Mountain Biking - To face or not to face, that is the question...

I purchased a brand new Voodoo Erzulie frame recently, and I am unsure whether to have it faced or not. The Park Tool book states that some bottom brackets are designed in a way that makes facing unnecessary, but neglects to offer much detail. I'll be using a sealed cartridge BB. Any input on this? Also, how important is it to have the seat/headtube reamed? The only LBS I could find that offers these services charges $50 for the facing/chasing/reaming package.

Sorry if this has been discussed previously, I couldn't find a thread on it. :cry:

Im still not sure what the whole "facing" thing is.......

Could someone explain it?

Facing is making sure that the end of your BB shell/headtube/whatever is even and flush.

Oh ok.

When i took my new bike in for its first service, the mech. told me he would face the frame next time....

it's always a good idea with external bb's

it's always a good idea with external bb's

............which i have

Thanks.

have a machine shop do it for you, they will most likely give you a better deal

edit: and it should only take a few minutes

If you're using a cartridge square taper or splined BB, it's not quite so big a deal, but if the service is offered on the cheap, take it up. It causes a problem with external BB's because if the shell's not faced, the cups will line up kind of cockeyed, and, since the bearings are contained further out (in the cups,) and since they are loaded from the sides by the tension from the crankbolt, a misalignment will cause them to wear unevenly, and pretty fast.

As for your headtube, I would always have that faced, if not necessarily reamed, for the same reason. Headsets are supposedly even less tolerant of misalignment. Read the instruction manuals for really nice headsets and they'll say something like "headtube must be faced to within .0000000000000000000033 mm of absolute perfection." Or thereabouts. Anyway, another good check is to see if there's paint on the face of the headtube/BB shell. If the ends look clean and ground, and if it's a pretty nice frame, chances are it's already been done.

The frame is nothing fancy, the Voodoo Erzulie is their "entry level" offering. I will be using a sealed cartridge BB and a King headset. Sounds like it's a good idea to have it done. I think $50 is a bit much, but that's for the head tube, bottom bracket, reaming the seat/head tube, and chasing the threads. It's also the only LBS I can find that does it.

Dig the Ichi avatar!

For the whole package, $50 ain't too shabby. I'd pull the trigger. With a King headset, especially.

Entry level as it may be spec'd, I do like that frame. What kind of parts are you putting on it? If my shop's still in business by the time the summer rolls around, and if they've got work for me, I might try to get my hands on a Dambala.

It is always better to face. Just make sure you don't face off too much which changes the width. Also, facing Disc brake tabs is a good make to align your caliper.

Yeah, cool frame. I got the 17" in white. Not nearly as heavy as I thought it would be. Going singlespeed. My custom build is going like this...

White Industries hubs - Eccentric rear / M15 front
Sun RhynoLite rims
XTR brake levers and V-brakes w/Koolstops
White Industries Eno crankset 175mm w/32t ring
Giant carbon seatpost
WTB Rocket-V saddle
Rockshox 2007 Reba Team
King headset - blue (bling)
Hope front QR and seat collar - blue (bling)
Easton EC70 flat carbon handlebar
Cane Creek Ergo II bar ends
WTB Velociraptors 2.1
Raceface stem
Shimano PD-M540 pedals

Should have it completed in a week or two. Can't wait!

{Golf clap.**

Less some of the carbon bits, that sounds like a bike I'd build for myself.