ISIS BB recommendation please
 

This past fall my wife and i got into bike riding, a great healthy sport and fun time together. I picked up a lightly used 2004 trek 7500 to see if we would last long and for me to get some wrenching experience.

I have some creaking and checked out the pedals and seat post, seems as if it's the bb.
according to page 37 @
http://vintage-trek.com/Trek-Fisher-...manualTrek.pdf

i have an ISIS 73 x 113 mm ISIS splined axle.

i read a few reviews on different brands and nothing seems to be outstanding. Is it best to get a mid price (around $40) and hope i ride enough to replace it in the future ? :)

seems as if FSA is one to avoid ... any recommendations ???

Yes I would just buy a mid level BB and put it in. The questions is do you have the tools? You need a special crank removal tool to remove the cranks, and then a BB tool for remove and reinstall the BB (and it is possible that you need two different ones)


Bottom bracket . . . Bontrager, ISIS splined 73 x 113 (shell x axle, mm), ISIS splined axle

Crank Puller

http://www.parktool.com/uploads/thum...98_430x390.jpg

BB Tool

http://www.parktool.com/uploads/thum...c5_430x390.jpg

I do have a crank removal tool on the way. Want to count the splines ( 10 or 8) to make sure i order the correct BB. I really don't mind picking up the BB tools either. Kinda a gearhead so buying tools don't bother me.

Any brand better than another ???

skf isis $$$
 

SKF is the best, most expensive(?), bomb proof.

http://www.mtbtandems.com/images/BXC6002.jpg

http://www.mtbtandems.com/SKF.htm

Creaking doesn't mean the BB is failing. I'd encourage you to check for roughness or play at the BB before purchasing the new part. The noise you're experiencing could be coming from the "BB > Frame" interface or the "Spindle > crank arm" interfaces; neither are uncommon. Removing the BB cartridge, cleaning all interfaces, greasing, and reinstalling to spec torque may cure the issue. Of course, there are many potential sources for noises that seem to come from the crank/BB region, but you indicate you've narrowed it to the BB.

Thanks Soil_sampler ... they look interesting ... i like the idaea of the rollers ...

DD, i will certainly do as you suggested with removal, cleaning and reinstalling to specs. The problem is i 'think' the creaking is coming from the bb. Further investigation is a must. thanks for the suggestion .

Do not get one. Period end of story. I had two and both failed within 2000 miles.

SKF, I have heard, are good BBs, but they are expensive. Save yourself some time, money and aggravation and get a square taper or external cup. At least with external cup you can repack the bearings. The square tapers are pretty cheap and could be repacked if you have the tools or tossed. With the weather that we have here I went with external cups and will upgrade to King cups so that I can force new grease in there every two weeks or so.

Run away like the plague.

ISIS bottom brackets have a very checkered history. It was an "open source" design to get around Shimano's Octalink patents and the design was licensed at no cost to any maker who wanted to use it, so there was a huge variety of quality available. The best were decent, the bad ones really bad.

isis bb
 

a few "decent" ones.

Deda
Stronglight
Crank Brothers

I certainly appreciate all the help. Seems as if SKF is no longer available, according to an email from mtbtandems. I plan on pulling what i have apartcleaning and checking the bb and cranks out. Waiting for the crank and bb puller to arrive.

I will update when i know more and thanks again.

Larry

new old stock
 

still some nos out there if you look hard...

see if these guys have any.

http://www.compasscycle.com/SKFbb.html

Thanks !!!