Bottom Bracket Installation & Care

[voicey]

The BB on my boardman gave up after three years so I swapped it out like for like (SRAM GXP external). After two weeks the new BB started clicking - after pulling it out to inspect it was clear the non-drive side bearing was shot as I could feel a lot of play in it. I have a replacement item ready to fit but thought I'd ask if there were any special installation tips or tricks to prolong the life of these bearings?

Cheers...

[Jimbo.]

2 weeks? Something's wrong there.

Keep any high-pressure water away from it and avoid covering it in cleaner, degreaser, WD40, GT85 etc, etc.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Copper slip on the threads will ease extraction. Nowt worse than a stuck bottom bracket. I always smear a good thick layer of lithium grease over the outside to keep the weather out. Doesn't sound great really. I ride in all weathers about 7-8,000 miles a year and can't recall the last time I replaced a BB because the bearings were shot.

[voicey]

Thanks guys - sounds like I got a dodgy part then.

[Jimbo.]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Copper slip on the threads will ease extraction. Nowt worse than a stuck bottom bracket. I always smear a good thick layer of lithium grease over the outside to keep the weather out. Doesn't sound great really. I ride in all weathers about 7-8,000 miles a year and can't recall the last time I replaced a BB because the bearings were shot.

Stuck seatpost

[BadgerBenji]

Two weeks and bearings shot, has the frame been faced? Sounds like bearing misalignment.

[voicey]

BadgerBenji said:

Two weeks and bearings shot, has the frame been faced? Sounds like bearing misalignment.

I didn't do anything to the frame - the old bearings/carrier screwed out and the new ones went in. Was I supposed to do anything else other than clean the area up? I would have thought the alignment would have been taken care of at the factory when the bearing were pressed into the carrier.

[BadgerBenji]

voicey said:

I didn't do anything to the frame - the old bearings/carrier screwed out and the new ones went in. Was I supposed to do anything else other than clean the area up? I would have thought the alignment would have been taken care of at the factory when the bearing were pressed into the carrier.

The bearings in the cups would have been aligned in the factory, but if the mating faces of the bottom bracket to the cups is part painted it can cause a slight misalignment.

[voicey]

BadgerBenji said:

The bearings in the cups would have been aligned in the factory, but if the mating faces of the bottom bracket to the cups is part painted it can cause a slight misalignment.

Understood - I will double check when I install. Cheers....