mbakernet

Hi everyone,

Is there any advantages/disavantages in using sealed cartridge hubs vs other hubs ?

Where are they a better fit ? e.g. are some hubs better for road/touring/montain bike ?

Thanks

mbakernet

phantomcow2

THey are, they last longer, that is the advantage. LEss maintenance and last longer. THey are good for all uses

mtbikerinpa

A sealed cartridge bearing is much more effectively sealed from grit and other contaminants than a normal 'open bearing'. This means that the mainenance intervals will be extended greatly and the durability in XC or road use is much higher. As far as peak loading, the typical cartridges have fewer balls in them to allow for the retainer, but if they are quality bearings that is not an issue. I have had cartridge hubs on one of my wheelsets for over 4 years and I look at the grease once a year. Almost every time I look at it the grease looks the same, clean.
The open ball hubs, like shimanos, have a much shorter service interval. In rough conditions racing, as is normal for eastern PA, the interval can be less than a month. This is because they only use a boot to seal and it has almost no pressure on the sealing lip. A cartridge bearing has the advantage of tighter tolerances in production, which allows the seals to be made more precise and effective. Couple this with the normal cartridge hub designs adding a few seals after it, and you have a tough cookie.
The only advantage I can see of an open ball setup is the looser seals create less drag. Honestly though, in almost all cases, you would not be able to tell in the slightest.

sydney

That 'better seal business', and 'tough cookie' stuff is not always a given. Just generalizing. Doesn't anyone remember what Sheldon had to say about cartridge bearings in an earlier thread?

Bikewer

Rebuilding non-cartridge bearings is also a cheap and easy job, once you've done it a couple of times.

drolldurham

replacing sealed bearings can be even easier, such as on my cane creek headset, if my bearings ever happen to crap out, i just take my stem off, take out old bearings, pop in new ones, done. non-cartridge is cheaper, but cartridge bearings are still relativley cheap

operator

Didn't see that, please quote.

nick burns

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/91757-cartrige-bearing-hubs-road-bike.html

That Search feature works pretty well sometimes.

Wheel Doctor

Like most questions like this one, no blanket Yes/No is correct. It depends on the user and the environment. If you into maintenance then loose bearings are not an issue. If your into stretching your maintenance interval, then sealed bearing cartridge may be for you. One may be better in some instances and the other may not may not.

Nessism

Yes, cartridge bearings commonly used for hubs have rubber seals pressed in but this does not mean they are "sealed" and maintenance free. As part of the normal maintenance for these parts it's necessary to pry the seals out and grease the innards, big pain in the butt if you ask me. You have to pick the seal out with a exacto knive or similar to get access. For this reason, many people don't service this type of bearing. My guess is that they will last slightly longer than a loose ball type hub if you don't do any maintenance but they will not last forever.

For people that like to take care of their bike, loose ball hubs are great. Easy to service and very durable so long as you don't over tighten the lock nuts.

After reading Sheldon Brown's comments in the last hub thread, I decided to go with Campagnolo for my next hub purchase. Just hate to pay more and get less with over priced boutique hubs.

As a side note, if I was still racing and wanted that last bit of speed, I'd just get some cheap aero wheels like Performance or similar. Just as aero as more expensive wheels but a whole lot cheaper so it's no heart-break when they taco out or the hubs explode.

Just my view of the world.

Ed

Wheel Doctor

[QUOTE=Nessism
As a side note, if I was still racing and wanted that last bit of speed, I'd just get some cheap aero wheels like Performance or similar. Just as aero as more expensive wheels but a whole lot cheaper so it's no heart-break when they taco out or the hubs explode.

Just my view of the world.

Ed[/QUOTE]

There are many nice moderatly priced even inexpensive wheelsets from Velocity, Sparticus/Sparticus Pro and from ALEX the 320's are reasonably lite and have a moderate aero profile and aero spokes. The Sparticus can be found for under $200 and the Alex 320 and Sparticus Pro for under $300. I have used all three for everyday riding.

While I have some high end wheelsets they spend most of the time in wheelbags in the spare bedroom or garage. The difference in performance at my riding level is minimum.

operator

Thanks for the link, no thanks for the extra comment. If I knew what to search I would've searched.

nick burns

Yeah, that was a tough search considering Sheldon's posted all of 57 times.

mtbikerinpa

I never said the cartridges we maintenance free. That is a term that only applies to things like shimano bottom brackets(usually). When I used open ball, I maintained them constantly and had the overhaul time to 10 mins a hub. That said, if you can have a cartridge that needs service on an almost anual basis instead of less than a month in east coast condidtions, why bother with the opens? Servicing a cart hub is easier too. All that is needed on a Juju hub is a 2.5 mm allen wrench and the rest comes apart easily. No need for flat wrenches or precise adjustment feel(which I am all for tinkering). On a roadie, I wouldn't worry with it either way, but on a trail there is no contest in my view.

Nessism

So what makes the seals on a cartridge bearing better than those on a loose ball hub? In both cases its just a simple single lip rubber seal.

mtbikerinpa

As I stated in the first post, the difference is in the tolerances. The seals on the cartridges are in fact closer to O-rings and not a boot. They are a steel wafer that is coated with rubber and has a lip around it. This creates a higher pressure on the seal and does not permit most greases to even ooze, let alone grit to enter.

mbakernet

Hey ! Thanks to everyone for all the great info.