Originally Posted by
wrk101
Durability of cartridge bb is low compared to the old cup and spindle design.
Interesting. I'll have to tell my BB-6500 Octalink bottom bracket that it should be dead way before now.
Seriously, I've had excellent service from Shimano and Campy sealed cartridge bbs. The Octalink mentioned above has 32,300 miles on it and is still smooth and free of any play. It is the longest lived (so far) but I've gotten over 30,000 miles on two UN-XX square taper bottom brackets and retired them for crank upgrades, not because they failed in service and have 19,000 miles and counting on a Campy Chorus square taper bb.