2006/7 bike:
Bushings, pivots, bearings, welds,...??
Now that I'm using the bike a bit I'm wondering what I'll need to fix sooner or later (and where I might get bits from - ie are Giant "kits" as good as, say BETD or TFT's stuff)
Cheers
I hear varying reports - I have a 2 years old Trance and its heavily used throughout the year and its completely fine !
My mates got a new Trance X5 and already moaning...
I think the LBS would be the best source of info for longevity advice.
thanks gents
so am I right to get the feeling that nothing specific goes early - just the whole lot (... eventually)
Top bushings go all the time on all the maestro bikes, keep ontop of those and the bearings will last for ages.
schwimoid - the top [i][b]shock[/b][/i] bushing ?? (soz, bit thick/lazy)
Replacing the bushings/bearings shouldnt be seen as a fault - its simply part of expected maintenance of a complex suspension frame.
The Trance (and Anthem and Reign) are superb bikes but the joints do wear out.
As above - get yourself a set of bearings from a bearing shop, and a set of hula hoop shock bushes and reducer from Mojo/Tf/lbs etc. Whole lot should cost less than £30.
Strip the frame, give it a really, really good clean, mud gets everywhere.
As long as your not a total clutz, you can do the bearings yourself. You'll need a selection of threaded rod, washers, and sockets, to push in/out the bearings. When doing the bushes, you use the new bush to push the old one through.
Although you may feel like the bike is still 'smooth', you'll often be surprised how shagged the bearins feel when removed.
Its an Annual/bi-annual kind of 'big service' that everyone should do if they want to keep their frames sweet. Its not hard or expensive, and definitely worth it.
PS - for clarification - you have two bushes, and two pairs of reducers in your shock. May also be worth checking the condition of the two pivot bolts that the shock is attached with, as if they are all mangled they will mangle your nice smooth reducers.
You have 2 large bearings in the lower link, 2 medium size bearings in the upper link, and 4 smaller bearings in the remaining hole (lower link, and rear triangle.
The ones in the triangle are the hardest to remove due to access and the angle of the frame surrounding them.
Do all your bearings in one it as it is soooooooooooooooooo much easier. Also, use a bench top vise and a socket set to press them out and back in out. Never use a hammer!