Wheels Manufacturing Releases Alloy PressFit BB30 Bottom Brackets

I’ve always been under the impression that the metal on metal contact of the normal BB30 bearings was the cause of creaking, and that the nylon cup was brought about partially to fix that.

That said, if my new cross frame starts eating SRAM PF30 BB’s like crazy, I might try one since there isn’t really anything else on the market.

I’ve had replaced 3 SRAM plastic PF30s (bad bearings, creaks, creaks, more creaks) on my MTB with only 1200 miles. Hope this is a solution.

Lets see- what other highly loaded bearings are press fit on a bicycle? hmmmmm….. a headset! Seems like that issue was solved eons ago.

@harro: at least no specialized tool for install or removal. PF30 was never a better standard, just greater ease of use.

Hmmm, less expensive than SRAM PF30 ceramic if I recall correctly….? I use TFE paste to keep things from creaking which usually does the trick.

Would adding a aluminum sleeve that is possibly stiffer than the carbon around it not cause possible cracking?

I was under the impression the nylon/plastic cups were in use for this very reason. To my knowledge Specialized said the use of a C-Bear BB in their frames would void the warranty. I could be wrong though.

BB30 sucks! Any bottom bracket that you have to use loctite for installation is one sh’tty bottom bracket.

BB30 craeaks like a mofo! And if I you claim that BB30 does not suck solely based on your own experience…. well, then up yours.

I would like to give a slap in the face to any dweeb who doesn’t hate BB30. Thank you.

Threading a bearing into a frame like they did in “the old days” is so much better. The threaded in bearing effectively becomes part of the frame. Press fit to me looks like crazy engineering and a mad crazy way to save weight. Pushing a bearing into a space rather than threading it into the frame. Replacing threaded in bottom brackets is also far far easier.

ugh. PF30..please no PFBB30…you sound silly. And to all those who hate bb30, i hope your also have threaded 1 inch headsets. But I must agree with some, PF30 allows for ‘less than strict’ manufacturing tolerances, thus BB30 is superior to PF30.

But seriously, if it isn’t unreasonable for me to grease my threaded bottom bracket to keep it quiet, why is it so outrageous for me to put bearing retaining compound (green loc-tite) on my BB30 bearings to keep them quite too?

@Mark, Why? Popping out bearings seems pretty much as easy as unthreading a bottom bracket. Unless your threads are seized…then that’s a real pain in the ass. Just sayin’

Just an observation here, but you do realize that all modern threaded BB’s have the bearings PRESSED into the shells. BB30 etc was developed first to stiffen the cranks, and second to make then lighter and spin under stress more freely, (more balls makes them more spinny due to having more contact points). I will however say that there are drawbacks to pressing things straight into a frame as at least with modern threaded BB’s, the company making the BB has complete control over the tolerances of that bearing being pressed into the cup. When you incorporate more than one institution, (especially several on both sides), you will at times see issues arise. Welcome to bicycle evolution!

@Happy:

Well, nobody would cluing bearings if it’s possible to have a proper shrink fit. Clue of any kind will get older and will loose some of his characteristics. So it’s not the best solution. It’s good enough for repairing but definitely it is not the best solution for installing bearings!

@ Max,

I am assuming you mean “gluing” rather than “cluing”. 🙂

I wonder how your favorite outboard BB manufacturer installs their bearings?
Or perhaps your favorite Full Suspension frame gets their bearings installed?

There is a reason that you can get Loctite 609 from QBP: because it is part of a correct installation.

If a cylindrical interface had a proper “shrink fit” then the friction involved between the two interfaces would not allow the item to be installed without damaging the alloy receiver.
The fact that the item needs to be installed (and re-installed) necessitates some difference in the diameters, hence why cylindrical retaining compound exists.
Once the item is installed, the compound cures, and acts as a “mortar” so that there is no movement in the system.
Go talk to a machinist, go talk to a mechanic in another field that has parts that include industrial (90 degree) bearings in their assembly. This is as vital to a cylindrical press-fit installation as blue loctite is to a threaded installation.

Is there a possible “better” way that is as cost-effective and solid while retaining the same manufacturing techniques? I would LOVE to know what that is, because it would revolutionize several industries.
I am not trying to be snarky BTW, but honestly, this is how these items are intended to be installed and maintained. If you honestly think there is a better way, I am all ears.

Glad to hear there is someone with some experience 🙂 I don’t have your pedigree, but I am an industry fellow, (as in, on the production side) and stuff like this has been my daily headache for the last 7 years. :)I agree with you on the Heat/cold interface and what not. I was more just making the point of “using existing systems” type argument. With what we have, and the monetary constraints of the industry, this is “as good as it gets.
Since most shops don’t have a chiller on hand though, here we are. 🙂
“Precision is the solution for (nearly) every problem with bearings.” From your mouth to the cycling gods ears. 🙂
I sold my boingy bike last year as well, too bad I’m still riding a PF30 frame (smacks forehead).

Colnago and Pinarello for example both use threaded bottom brackets in their high end bikes. The Pinarello Bradley Wiggins will ride in 2013 for example has a threaded bottom bracket. Why? Maybe they know what they’re doing.

Tee hee. That’s a good one.

Colnago and Pinarello are solid companies, and I love threaded BBs. Bear in mind that I said nothing against that standard, and for companies whose bread and butter is frame only sales, this (currently) gives them the ability to play with every company (rather than just companies who support one of the various PF systems).

What I said, was that BB30 is superior to PF30 (when done right). That’s it.

I dig the snark Ajax, I hear that pinkbike is auditioning commenters. This could be your big break!

Sadly I have to report that its been imposible to overcome the creaking issues when fitting this PF30 to a Specialized Camber 2012. Instinct was telling me metal on metal with loose tolerances is not good. Wish I had listened now !