Originally Posted by
Barabaika
Modern cartridge bb are symmetrical.
So how do you measure it? Maybe one of the folks who responded "incorrect" can tell me.
When you take one out of the box they generally look like the left spindle is longer. When you install it in the bike, however, the bearing cartridge doesn't go all of the way to the left side of the bottom bracket shell.
I guess that you could install the bottom bracket and measure from the shell to each end of the spindle but I've never cared enough to do that. If, after installing the crankarms, they spin approximately equi-distance from the chainstays that's close enough for me.