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I'm needing a new set of pivot bearings for my trance and wondering what to get. I've got my bearing codes so I know what sizes I need, what brands do people recommend? Do I need full compliment/max bearings? Are cheap ones any good?
Looked at loads of old threads that link to an eBay seller / forum member that's not about anymore.
Cheers
Got a local bearing shop? Chances are it's on your local trading estate somewhere, they will be selling loads. Get ones with him good seals
For pivots, as they don't ever make a full revolution, the science behind max bearings makes sense. However, what killed your existing bearings? Wear, flat spotting or contamination?
Yeah, in principle max comp is a good idea there. In practice, the people who make a big deal about that are enduro and their bearings are pretty poor
You can get good, cheap bearings but ime it's easier to buy bad ones than good, unless there's a supplier you can trust. (pro tip- if Hope sell a bearing in your size, that's almost always a good option). I've had cheap bearings shatter on fitting, or be rough from new, but randomly some from the same box lasted for ages. Just bad tolerancing. So the question is, how much hassle is it to change them. If it's something really easy, then it can make sense. If it's a pain to do, then it never does.
All the ones to towards the lower of the bike are dead gritty
So it sounds like contamination is your issue. If you can, try to get bearings with a srs suffix. It means snap ring seal. This gives better sealing but greater drag which isn't going to be an issue on slow rotating linkages. Failing that, LLU is your second choice.
Or, as NW suggests, slap some cheap ones in and be ready to change them sooner.
Either way, most bearings are designed for higher speed/lower load so have much less grease in them. Opinion is split but I like to lift seals and pack with waterproof grease.
Cheers! Anyone ever use kinetic bearings on eBay? Seem to be the cheapest place for enduro Llu max bearings, can get the 8 I need for £42
Also do I need to use loctite when installing them? some videos people use it, but in others they put grease in there first.
I don't use loctite but only because I've never had bearing housings worn that would then require it.
It's a downside of replace cheap and often that you will wear down the housing with repeated fit and removal.
Saying that, Yeti recommended it from new....
Just buy a 'spinner toy' that every teenager is buying, four SRS bearings for a pound.