So, my press fit bottom bracket on my bike has died. I took the spindle off and the bearings came off on both sides. It looks like the sleeve is stuck inside the frame. Anything I can do to remove the sleeve? It is not moving inside the frame so I fear it has siezed up. The frame is steel, but I though the sleeves were not made of metal so I don’t know how it could have siezed up.

Might be an LBS job in the end. If it is, then anyone recommend somewhere to get a BB or new crankset? It’ll be replacing a Shimano SLX single ring with 104mm BCD bolts running a RaceFace 32T N/W chainring.

My guess is that you’ve only knocked the bearings out, and the cups they sit in are still stuck in the frame, and holding the sleeve in place, which in turn will prevent you getting a decent purchase on the cups to remove them. Best way i’ve come across is to work a screwdriver under the sleeve to collapse it so it can be pulled out, thus creating access to the back of the cups for a good t****ing with a large drift.

Get big flat blades screw driver, seat it against a lip on the sleeve and smack it with a bloody big hammer, itll either come out in one piece or break up, either way you’ll be able to get the cups out

Thanks, for a moment I was almost in tears thinking I’d messed up my frame.

I’ve got the right tool for the job (looks like a turkey baster with split ends and a dome at the top yes?). I hit it a few times with the cup inside and the sleeve is now wiggling inside the frame. So I should:

– break the sleeve with a screwdriver so I can get it out
– wallop the cups some more with the turkey baster and a rubber mallet

Is this about right? I’ve ordered a spare BB too.

In other news, any recommendations for a steel framed hard tail that has a fit and forget BB?

We also have the correct tool in our workshop, it’s nowhere near long enough to safely hold whilst hitting it with a decent amount of force, regularly only knocks the bearings out and leaves the cups behind, and usually ends up as a kit of parts in the process (sound familiar?). Break the sleeve up and remove it, then get a decent drift and a real hammer to knock the cups out, rubber hammer’s are rarely up to the job.

Cheers @coatesy perhaps I should just let the LBS do it then. It’s booked in for next week anyway. I’m not fancying my chances fitting the BB even if I get the current BB out.

Is there a BB type/frame where you’d not get these problems? I guess a carbon frame wouldn’t suffer from the same problem but that’ll come with other problems.

Also, are more expensive BBs worth it (Chris King, Hope).

No experience of Chris King BB’s (though 11yrs out of a headset says they’re probably good), Hopes are good, but do require specialist tools to fit, though the few we’ve done have all been trouble free. Cost wise, it’s hard to see past the Shimano offerings, easy to fit, and relatively cheap, and once you’ve figured how to get them out, they’re not a bad set up.

Thanks. I’ve got an XT level BB on order. I’ll go Hope if I wreck this one too.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. Really appreciate your input!