Fits '01-'03, '04 is different ( I think)
nygeo said:
Is that for the '03 NRS? I didnt know there were that many bearings...thought it was mostly bushings. Are the OEM ones sealed? How is this set superior (is it?) to the OEM option?
Thanks for the tips and responses,
G
MTBR Classified Ad: GIANT NRS Bearing/Bushing Kits
http://marketplace.consumerreview.c...sults_format=long&db_id=74300&query=retrieval
The 2004 NRS went to all catridge bearings in the dropout (horst) pivots, eliminating the old style polymer bushings and spacer sleeve. This info is according to an MTBR member, I haven't had the opportunity to see a 2004 frame to verify it yet. BUTmy understanding is that it isn't a retrofit. The earlier frames can't be converted to full cartridge bearing at the dropout pivot.
From at least 2001 (the frame in the picture) to 2003, GIANT uses 2 polymer flange bushings and a spacer sleeve inside each dropout pivot. The rest of the pivot points are cartridge type ball bearings, the 4 pivots in the shock rocker linkage, and the 2 in the main bottom bracket pivot, 6 altogether.
The OEM cartridge bearings are sealed, to help keep moisture and dirt from entering the bearing. Mine lasted almost 18 months before the majority of them dried out. A few of them became gritty and needed to be replaced because of this.
But the dropout pivots were a different story. I ride in areas where there is glacial sand, very fine sand almost like a powder. It worked it;s way into the dropout pivots, adn wore off the anodized coating on the spacer sleeves, then wore out a some fairly deep grooves into the spacer sleeves. It was enough to cause my disc brake to rub every firm pedal stroke. This is when I started investigating the cause.
I tried to get replacements from several local (if 25 miles is local) GIANT bike shops. Not a shop carried these wear items! And when I tried to order, they were an out of stock backordered item from GIANT. 6-8 weeks backorder. That was about the end of May/early June. They were $45 from GIANT for a set of dropout pivot kits only. The GIANT kit includes the pivot bolts too. My kits do NOT. The pivot bolt in the horst link is a non-wear item. The spacer sleeve does not rotate on the bolt. The seatstay, with it's 4 polymer flange bushings, rotate over the spacer sleeve, which is bolted inside the chainstay. The only wear items are the spacer sleeve and the flange bushings in the Horst link/dropoout pivot.
The spacer sleeve in my kits is a hardened and ground steel precision sleeve. They are MUCH harder than the OEM aluminum sleeve. Lubricant is not required or neccessary at he dropout pivots. The polymer flange bushings have their own lubricity. Once the flange bushings or spacer sleeve are worn, the pivot develops lateral (side to side) free play, and the rear suspension can then twist. This causes a multitude of problems, least of which is noise. Ghost shifting, disc brake rub, tire rub inside the chainstay (left side predominantly), and increased drive line wear.
This link is to my latest completed auctions. TODAY (Thursday) I should be getting more spacer sleeves. These are hard to get. And they are expensive relative to the bearings in the kit. I'm supposed to be getting a quote from a manufacturing company today as well. They are quoting me on 1000 spacer sleeves, which will be identical to the GIANT OEM sleeves, although I'm iquiring about a harder coating than the current surface anodization.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3690225733&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT
Like I said, check your LBS to see if the kits are available. If for some reason you damage the pivot bolt (strip out the hex wrench socket, or cross thread the bolt) you would have to get that from GIANT, it's a unique shoulder bolt. If you are carefull removeing and replacing those bolts, they will never wear.
