I know that one is $120 more. does that make it $120 better?

My Mirella came to me with a crunchy Phil BB, circa 1977 or so. I replaced the cartridge beings myself with a hammer, a vise, a C-clamp, and some homemade spacer blocks.

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There's also the cost premium for a product made in the USA, as opposed to Singapore (UN55), Indonesia (UN26), or Japan (Tange-Seiki).

So it's a good and bad weekend... Friday the superbe pro seat post and shift levers came in... after buying breakfast at Macdonalds for the grand kids....$35. I called the LBS and he had a Shimano in stock that fit $35... I turned into my grand kids... instant gratification took over... it works... I will change it if I like the ride if all else for tweeting it in line and... the Shimano ends.... they are just ugly... lol not sure if it will be the Phil I will check the other ones mentioned...

Thank you,
Tony

Personally, I think Phil Wood bottom brackets probably aren't worth the premium over a Shimano UN-55. I've heard plenty of stories of 20+ years and thousands upon thousands of miles out of a Phil Wood, but also plenty of stories of them getting crunchy after a year or two. I think it comes down to their seals - just a single lip seal on the bearings. That sort of seal really won't keep water/debris out over time, you really need a double lip, to stop capillary action letting water wick in. In dry areas, or if you don't ride in the wet much, then they'll last practically forever. But the same could be said of the UN-55. In wet or muddy conditions, the Shimano will almost certainly outlast the cartridge bearings on the Phil bottom bracket.

I have a couple of the Suntour VX sealed bottom brackets.

This pic isn't mine- seeing as how Photobucket has pix for ransom.

http://www.bikeforums.net/picture.ph...ctureid=528627


I have one as a spare, but the one I have installed is absolutely fine. The only problem I've had with it was trying to find the tool to install it! This BB has a load of adjustability to get the chainline right. I'm not good at that stuff, but even I was able to get the 45mm chain line easily.


As far as the Phil wood BBs... I would get one just because it's a Phil BB; US made, a prestigious piece for decades.