Do I need to service my sealed wheel hubs?
09-22-08, 10:11 AM
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Do I need to service my sealed wheel hubs?
I've got a pair Suntour "Sprint" hubs on my vintage road bike I put on around 1980. I've pedaled at least a few thousand miles on them by now and they seem fine but I've never serviced them. They're sealed hubs. In comparison, I've repacked the fork and crank bearings multiple times since 1980, which are non-sealed, traditional free (no cage) bearings.
Do I need to do anything to my hubs? I hate to break the seal.
Do I need to do anything to my hubs? I hate to break the seal.
09-22-08, 10:15 AM
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Sealed (more correctly cartridge) bearings can be serviced and relubed but the general rule is run them until they die, then replace them. If the hubs turn freely, aren't noisy and don't have any significant side play, you can let them alone.
09-22-08, 11:46 AM
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Its no big deal to break the seal. I use a small knife to 'flip' the seal off. It wouldnt hurt to repack them and it doesnt take much time.
09-22-08, 12:33 PM
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are they really sealed cartidge bearings, or caged bearings with a rubber seal over them?
09-22-08, 12:35 PM
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The Suntour Sprint hubs I had in the mid-80's were cartridge bearing hubs. The bearings should last a long, long, long time in less-than-extreme conditions. Practically forever, for most folks.
