sfrider 

About 20mi into my ride today I was coming down a hill and all of a sudden experienced what felt like the front brake dragging. It whined like the pads were rubbing against the tire, a high-pitched jet engine kind of sound. I quickly verified that the brake had no issues, it looked fine. Got back on going slowly to see what was up, now the grab and whine was gone and it was chirping like a cricket instead. After turning around and heading back the chirping continued for another half hour or so, then the whine and grabbing sensation returned. I pulled off the wheel, bounced it a bit in hopes of maybe dislodging something loose, and put it back on and it was fine the rest of the ride. I still hightailed it back to the car, and will bring the wheel in to have it looked at (it's a stock Ksyrium Equipe). What should I expect, just new bearings or worse?

sfrider 

Oh, I also checked the spokes and they were good. Wheel looks nice and true. It also once or twice make plucking sounds, like spokes were popping. But they were all fine when I stopped and checked.

jordanb

If they make noises like that they're trying to seize up. Meaning that it's all mangled inside and it's making the bearings hot and they're pressing against the cup and cone and the whole thing is just a hot mess. So yeah, you'll probably need a new hub.

Now, if it is a high quality hub (made from very hard metal) it will squeek for some time just from being dry before it starts to mangle the insides. I've had a hub squeek on me before for a few miles before I was able to dribble oil in it. I had to keep putting oil in it but when I got it home it was still perfectly fine inside. But when you get to the squealing and clicking and grinding it's past hope.

moxfyre

IIRC, the Ksyrium Equipe wheels have cartridge-bearing hubs, not cup-and-cone bearings.

Most likely, you'll just have to replace the cartridges, which may run you anywhere from $10-60 with labor (depends on the LBS, and the obscurity of the particular bearings required). A lot more expensive than loose ball bearings, but if you can afford Ksyriums, you can probably afford a new cartridge or two

cs1

+1
Still, that sound would make me sick.

Tim

sfrider 

Thanks guys... yeah, I can afford it but don't like to spend money on things with no return. I'm also somewhat concerned about a repeat performance.

highlyselassie

Just be happy they have cartridge bearings, you'll only have to replace the cartridge and the hub is as good as new.

I, on the other hand, am in the process on finding new bearings, cups and cones for my old Campy hubs. Then I'll have to go about stripping them down/building them up. It's situations like these that make you appreciate cartridge bearings.

moxfyre

If you service cup-and-cone bearings every couple years, or whenever they start to feel gritty... they'll last forever. Cartridges normally last a lot longer, and they're a lot less messy though.

Somehow I feel sad about the demise of cup-and-cone bearings... adjusting them correctly is one of the most satisfying feelings in bike mechanics, and it's kind of neat how $3 worth of shiny steel balls can often make a bike feel brand new.

highlyselassie

True, but if your hubs are second hand, it's pot luck whether they've been maintained properly. I suppose I should just be grateful that these hubs are of high enough quality that replacement parts were manufactured.

spider-man

The demise of cups and cones is greatly exaggerated.

moxfyre

Well... they're gone from bottom brackets, and going from headsets and pedals. Even Sheldon Brown sez cartridges are good in front hubs, although he says only Phil Wood has been able to make a cartridge rear hub that's better than Shimano's cup-and-cone, and then only at the high price of $350.

sfrider 

Well, the LBS I bought it at wasn't terribly useful. They took basically no interest in the wheel since it had no problem when the sales guy spun it in the air, he was convinced I didn't put it on straight which is highly unlikely. (The brake pads are too close for that.) But regardless, I guess I need to find someplace else to take my business... I definitely want the cartridge replaced from the comments I've seen, but I'm not going to pay these guys to do it. Heck, the wheel is only two months old with about 700 mi on it, they could swap the cartridge on warranty/goodwill. Fortunately I have a good little LBS up the street (Noe Valley Cyclery) that doesn't have much inventory but always has done good service and takes their customers seriously.

moxfyre

Wow... an LBS that won't fix the 2 month old high end wheels they sold you... is a very bad LBS. Definitely take your business elsewhere.

sfrider 

Just to wrap up, the guy in my tiny little LBS replaced the bearings. It's a standard 6001 sealed deep-grove roller bearing. $8 for a couple of quality bearings, $9 labor to replace. Wheel is as good as new again, if not better!