Cartridge bearing BB's?
 

Alright, I'm looking for recommendations on sealed cartridge-bearing bottom brackets. I'm still using a normal BB on my bike, but would like to get something sealed so I only have to tear it apart when it's time to replace the bearings altogether. I've got an Ultegra BB right now that's smooth but that's already been on 3 bikes already and is looking worn. I'd need the square taper kind (nothing splined).

i was looking for some to replace mine and stumbled on this site, maybe useful to you maybe not.

http://www.bicycleclassics.com/bottom.html

the two most obvious answers are PHIL! and Shimano UN52 or whatever the number is.

Ooh....Phil...

I've had good luck with the FSA Ultimax Titanium. Light, 3 bearings (2 drive side), and reasonably priced:
http://www.rubiconusa.com/store/prod...&folderid=1099
They also have a CrMo spindled version.

Shimano's UN7x bottom brackets have worked well for me for years, also:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5140

baker

I thought even the cheap Shimano BB's with square taper were sealed these days?

yeah i love my phil...although it is a little noisy on the back pedal other then that like butta.

I just bought a new Phil Wood cartridge bearing bottom bracket in 108mm for all-weather use a couple of weeks ago. My very nice but unsealed Sugino 75/super mighty track BB was collecting grit :( Despite the expense, I am confident that I made the right decision versus throw-away shimano or similar BBs, of which I have used many. I expect the Phil to be a nearly no-maintenance part, just the way I like it. If the bearings die you just replace them with new cartridges, cheap from Phil Wood, but they don't need that very often. Great company, too.

I'm not sure what noisy on the back pedal means but mine (albeit new) just spins smoothly and silently.

Just a short follow-up. My extraordinarily battle-worn Shimano loose-bearing BB was seriously causing me concern. Thus, tonight when I swung by Performance to pick up my rear wheel (broke a spoke and got un-trued last night) I dropped the $30 on the standard whatever the model number Shimano sealed BB. No play in the BB now, and smooth as all heck, though I don't expect it to last like a higher-end part. It'll do for now.

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a reasonable solution, the shimano unit will probably last a pretty long time. what spindle length did you get and what cranks do you have?

Campagnolo veloce

I just got an LP-27. Shimano's cheapest of the cheap and it's sealed. Not light or smooth but only $15 at an LBS.

ah road cranks :(

Here's a link to many good cheap BB's.
My $15 LBS BB is $10 at this site. http://www.bikeusa.com/MERCHANT2/mer...TaperedSpindle

Campagnolo Mirage

Same unit as Veloce except for steel retaining rings instead of aluminum. Excellent quality for the price, almost Phil like. Heavy as a brick, though.

And smooth too

Good idea. Keep in mind, though that you ought to use campy cranks with campy BBs since they are ISO taper. Also, 111mm is a little on the long side for a track-ish drivetrain, but I guess that's splitting hairs.

can the bearings be replaced in those cheaper Shimano BB? or are they a one time thing once they wear out?
I have one in my crappy commuter bike, only about 7 months old and it's packed with dirt and grim and is showing a little lateral movement when I yank on the cranks from side to side.....

I'm running a 113mm spindle and 170mm Sugino road cranks from the 80s.

no, you throw it out :( correct me if I'm wrong, people, but this is what I've done... Now I have something serviceable _and_ sealed.

What kind of pedals? Any pedal strikes? 165 road cranks (Shim. Sora) and a similar spindle length used to take me down all the time, and with a fixed specific frame with a reasonable BB drop, too! Since I switched to (Sugino Super Mighty lower-Q) track cranks and a 109mm BB spindle I've been OK.

Correct. The best you can do is recycle them. The nice thing is they're pretty durable.

I'm using Eggbeaters. I have never had a problem with pedal strike, and in fact figured out that in order for it to be a problem I'd have to be banked enough for my shoulder to be about two feet off the ground. Not likely to be an issue, I'm thinking.

I recently picked up a few no name brand new cartridge BB's with alloy cups from Jenson USA for a mere $2 a piece, in various spindle lengths.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.aspx?i=BB608A00

I'll make an unexpected recommendation, a race-face taper lock BB. They are available with a cro-molly or titanium spindle, bearings are replaceable, and it allows you to shift your chainline. They are a bit heavy, but mine has been tough as nails and race-face stands behind their product, also made in the great white north! The key to these BB's is to install them with a torque wrench. I bought one that ran about $50 new. I was continplating a Shimano UN-52,53,72,72, but was dissapointed that the non drive side cup was plastic and the bearings are fairly small.