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Shimano LP25 Sealed Cartridge Bottom Bracket

5 min read

Asked by: Dana Evans

What is a sealed cartridge bottom bracket?

A cartridge bottom bracket usually has two main components. The cartridge contains the sealed bearings and spindle, and is usually threaded into the right (or drive side) of your frame. The lockring supports the opposite end of the cartridge and is usually threaded into the left (or non-drive side) of your frame.

Can you service a sealed cartridge bottom bracket?

The good news is that sealed cartridge bearings are serviceable, in fact it’s quicker, easier and requires fewer tools than re-packing a loose ball bottom bracket.

How do you remove a sealed bottom bracket cartridge?

Quote from video: Cut from the bottom bracket. We're going to insert the tool. Over. The top just like this.

How do you remove a Shimano sealed bottom bracket?

Quote from video: And this is going to be a right-hand threaded part here so you're going to want to turn this the way you normally would to loosen like a screw you turn this counterclockwise.

How long do sealed bottom brackets last?

As for a bottom bracket, on the low end, maybe 5000 miles. The basic Shimano one most people use (UN51/55/similar) can reasonably expect 10k+ miles. But sometimes you get unlucky and get a bottom bracket that lasts maybe 500 miles.

How do you grease a sealed bottom bracket?

Quote from video: Film or grease on this surface. Against that dust.

How do you service a sealed cartridge bearing?

Quote from video: Make sure that it's all the dirt is gone there's no grease there's no grime. Once that's done just rinse it underneath the tap just to make sure that all the degreaser has actually gone.

How often should bottom bracket be replaced?

Every three months or so I’ll take the cranks out and if it’s a threaded bb, I’ll remove the bb and do the full service. Around the three month mark is normally enough time, even in the best conditions for dirt to work its way into the small gaps and contact points around the crankset and bottom bracket area.

How do I know if my bottom bracket is worn out?

Quote from video: It's usually something that's not just down to noise. So if you can move your crank arm. Again you know slide it side to side and there is actually a bit of play.

What is a sealed cartridge bearing?

A sealed bearing consists of an outer race (the visible external shell of the SCB) and an inner race which sandwich between ball bearings, which can be either loose or held in cage retainers, depending on the SCB type.

Can I use a 68mm bottom bracket in a 73mm shell?

Multiple spacers are included in order to fit both sizes meaning if you see a BB for sale that says 68/73 it means it will fit both but it includes a couple spacers in the box to make it fit the 68, those spacers (or fewer of them) are not needed if the shell is 73mm wide.

Do I need to replace bottom bracket when replacing crankset?

To answer your question specifically, yes cranksets require a specific bottom bracket, especially so the new offerings from SRAM and Shimano and others.

Which bottom bracket is best?

Best road bike bottom brackets in 2021: the cream of the crop

  • Shimano Dura-Ace BB-R9100 Bottom Bracket.
  • Chris King ThreadFit 24 bottom bracket.
  • Wheels Manufacturing PF30 Angular Contact Bearing PF30 bottom bracket.
  • Cane Creek Hellbender PF30 bottom bracket.
  • FSA BB30 bottom bracket.
  • Rotor BB30-24 converter bottom brackets.

Why do bottom brackets fail?

The fail by water and grit entering the bearing and causing the cartridge bearings to get loose. This is felt by poor shifting or chain rub, and finally the bearing can get very stiff if the balls jam up inside. External bearings can be cleaned and adjusted. Most have some sort of seal that can also be replaced.

Why does my bottom bracket creak?

Often it’s on the dry days the creak will start to happen. As the crank arms are rotating, the bottom bracket will make a dry creaky noise, and is usually caused by axle oscillation around dry bearings, where the grease inside has been washed out of the many contact points,” he says.

Is a sealed bottom bracket better?

A good bottom bracket is a “fit it and forget it” deal. A sealed unit is what’s current and popular because it doesn’t require any servicing. They last a long time and can easily be replaced if they wear out.

What is a sealed cartridge bearing?

A sealed bearing consists of an outer race (the visible external shell of the SCB) and an inner race which sandwich between ball bearings, which can be either loose or held in cage retainers, depending on the SCB type.

Which bottom bracket is best?

Best road bike bottom brackets in 2021: the cream of the crop

  • Shimano Dura-Ace BB-R9100 Bottom Bracket.
  • Chris King ThreadFit 24 bottom bracket.
  • Wheels Manufacturing PF30 Angular Contact Bearing PF30 bottom bracket.
  • Cane Creek Hellbender PF30 bottom bracket.
  • FSA BB30 bottom bracket.
  • Rotor BB30-24 converter bottom brackets.

What is a sealed bearing hub?

In four-wheel, all-wheel and front-wheel drive applications, the wheel bearing hub assembly is made with two opposing bearings, and with the inner bearing races pressed onto a splined hub that slips over the splined axle shaft.

Which is better ball bearing or sealed bearing?

Unsealed ball bearings require lubrication regularly. If lubrication is not completed regularly, you are faced with the issue of failure. Sealed bearings however, do not need lubrication. This in turn, eliminates the process of lubrication, and thus results in saving time on labor.

Do sealed bearings need to be greased?

FOR STARTERS, note that most sealed bearings come pre-greased from the factory with a 25%-35% grease fill. This is all the grease the bearings will ever need, because the relubrication interval (explained below) is longer than the expected life of the bearing.