Originally Posted by
jaxgtr
Anytime you put a external bearing on a bike that has never had them, you should probably face the frame to make sure it has a good flat smooth surface. I just put some new LX cranks with external bearings on my Trek 7300 and it needed to be face.
On a separate note from the OP, I have an old steel bike that I put a set of Shimano 5600 cranks on that I found on CL for $50 (w/ BB!!). I didn't "face" the frame. All seems fine, but it sound like something I should look into. What's involved? I have weekend access to a engine builders shop.