SRAM DUB…replace bearings or just replace whole unit?

Hi all

I’ve got 2 bikes with SRAM DUB bbs. Both have on occasions now partially seized up before a bit of riding loosened them back up again. Both sets I’d made a point of packing a bit more grease in from new.

Should I just try and clean them out an repack with grease, or replace the bearings or just replace the whole unit? 🤔 I’m tempted to just replace the bearings as they’ve shown that the original bearings are not very good or sealed…imho

Interested to know if you’ve been in a similar situation and what you’ve done…

Cheers
Paul

for the small amount, i’ve usually just put in a new DUB BB. Just easier if you ask me.

I’m just about to change mine. It’s a press fit one. I had already bought a replacement SRAM unit when I noticed that Hope do one for not much more with stainless bearings but I’d also need a kit for the 29mm DUB spindle. Was also looking at Wheels Manufucturing options but they are expensive.

Are yours press fit or threaded?

I didn’t know you could just change the bearings in a dub bb (mines a bsa screw in). I’ve had mixed experience with dub – 1 bb last ages, the other not so much.

I stuck in a wheels manufacturing one a while back and each time I’ve had the cranks off the bearings are still perfect. So I’m inclined to say the wheels version is better than the sram one. I think I looked at Hope and wrote that option off but can’t remember why.

Changed mine out for a token ninja, the hardest part was identifying the correct one.

Both have on occasions now partially seized up before a bit of riding loosened them back up again. Both sets I’d made a point of packing a bit more grease in from new.

Just buy new ones, and why bother repacking them? Did you remove the bearing seals to do this, did you get them back in right?

Awful things. I had one that lasted 300 miles thru last years winter slop on a SS and another on a gravel bike that last 600 miles before it started to go. I replaced 1 with an Uberbike press fit,the bearings seem wider on this and another threaded Uberbike one. Both well made and still going strong.

It’s a bsa threaded version on both mtb.

Yes I had to remove the seals on them before intervention but was very careful. Anecdotally another friend who has the same setup has had the same issues with his bb albeit even sooner than me but without packing the bearings so I’m fairly confident that it is the bb that is the problem.

Interested to hear about alternatives as I’d have expected longer out of these units given how much use they’ve had!

Dub are renowned for short service life. After my 4th went very quickly, I gave up and put Hope on with the adapter kit. No problems since over the last 2 years.

Totally the other way . First one lasted 2 years .Current one is 2 years in . N+1 is 7 months in and thats the wet bike and its like new. For what its worth £27 ish just chuck a new one in and it saves the faff.

I’ve read this online
The BSA shell is ~33.7mm ID and the DUB axle is 28.99mm so bearings are relatively small hence the short life span. In contrast a Shimano axle in BSA shell is 24mm allowing for bigger bearings. It looks like the outside cups on the Wheels Manufacturing BSA DUB BB are oversized allowing for bigger bearings, they probably have better quality seals and bearings too but obviously much more expensive. I would look for a DUB BB with bigger bearings if you want longer lifespan – not 100% sure if these are available. I have no personal experience of DUB.

Or alternative is to fit Crankset with 24mm axles

I replaced the bearing .. I had to at the time as I have an 83mm Cannondale Ai, and it was a bit tricky finding the right full BB.

The bearing wasn’t that common either, for a PF BB it was this:

https://www.kineticbikebearings.com/mr3040h6-2rs-dub-bottom-bracket-bearing.html

The bearings are tiny, about the same size as SRAM jockey wheel bearings by eye at least.

2,000 miles on my current threaded BSA DUB BB. Some people on here must ride in some horrible filthy wet weather.

devash
Free Member
2,000 miles on my current threaded BSA DUB BB. Some people on here must ride in some horrible filthy wet weather.

Yes, i do. But still no problems since swapping over to Hope BB. Guess I must have got a dodgy batch…. 😉

I have a Hope Dub BB.

Rather than needing their regular BB and then needing adapters they come from Hope now as being out of the box ready.

No complaints. Bar the occasional clean out and re grease I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

The only “negative” is needing a(nother) BB tool.

I still have SRAM BBs in use from 2009 ……. I really mustn’t ride enough!

The BSA shell is ~33.7mm ID and the DUB axle is 28.99mm so bearings are relatively small hence the short life span.

This. I’d be inclined to try a better brand (Hope?) in at least one bike and see how that goes. Popping the seals off your original SRAM units may not have helped.

I went through 3 press fit Dubs in 1000 miles of summer riding. Disgusting things.

I just popped the bearings out on mine, took off the seals either side, flushed through with fresh grease and re-assembled it all.

Winter road bike, does 800 km / month in winter and still on original bearings after 4th year…

Thanks for all the replies so far…sounds like a fair consensus that they can be pretty poor.

With regard to my opening up to regrease one of them had already started to play up so I had no qualms with opening up the newer one to add grease as it iwas odds on to start getting compromised too!