Are PF30 bottom brackets as dismal as they sound?
03-10-15, 01:59 PM
#26
Senior Member
Even if you were to consider that a poll, which it's not, trying to glean information from self-selecting respondents is one of the biggest statistical no-nos out there. So: PF BB install and statistics - what else would you like to add to the 'things that you're not competent in' list?
Here's my experience: I had 2 BB30 failures last year (bearings cracking, popping). One happened from the factory install, the 2nd after a LBS fix. Third fix seems good so far but only has 500 miles on it. While I was on a group ride, a friend on a CAAD10 starting emitting a popping sound, and low-and-behold, his BB30 needed to be reassembled, he'd put less than 2000 miles on it.
Forums are full of threads of people with creaking and popping BB30 bottom brackets. Now I'm sure there's a magic way to fix these, but it doesn't get over the fact that the issues are a result of the need for BB30 bottom brackets to not only be perfectly installed, but also have very highly accurate tolerances in the bottom bracket machining. Where English threaded bottom brackets are really just a case of "grease, screw-in, forget".
It's easy to blame people for problems, but the fact is, some things are more reliable than others by design. In my opinion: English threaded bottom brackets are more reliable than press-fit. Your lack of problems does not disprove this.
03-10-15, 02:00 PM
#27
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I installed a Hollowtech 2 threaded BB three years and ~14K miles ago. It took about 5-10 minutes. I used a $13 tool and just made it "pretty tight". I haven't had to think about it (or hear it) since, the tool has been sitting there on my shelf. Like others have said, I'm not sure what problem we're trying to solve here with PF. I'll take 50g of theoretical weight any day over creaking and a 6 month rebuild cycle.
03-10-15, 02:01 PM
#28
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Well the funny thing is, WhyFi had an inexplicable creak that went away and he's not even sure why!
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...l#post13522824
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...l#post13522824
03-10-15, 02:03 PM
#29
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03-10-15, 02:09 PM
#30
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Another good argument against press fit. HTII needs a <$20 tool to install/uninstall and can easily be done by the bike owner, versus BB30 which needs a bearing press with special bushings to install, and a special tool required to knock out the bearings to uninstall, not including the need for locking pliers for the rings, and grease/anti-cease/Loctite/whatever voodoo magic you need to stop those damn bearings going out of tolerance.
03-10-15, 02:30 PM
#31
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03-10-15, 04:50 PM
#33
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And we haven't yet said (until now) that many of the advantages of press fit and more can be realized with BB386 EVO. The larger diameter, the aluminum spindle, plus the wide spacing which you don't get in the "30" tyoe BBs. What more do you want? Well there is not the broader base for bigger BB cluster you have in the BB86 and 92 types. That's about it. BB386 EVO with a threaded BB rules.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 03-10-15 at 05:43 PM.
03-10-15, 05:46 PM
#35
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I think the PF30 BB on my Cervelo is starting to tick/creak with 3k miles on it. My Specialized BB30 creaked pretty bad last year until I installed a Praxis BB. That BBInfinite looks nice (probably what I'd get) but at ~$200 installed it's not cheap.
03-10-15, 07:12 PM
#36
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i want a narrow q-factor , not wldeer. who's clamoring for a wider q-factor?
03-10-15, 07:24 PM
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Q-factor is largely moot. At least within a modest range. The Q-factor difference between 68 mm and 86 mm bearing spacing is irrelevant. Besides until the press fit 30 mm diameter, 68 mm wide BBs were introduced, the 86 mm bearing spacing had become standard.
03-10-15, 07:42 PM
#38
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i only mentioned q-factor because it was implied in a previous post that a wider q-factor was somehow beneficial. i don't think it is.
Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 03-10-15 at 08:06 PM.
03-11-15, 06:26 AM
#39
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03-11-15, 07:48 AM
#40
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It is if you have, for example wide hips. There are other reasons. An actual fitter can help with that. In my case I have a couple of spacers on my pedals to get it right.
03-11-15, 11:32 AM
#42
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Glad I do not own a Trek if that is true. Bought my Wilier on purpose last year because it has threaded BB. So now 15 months later 5500 miles cranks spin perfect external BB hollow teck FSA. Never have done a thing to the BB. Oh and my BD Moto everyone seems to dislike10000 miles and 4 years zero maitenance. I just hope when I need a bike they still have threaded BB. They have never creaked by the way.
03-11-15, 01:13 PM
#44
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my original cdale/sram pf30 was great for 10k miles, then when the bearings started making noice, i upped for the Chris King PF30 BB (and greasing tool), and all has been joyous ever since. an improvement over BB30 (in my experience)
03-11-15, 02:03 PM
#45
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If Trek told you that this is "normal", I'd quote what they told you all over the interwebz, and then see what they say...or at least warn others not to buy a Trek if such an absurdity is true.....
