Boring: 30mm Bottom Brackets

Just bought some new cranks and they’re 30mm axle. Always run Shimano cranks on my bikes since HT2 came about so not 100% sure what I need to run 30mm…

New BB – PF30/BB30 – no idea what that means. Its going to be running in a 73mm standard threaded BB shell.

I believe I need a new BB tool as well??

In my experience, Shimano BBs are good enough (ie, they last a decent time and are cheap enough to replace – my Hope BB on my other bike hasn’t lasted any longer than the Shimanos…) so happy with cheap & cheerful. Uberbike ones ok?

New BB – PF30/BB30 – no idea what that means. Its going to be running in a 73mm standard threaded BB shell.

Neither a PF30 or BB30 is going to be running in a 73mm threaded BB shell – they are both push-fit standards for specific (non-threaded) BB shells.

Sounds like you need one of these, a 30mm BSA threaded BB:

EDIT: I have no idea why STW won’t let me post URLs at the moment. Google “Hope 30mm threaded BB”. Wheels MFG, Praxis and Rotor also do them. I don’t know if Uberbike do 30mm threaded BBs but if so and you like the brand, that should be fine too.

Race Face BSA30 is another option for 30mm axles in a 68/73mm threaded BB shell. Too soon to judge durability but they’re inexpensive. I’ve had RF BBs in the past that were pure crap though, but they’re inexpensive next to Hope. Replaceable 6806 bearings at least.

I have no idea why STW won’t let me post URLs at the moment.

The current editor is awful. You can trick it into working…. write some text, select it, and then click the link button.

Lots of quality BSA bottom brackets for 30mm axles… Hope, Enduro etc.

New tool… yes… which one depends on who’s BB you get.

I’ve had a Hope one for years, it’s been great. Original e13 one was, true to e13 form, crap. RaceFace not much better.

a 30mm BSA threaded BB

This is what you need. It’s what I’m running on my hardtail with a RaceFace “Cinch” (I think?) bottom bracket.

Yes, annoyingly even though they look like Shimano, they do need a specific tool, but they’re not super expensive.

I’ve no idea about longevity, apparently 30mm axle cranks are apparently too large to fit decent sized bearings into the bottom bracket.

apparently 30mm axle cranks are apparently too large to fit decent sized bearings into the bottom bracket

This is certainly the case for pressfit 30mm as the bearing has to fit within the BB shell. But for external bearings in a threaded shell I would have thought you can make the bearings as big as you like, within reason.

Dont touch the race face 30mm BB’s. Bearings are made of cheese and will fail after a ride.

I usually use Wheels MFG 30mm but recently tired a praxxis one from Merlin. Cheaper than hope or wheels and so far really good bearing life.

Top tip: If you’ve got lots of different standards of threaded BBs, don’t buy a BB tool. Buy a strap wrench! I got one off screwfix for £10 and it’s been an absolute lifesaver.

Anyway, I’ve got a 30mm Hope BB that’s lasted 5 years – the one before that I had replaced under warranty because it exploded somehow!

I’ve got the Praxxis Dub one on my hardtail, and that’s been through this last winter with zero issues.

Raceface 30mm BB – Crap. 2 died within 6 months.

Praxis 30mm BB – crap. Lasted less than 4 months.

Hope 30mm BB – good. Lasted 16 months so far and still running smooth.

a11y
Race Face BSA30 is another option for 30mm axles in a 68/73mm threaded BB shell. Too soon to judge durability

It’s very easy to judge durability, ,you just need to see the “RaceFace” written on it, and you know it will be awful.

Handy rule of thumb is to never buy a RaceFace part that has carbon or bearings in it.

Anyway, I’ve got a 30mm Hope BB that’s lasted 5 years – the one before that I had replaced under warranty because it exploded somehow!

Maybe you overtorqued it with the strap wrench 😉

It’s very easy to judge durability, ,you just need to see the “RaceFace” written on it, and you know it will be awful.

Handy rule of thumb is to never buy a RaceFace part that has carbon or bearings in it.

I know, I know, I should know better. But a PSA for <£10 BBs got the better of me and I needed one! It’ll do me for a bit then I’ll inevitably buy another Hope BB.

Cheers all. May just go for a Hope…

i’d go hope, once bearings do go, easy to pop out old ones and put in new and keep the cups in the frame

Late but but… I changed a squeaky BB30 for a Rotor and Wheels Mfg 24mm threaded adapter jobbie. Two so I’ve always got a spare ready to go. They both use the same ‘standard’ (old big HT2) Shimano tool and the same sealed bearings (37x24x7) and there’s nothing to choose between them in use so get whichever is cheapest IMV.

Both have been A1. No creaks or squeaks. I wash the bike frequently in clarty weather (so 90% of the time) and the NDS bearing on all my bikes is a consumable. I’ve taken to zip tying a rubber glove over the BB/NDS crank arm when doing this which has reduced replacement frequency to ‘ages’ from ‘often’…

All 30mm threaded BBs are crap basically, except one, the Enduro Maxhit. Thats the only one I know of with decent sized balls and a warranty to back it up.