Hi all,
I’m at my wits end. For the second time since owning my SS Switch EVO hubs, it appeared it was time for new bearings. Light play on the rear wheel, a lot on the front. I checked, double checked, and triple checked to make sure my axles were tightened correctly. Seems they are. So, after my ride yesterday I started on removing the bearings in prep for the new bearings I’ve ordered.
Front wheel – Removed 15mm adaptors and it seems that the play is in the caps that pop into the hub flange on top of the bearings. A lot of play. And I can’t remove them no matter what I do. Soaked in GT85, mallet, everything I can think of.
Rear wheel – So, left the front wheel in frustration. Removed rear wheel, cassette and axle/freehub body. As before, grease pretty much gone, horrible dirty brown ‘water’. Every 2 months or so I remove everything from the rear hub and clean and regrease. Obviously isn’t doing much….So, everything removed and the bearings now exposed, are buttery smooth on one side and a little gritty on the other. Decide to remove anyway with no obvious feeling of play in them. Bearings removed. Freehub ones seem fine as do the main hub bearings, no play.
So, the front wheel is as it is, left with the flange caps in which have lots of play in them. The rear, well, perhaps something else was causing the play? What though?
And there was me fooled by everyone almost 2 years ago that cartridge bearings are much less hassle than cup and cone….
Help anyone?
My last resort is drop them into a bike shop once the bearings arrive and get them to do it, but as I’m new to the area (Oldham) I don’t know what LBS’s are good for this kind of work.
And breathe…..