mud and off-road.

I'm curious what maintenance you were supposed to be doing to it that you (allegedly) neglected? Did they say?[/quoti was surprised too mate to be honest. At first they asked if I'd jet washed the bike/ bearings (which I hadn't for obvious reasons). then they said i was supposed to check the seal and then disassemble the hub to clean it and replace the bearings/ re-grease em etc. they said cleaning aint the same as maintenance and i needed to include a regular lube routine (i lube cables etc periodically and take good car of the drive train). The bearings thing is bizarre as I've never done that on any of my other bikes and its a right faff to have to keep doing that every week. Sounds like they're trying to shift the blame on me. I've only ever checked bearings if i've heard em grinding or i've had the bike for ages. I bought the cx bike for the reason that it would be a bit more hardy so feel a bit disappointed to be honest

 

[Canrider]

I can see why they asked about the jetwashing, but you shouldn't need to service your bearings weekly (or even monthly).

 

[Beowulf46]

I can see why they asked about the jetwashing, but you shouldn't need to service your bearings weekly (or even monthly).

I agree mate and am gonna phone the shop in a minute to see what they say. Thanks for your help