Sealed bearings require much maintenance?
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Sealed bearings require much maintenance?
Hi all...Am wondering whether sealed bearings in wheel hubs and pedals should be regularly maintained or just serviced when problems arise? I ask because, for example, my wheels come with the recommendation to repack or replace the sealed bearing units every 3k miles, but a mechanic acted as if he'd never heard of anyone doing such a thing. Similarly, a repair book recommends servicing pedal bearings, but I have never heard of anyone doing anything to pedals (other than replace them). What say ya'll?
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If your mechanic has never heard of repacking bearings...you need to replace the mechanic, not the components.
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#3
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I suspect the mechanic balked at repacking sealed bearings, not at repacking bearings. I've never actually heard of repacking sealed bearings, either. There may well be some types of sealed-bearing units that can be repacked (e.g., you can force new grease into the bearing cartridges in Shimano headsets, though those aren't totally sealed) but I've not seen any of the standard-type of sealed bearing units that can be repacked. Usually you just replace them.
But, don't replace sealed bearings unless they grind when they turn. You can feel it, it's not like you need to use a rule of thumb, as you might with changing oil in a car. Basically, you can ride sealed-bearing units (in hubs, bottom bracket, etc) into the ground, without harming anything else on the bike. So, I wouldn't replace them unless they give resistance that actually hinders the bike from moving forward.
But, don't replace sealed bearings unless they grind when they turn. You can feel it, it's not like you need to use a rule of thumb, as you might with changing oil in a car. Basically, you can ride sealed-bearing units (in hubs, bottom bracket, etc) into the ground, without harming anything else on the bike. So, I wouldn't replace them unless they give resistance that actually hinders the bike from moving forward.
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You can (and should) most definitely repack sealed bearings that are not cartridge bearings.
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Originally Posted by spider-man
You can (and should) most definitely repack sealed bearings that are not cartridge bearings.
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#6
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Okay, good point. All modern cup-and-cone bearings in hubs etc. have seals now. I meant sealed cartridge units.
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So, the question for coyote2 is; Are your bearings cartridge type or cup and cone? If they are cup and cone, service them (at least) every 3k miles (more often in tough conditions). If they are cartridge, ride 'em 'till you detect problems. As to pedals; Some are cup and cone, too, and probably should be serviced in a similar manner. It will depend upon the pedal. Sometimes it may be as prudent to just replace the pedal. Like the man says, "it depends." OHB
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Sorry, my bad: I am talking about cartridge bearings. So the consensus is to just ride such units until they are crunchy, then replace the cartridges? Are these cartridges (in my Neuvation wheels, for example) proprietary or universal (in other words, can I buy 'em at any decent shop or only from the mfr)?
Thanks all for your answers.
Thanks all for your answers.
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Originally Posted by Coyote2
Similarly, a repair book recommends servicing pedal bearings, but I have never heard of anyone doing anything to pedals (other than replace them). What say ya'll?
Last non-cartridge, I got 3 ball re-packs before the races eroded. Roughly 2 yrs.
I switched to cartridge. I was having to re-grease every month or so on my mtb -too much work.
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Originally Posted by juicemouse
I agree, and object to using "sealed" and "cartridge" as synonyms when talking about bearings. My Shimano hubs, for example, have double sealed cup and cone bearings.
By the way, I service sealed cartridge bearings as routine maintenace. I know that they can run alot longer than non-cartridge systems but it only helps increase the life of the sealed cartridge bearing if you flush and repack it. My reasoning for this is that customers usually aren't happy about spending $10.00 or more per cartridge bearing when their are usually four in the rear hub and two in the front. That's over $60 before labor.
Last edited by Pete Hamer; 01-17-06 at 08:06 PM.
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Originally Posted by Pete Hamer
I know I'm hitting this one a bit late but THANK YOU. That one drives me nuts. It's like when people talk about suspension and say "My fork needs more dampening'. It's damping, not dampening. Sorry for the rant.
By the way, I service sealed cartridge bearings as routine maintenace. I know that they can run alot longer than non-cartridge systems but it only helps increase the life of the sealed cartridge bearing if you flush and repack it. My reasoning for this is that customers usually aren't happy about spending $10.00 or more per cartridge bearing when their are usually four in the rear hub and two in the front. That's over $60 before labor.
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Originally Posted by HillRider
I agree. Another peeve is break/brake and road/rode. English is a difficult language but
Other have metal seals that are, for all practical purposes, non-servicable.
Other have metal seals that are, for all practical purposes, non-servicable.
Good call on the medal seels. I sea those so infrequently that I forgot to mention them.
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Is there any way to tell without dis-assembly whether you have sealed or cartridge bearings? The catalog of spare parts for my Fulcrum 7 wheels calls them "sealed" but the cost per bearing is $20.
Does anyone know about the Fulcrums?
Thanks
Does anyone know about the Fulcrums?
Thanks
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You can pry open the seals on cartridge bearings. Usually bearings on bikes are rubber shielded so an exacto knife will pry open the seal. Metal shielded bears usually have a retaining clip.
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Old thread but this topic comes up all the time. Contrary to what many people think, "cartridge bearings" CAN be serviced by prying off the seals with a suitable tool and then flushing them out. Most people don't bother though and just wait for them to fail.
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Thanks. The cost to replace the bearings on my Fulcrum wheels exceeds the cost to replace the whole wheel so service is worth the effort.
Now to figure out how to get the front hub apart when I need to....
Now to figure out how to get the front hub apart when I need to....
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Bob