Hey all, I was searching through the forums and one poster suggested that the best way to learn about a bottom bracket was to take one apart, so I am going to just that. I have a 2002 Specialized with a cracked frame, it's stripped of all the other components but the bottom bracket. I had a few questions regarding this:

1.) Which tools will I need to remove the bottom bracket. (The link is to the BikePedia page, if a actual photo would be better I will attach one tonight.)


2002 Specialized Allez A1 Sport

Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB-UN52, 118mm spindle

2.) Are these tools used for most bottom brackets? I have another specialized that I used to replace this bike, I assume it will work with that but do bikes like Treks and Cannondales use a different type of bracket.

Park tools has some great write ups but they list several different tool options so before I ordered anything I just wanted to be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks!

You need a standard crank puller and a regular shimano BB removal tool for square taper cranks, one of which is Parks BBT-22.

From your post, I detect a certain naivete, so I'll add a few comments. Don't forget that the drive side is reverse thread. Su-uper clean the shell threads before reinstalling. Lightly grease the threads or use teflon tape on the cartridge threads.. Be REAL careful with the shell threads when working/reinstalling. They are very shallow threads and are easy to ruin. DO NOT cross thread it, not even by accident.

If you're not comfortable with this, have the LBS do it.

Thanks for the reply.

It's a spare bike, which is not usable thanks to a nice crack I got in the head tube. I wouldn't try my first bottom bracket removal/installation on a bike that I actually planned on riding. This is all for the knowledge, we'll see how well it goes then I'll decide if I'm comfortable enough working on my real bike. Thanks again.

In addition to the bottom bracket cup tool BBT-22, since Park's being cited as an example, the Park puller model CCP-22 would be appropriate (there's a similar tool but with a larger head for ISIS/Octalink type). When using the crank puller be sure to thread it onto the crank all the way, sometimes you may need a wrench rather than just your fingers depending on the quality of the crank's threads. When using the cup tool sometimes helps to have either gravity help keep the tool in place, or something like a quick release skewer to hold it in place; also sometimes helps to have a longer lever arm, i.e. a longer handled wrench or something to extend your wrench's handle length like a piece of pipe. The cup tool can be used with Octalink/ISIS cups generally, but isn't used on the newer external bearing type cranks. The square taper puller is used only on square taper bb cranks, although you can make it work on an ISIS/Octalink crank with a little help. So whether it's useful to own these tools depends on whether you continue to use cranks that use them...