[techFiend]

The bearings on my Raceface X-type BB are toast after 3 months and 1 stream crossing. Lame...

Some of you have replaced these bearings with the Enduro kit for X-type BBs. I'm sure they are good bearings, but I do have one question and would like some real user feedback.

On their web page, they claim that their kits do not use axle shims, allowing them to reduce bearing ID and use larger balls for greater strength.

I don't doubt the strength part, but my question is this: does this metal to metal interface squeak? The standard plastic shims on Shimano and raceface BBs have a small amount of interference to provide a snug fit between crank spindle and BB bearings. Also, metal to plastic interface stays silent - dry, greased or otherwise. Old square taper and Octalink BBs had a metal-to-metal interface between the BB cup and body (non-drive side), and they squeaked, no matter what you did. Later designs had something like an o-ring or a plastic ring at that same interface.

I ask because I like the idea of nice new enduro bearings (and the nice tool that comes with it - for a fee), but I hate squeaks, and a new BB will cost less.

Any real life user experience, after getting past marketing hype, is most appreciated. Thanks.

 

[JimboCO]

I've been using the Enduro bearings in a Race Face Deus for approximately a month with no squeaks or issues. I've riden dry dusty stuff followed by fairly deep stream crossings. The removal/press tool is very nice. I also bought the cup removal tool which is a vastly improved design over the Park BBT-9 in my opinion.

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Jim

 

[big_olly]

I swapped mine out 3 months ago. *Lots* of miles on them since, with some shallow stream crossings (no BB submersion or anything).

No squeaking. Bearings are still running smooth and silky.

Installation wasn't too bad, but if you don't get the bearing extraction tool you have to get a bit creative to properly remove the old bearings (you may need to heat the cups to get the bearings loose enough to tap out without using excessive force).

I have no firsthand experience with the true longevity/durability of the bearings. Time will tell.

 

[notenoughtime]

Sorry to add to the posts that don't help you and don't answer your questions. I just put them on, and I feel as long as you grease up the metal to metal interface, you should be ok. Use a quality grease that will help keep water out as well. Zero miles on them...actually, about 0.03 miles from the shop door to the back of my car. That's all so far. I'm in the east coast so we've had horrible amounts of rain. No riding for the next week too! No comment on durability

 

[CyclingJunkie]

No squeak after 3 months. I bought the Enduro bearings because we have a lot of deep creek crossings and the bottom bracket get submerged on a regular basis.

I think the Enduro bearings a big improvement over RF or XT bearings. The Enduro bearings were a bit "sticky" at first but that is due to the bearing seals. They loosen up after about 6 hours of riding and spin freely now.

 

[Mfezi]

The bearings on my Raceface X-type BB are toast after 3 months and 1 stream crossing. Lame...

Some of you have replaced these bearings with the Enduro kit for X-type BBs. I'm sure they are good bearings, but I do have one question and would like some real user feedback.

On their web page, they claim that their kits do not use axle shims, allowing them to reduce bearing ID and use larger balls for greater strength.

I don't doubt the strength part, but my question is this: does this metal to metal interface squeak? The standard plastic shims on Shimano and raceface BBs have a small amount of interference to provide a snug fit between crank spindle and BB bearings. Also, metal to plastic interface stays silent - dry, greased or otherwise. Old square taper and Octalink BBs had a metal-to-metal interface between the BB cup and body (non-drive side), and they squeaked, no matter what you did. Later designs had something like an o-ring or a plastic ring at that same interface.

I ask because I like the idea of nice new enduro bearings (and the nice tool that comes with it - for a fee), but I hate squeaks, and a new BB will cost less.

Any real life user experience, after getting past marketing hype, is most appreciated. Thanks.

techFiend

I know what you mean - I did a set in 7 days during a recent coast to coast across the North of England. That is £5 per day of use!!! :madman: :madmax:

Bikezilla has recommended these Enduro bearings too me. Can somebody point me in the right direction as too where I can get them and also the tools needed.

Cheers

Mfezi

 

[notenoughtime]

The place I got mine from is www.enduroforkseals.com

I don't know where else to get them. Chris is a big help there and will gladly answer any questions. He is located in the US.

 

[royta]

You know, Phil Wood makes bearings for the outboard BB.

The only experience I have with Enduro bearings are on my White Industries hubs. I think the bearings are crap. They feel worse than the bearings they replaced (the originals that came in the hubs). I needed one bearing replaced, as it was shot, so I thought I'd have the rest replaced too. Now my bearings are as smooth as blacktop. Too bad for me.

Old square taper and Octalink BBs had a metal-to-metal interface between the BB cup and body (non-drive side), and they squeaked, no matter what you did.

I've never run anything but square taper BBs, and I've never had them squeak. I bought my first bike in 1993 and promptly bent the spindle due to an impact against the chain ring. I replaced with an XTR square taper. I finally sold that bike in 2000, and it still had the same BB and easily had over 3000 miles on it. I built my second bike in 1997, and it still does have the original BB, an XT square taper. No squeaks there either. I built my third bike in March of this year, and had to resort to the new XT square taper BB that has the plastic non-drive cup. That's the one that squeaks, but it's not the BB itself. It's the interface between the drive side crank arm and spindle. I need to pull it apart and put some blue locktite on the spindle to crank arm interface.

 

[006_007]

The bearings on my Raceface X-type BB are toast after 3 months and 1 stream crossing. Lame...

Some of you have replaced these bearings with the Enduro kit for X-type BBs. I'm sure they are good bearings, but I do have one question and would like some real user feedback.

On their web page, they claim that their kits do not use axle shims, allowing them to reduce bearing ID and use larger balls for greater strength.

I don't doubt the strength part, but my question is this: does this metal to metal interface squeak? The standard plastic shims on Shimano and raceface BBs have a small amount of interference to provide a snug fit between crank spindle and BB bearings. Also, metal to plastic interface stays silent - dry, greased or otherwise. Old square taper and Octalink BBs had a metal-to-metal interface between the BB cup and body (non-drive side), and they squeaked, no matter what you did. Later designs had something like an o-ring or a plastic ring at that same interface.

I ask because I like the idea of nice new enduro bearings (and the nice tool that comes with it - for a fee), but I hate squeaks, and a new BB will cost less.

Any real life user experience, after getting past marketing hype, is most appreciated. Thanks.

I had almost the exact amount of running on my RF bb before the bearings packed it in.

Replaced with www.enduroforksels.com and have had no problems for the past few months, rain rides, dry rides and everything in between. No squeaking either.

Only word of advice is make sure you are not using too many spacers when you re-assemble as that could place a side load on the bearings and cause premature failure. Even though I have a RF bb I am not a big fan of the design. I am probably going to switch to the FSA megaexo bb as I believe it has a metal sleeve that prevents bearing side load.

http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=29&pid=635