How long should a bottom bracket last?

[Spinney]

Bike making creaking noise, which me and OH decided must be the BB. Took it to LBS and he said, yeah, those don't normally last much more than 2000 miles.

If I'd got OH to do it, he said the replacement was a Shimano BB52.

My question is - is the 2000 mile (ish) life given by the LBS legit? It sounds quite short to me. With my mileage that's a new BB roughly every year (although this one has lasted longer than 2000 miles - possibly nearly twice that). For OH, who cycle commutes 26 mile round trip, that would be two new BBs a year if he used that type (he doesn't).

 

[ianrauk]

The FSA BB on my commuter lasted about 16,000 miles in all weathers until let go and I had to change it. Now that's not at all bad considering the bad rep that FSA BB's get.

The Hope BB in my Van Nic has 14,000 miles so far, I think it's just starting to go also.

 

[Spinney]

I think the implication was that it was 'that type' of BB that has a short life. I have no idea if that is the same as the ones you are quoting!

(I can fix punctures, adjust brakes etc, but anything more than that and I'd rather keep the LBS going by giving it to him to fix!)

 

[DCLane]

Square tape, which yours is, 2500-10,000 miles depending upon use

Hollowtech II I get 6000-10000 miles.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Just to balance all the big figures I had a SRAM GXP (I think) BB seize solid after ~2k miles

 

[Spinney]

OK, thanks all. Sounds like I've just got the type that wears out quickly. It's not actually died yet, but they don't cost a lot so I'd rather get it fixed before it seizes up!

 

[numbnuts]

My first one lasted 10,000 miles the second is still in use at 18,000 miles so far.

 

[raleighnut]

The replacement BB is likely to be of a higher quality than the OEM cheapo jobby they'd slung in fitted at the factory, they probably buy those by the sackload crate.

 

[Spinney]

The replacement BB is likely to be of a higher quality than the OEM cheapo jobby they'd slung in fitted at the factory, they probably buy those by the sackload crate.

The LBS has already replaced the BB on this bike once, a couple of years ago. The bike is from Paul Hewitt, who assembles them and so the first one was probably not a cheapo one - the first one lasted a lot longer than this more recent one.

 

[raleighnut]

Square tape, which yours is, 2500-10,000 miles depending upon use

Hollowtech II I get 6000-10000 miles.

Isn't a BB52 Hollowtech II ?

 

[DCLane]

Isn't a BB52 Hollowtech II ?

You're right - my error.

So 2,000 miles is too little imo.

 

[jefmcg]

Do get it replaced. When mine started to fail, I rang the shop, but they couldn't do it for a couple of weeks, so I kept riding on it. It failed halfway up Wimbledon hill, so I had to limp to the station. Ironically, I took the bike into the LBS that said they couldn't do it for 2 weeks, and they fitted it while i waited.

(For the record, it was an OEM FSA MegaExo, lasted 13,000km. It's identical replacement is 60km short of the distance the first one lasted, and is showing no signs of failing yet.)

 

[Spinney]

It's with the LBS as we speak type...
but thanks for the warning.

 

[MontyVeda]

Bike making creaking noise, which me and OH decided must be the BB. Took it to LBS and he said, yeah, those don't normally last much more than 2000 miles.

...

IME, people who work in LBSs talk a lot of sh!t. A bloke in a Lancaster LBS once told me there aren't any hills around here.

 

[Spinney]

IME, people who work in LBSs talk a lot of sh!t. A bloke in a Lancaster LBS once told me there aren't any hills around here.

Send him up to the Jubilee Tower!