Can BB bearings be replaced ? any tips ? common brands ie Raceface, Truvative, etc. I must have a dozen used with play in them. 
Can BB bearings be replaced ?
- Thread starter ViciousDHer
- Start date
As a general rule, no, they can't be. Many brands are all one self-contained unit.
If it's a cartridge bearing hub, and you can see the cartridge bearing (i.e. it's not sealed inside the BB unit), you could probably figure out a way to press off the bearings and press on new ones (assuming the bearing isn't bonded onto the BB . Seems like a lot of work and money considering that bearings are between $8 and $15 generally, and you'd need 2-4 of them. So you're talking about spending $20-50, plus labor time, plus the possibility of damaging the BB or the bearings in the process, to replace a part that can be had for not much more than that.
If it's not a cartridge bearing hub, you can generally pull out the balls, replace them, and re-pack it with grease. Still a pain in the neck, though.
If it's a cartridge bearing hub, and you can see the cartridge bearing (i.e. it's not sealed inside the BB unit), you could probably figure out a way to press off the bearings and press on new ones (assuming the bearing isn't bonded onto the BB . Seems like a lot of work and money considering that bearings are between $8 and $15 generally, and you'd need 2-4 of them. So you're talking about spending $20-50, plus labor time, plus the possibility of damaging the BB or the bearings in the process, to replace a part that can be had for not much more than that.
If it's not a cartridge bearing hub, you can generally pull out the balls, replace them, and re-pack it with grease. Still a pain in the neck, though.
Cartrage bearing are replacable contact the manufacture for speficics. it take speclized tools to do the job you will need to find a shop that has them.