Trek Fuel EX Pivot Bearing Replacement

Who here has had their bearings replaced?

I’m looking to sell my 2008 EX8 so thought I’d get a quote from my LBS to replace the bearings (before anyones says, I’m not doing it myself!). I’ve heard on here that people have had theirs replaced under a ‘lifetime’ bearing warranty however the LBS said that there is no such warranty and that they even phoned Trek to check. 🙁

I’ve been quoted £50 for the bearings plus £25 labour, but apparently Trek recommend that the rocker link is replaced at the same time, which would cost £87 + £25 labour.

How does this compare with anyone else who’ve had an LBS replace the bearings? Also, I’m a bit confused as to why some people have had it done under warranty but I’m being told this is not possible? 😕

Cost wise it sounds about right, but no real knowledge of paying for repairs. I replaced mine in about an hour.

6 bearingsat £6-7 each and an hours labour at £45 so about £100 all in.I don’t know why they have said toreplace the rocker link.I’m about to phone trek now so I’ll ask them.

Magnesium rocker link and is soft as cheese!!!

I’ve seen a couple of them fail completely and the rocker wears away pretty quick but I too was under the impression they had lifetime warranty on them.

No idea why you would replace the rocker unless it’s damaged ❓

Here’s a not very good guide on checking your bearings and stripping the frame 😯

I would buy good quality bearing and weather proof them, Treks run average quality bearings that don’t last all that long.

To be honest, I’m fine with the cost of the bearings and labour as such, but it’s the warranty issue I guess I’m mainly concerned with. I susupected the reasoning for the rocker replacement was because it’s magnesium and I can imagine it’s easy to damage getting bearings in/out!

But yeah, it was always my understanding that thay can be replaced under warranty, which I should imagine should extend to the rocker if that’s what is recommended by Trek, and so I would only need to pay the labour charges?

Rorchach – would be good to know what you find out, cheers

I just changed the bearings on the frame in the guide, very easy I even have some tools to do the job, however if you’re on a budger a vice and some even cheaper tools will do it 😉

Do you have a vice and are you up for changing the bearings if I do a guide ❓

Kaesae: I am up for a guide – same bike, please inform me – I’d really appreciate it.

Cool!

I will do one tomorrow morning and should be able to upload it later on that day.

The wheel drop out and rocker pivots are very easy, however you will need a thin jawed vice for the main pivot, something like a clark csv4e100

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/csv4e-100mm-steel-bench-vice

Cool little vice, but don’t use too much force!

Pricing’s are wrong, when I had a 2008 ex9 I bought a magnesium rocker to upgrade from the 2 peice alloy one and it was only £35 and came with the bearings so if your LBS are quoting £87 for this rocker they are ripping you off. I used to have the part number, If I can find it I will email it on. Also if you got the rocker link don’t pay £25 for some one to undo then re-tighten 4 bolts!!!

Actually my friend has one for sale as his frame snapped, email if you want it.

Thanks for the offer kaesae, I don’t have a vice unfortunately and I don’t think my work bench is really up to attaching one but I’ll take a look at the guide though, it might not be as bad I think it is!

Regarding the costs, I should have clarified, the cost quoted for the rocker is £87 + labour which includes all the new pivot bearings. The cost for just the new bearings is £50 + labour, so the rocker link costs £37.

Ruscle – are you saying you got the rocker link plus rocker bearings for £35 (by my LBS figures, they say it’s £58)?

OK I’ve made a couple of guides for using as vice to change the bearings, I’ve also managed to make a tooling kit from bits and bob that where lying around, tooling kit is easier to use and less likely to damage anything.

The vice and simple sleave tools is cheap if that’s the way you feel like going, HD uploads onto you tube take a while so I will post back once they are ready!

how can their be a labour charge to replace the rocker.
to replace the bearings around the rocker all the bolts are out already.
and if the rocker comes with bearings as suggested the labour for replacing those bearings should not be counted..
seems like LBS is being economical with the truth, speak to trek direct to confirm what comes with the rocker then view the guide on DIY replacemement and have a serious discussion with LBS over labour charges..

From the OP they are charging £25 labour whether replacing rocker arm or not . £25 labour charge is IMO spectacularly cheap for what is very rarely a straightforward job .

Not sure what time I will finish at tonight so I better post these up now.

Guide for the main pivot etype bearings

Guide for the stadard bearings for rocker link and wheel drop out.

I would advise taking more time than I did, there is another guide with the press puller tools, but I haven’t uploaded it to you tube yet or even checked it, if there is any interest in it I will post it up later.

Gotta go work to do!