How long do BB30 bearings last?

[jay clock]

Press or interference fit is fine for a Tupperware lid but it's always going to struggle in a high stress/low weight application such as a bicycle bottom bracket.

And the more times you knock it out and press in a new one, the more the thin-walled shell will wear.

If you are keeping the bike, I would look into changing to a screw fit bottom bracket.

Various options, of which Praxis is the best - according to Praxis.

https://www.praxiscycles.com/conversion-bb/

That looks very similar to the Wheels Mfg one

 

[mjr]

In my day .... cup and cone ... Jumpers for goalposts

I think I've still got two bikes with them - maybe three - and most of the others are using square-taper cartridges.

Are there any statistics on whether Beggared By 30 days bottom brackets deserve their reputation compared to the other types?

 

[Dogtrousers]

I'll probably be laughed at for this, but cup and cone BBs were extremely easy to service, the cups and axles were made out of super hard stuff that never seemed to wear. What's not to like?

 

[Hacienda71]

@smokeysmoo iirc used an adaptor so he didn't have to stick with BB30

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I get 20,000 miles out of the bearings with a TA Axis BB. Expensive tho'

 

[reacher]

4 years and a fair old amount of ks

 

[mjr]

I'll probably be laughed at for this, but cup and cone BBs were extremely easy to service, the cups and axles were made out of super hard stuff that never seemed to wear. What's not to like?

It takes a few goes to get the adjustment just right, plus it benefits from stripping and repacking with fresh grease every so often (if only to clear out the shoot that falls down the frame into the BB area), whereas cartridges just seem to need putting in at a suitable torque (see recent disagreement about what that is) and riding 'til they die.

I don't think the benefits of cartridges are so great that it's worth converting a frame, but I can see why they took over in general. It's push-fit that I don't get.

 

[outlash]

Are there any statistics on whether Beggared By 30 days bottom brackets deserve their reputation compared to the other types?

Only anecdotal chinese whispers echoed around forums like these.

 

[smokeysmoo]

@smokeysmoo iirc used an adaptor so he didn't have to stick with BB30

Spot on pal.

Fitted an FSA BB adapter to allow fitment of Hollowtech II BB and chainset and never looked back.

That said BB30 bearings must be better nowadays but IMO BB30, in fact all press fit set ups are an answer to a problem that never exised.

 

[Blue Hills]

I'll probably be laughed at for this, but cup and cone BBs were extremely easy to service, the cups and axles were made out of super hard stuff that never seemed to wear. What's not to like?

Interesting view - I know someone else on here who is a great fan of them. I recently took one apart on an old 90s frame I bought and, yes,all did look near indestructible. Being an ignorant soul can someone tell me what the plus points of these BB30s are supposed to be? Do they have any?

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'll probably be laughed at for this, but cup and cone BBs were extremely easy to service, the cups and axles were made out of super hard stuff that never seemed to wear. What's not to like?

Agreed, piece of piss to sort. I broke a ball-bearing once and fixed it by the side of the road in the dark and rain, didn't take long at all.

 

[mjr]

Interesting view - I know someone else on here who is a great fan of them. I recently took one apart on an old 90s frame I bought and, yes,all did look near indestructible. Being an ignorant soul can someone tell me what the plus points of these BB30s are supposed to be? Do they have any?

https://www.sram.com/sram/road/technologies/bb30 says "serious weight savings, [...] narrow Q-factor, more ankle clearance, greater bearing durability and stronger crank construction" but http://www.fullspeedahead.com/tech/bottom-brackets/ says their BB386EVO is even better. Neither says anything about not squeaking, though.

 

[e-rider]

press fit BBs are are step back to pre 1970s tech - why the 'big' manufacturers pushed this in recent years is beyond understanding for a few grams of weight saving. I wouldn't buy a bike with a press fit BB and luckily some brands are going back to threaded now.

 

[reacher]

Depends which bike you want, some you have no choice. Changing things is the only way they can sell stuff if they dont no one would ever buy anything this is for everything from fashion to cars you name it nothing stays the same bikes are no differant

 

[Lpoolck]

3k and no issues so far.