See a bike check for this frame here! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ldipbKRnltSYaHU.html

I do my own work because I don't trust bike shops to do the job properly

Once you've got the tools and learnt the mistakes you're good to go, you don't learn anything without doing it

Well done, but I will stick to doing it myself.

It's always easier to use your credit card and pay someone else, but some people find it much more rewarding to learn how to do their own work. And with bikes, the best way to learn is by doing (as correctly as possible of course).

I can see your angle on this subject. I've built all my bikes from framesets and learning how to fix my bike and knowing whats what is invaluable on and off the trail imo.

You're trying to make it sound far more complicated than it really is. I've changed frame bearings several times (& BB, headsrt & wheel) & it was easy. You get quicker the more you do it & the more tools you get. Recenlt got a whole selection of press tools for just £43 sent from China. Very cheap.

I was searching for how to replace the bearings on my Banshee Spitfire and just happened to stumble upon this video with your own Spitty! I’m still gonna give it a go myself! 😂

Understandable position, you have on this topic. You just better have a shop you can trust, as shops are on the clock and love to take shortcuts. this is especially true for concealed work, like suspension... You pay for a 200hr service and all you get is a quick lower leg service, no air spring or damper work, and all non visible components are reused, if at all. At least you can blame yourself if you mess up, but you shop will not admit the shortcuts.

My bearings were cold welded into my carbon frame, had a 1 foot slide hammer struggled to get 1 side out but the other side I couldn't get out. Lucky 1 side was out and I got a bar on the bearing and hit with a large hammer but still took and unreal amount of force. It took some carbon flakes with it, I know it's too late but how could I have avoided this? I have a heat gun but I didn't use because I thought might expand the bearing making it even tighter.

Do you have any idea where to get an extra set of bearings for a 2021 Giant Trance X 29 ? Great video, thanks bro.

You are so right. Which I hadn't started doing it. So difficult.

3:37 but if you plan to ride until you die, then it's worth it, so I just get the tools I need and do it my self, and my local shop is a sports store which can't do much and this means sending it off to service senter and in summer it can take weeks, so no thx to that, but there is one single shop city next door, that can do it probably, they even do suspension service, but still it's a train ride away. so I don't save time nor cash on letting someone do it for me, I can do it myself. not hard on the new bike anyway. I have the tool from RRP, which is small, perfect for this job, even your frame. I also use the drifts to hammer in bearing on hope pro 4 hubs. soon I will be installing headset, not with a 4 by 4 and a nail hammer😂 but with press👍 if I need new tools I get them.

My LBS is an hours drive away, picked up the tools for less than 100 quid in my location it’s assuming I change my bearing at least twice not only is it a lot quicker it’s also a lot cheaper not to mention needing to take time off work as my LBS doesn’t do any service work at the week end or store bikes for customers!

good advise I think. It looks like one of the hardest home machanic jobs. I would love to take my bikes to the LBS but unfortunately there isn't a bike shop around my way that I could trust and anyway I need to learn how to change frame bearings due to having 4 full suss bike in the family😬

was replacing 4 bearings in my upper link and I cracked it, and they don't ship that part to my country so I'm sorta stuck deciding weather to just get a whole new frame and transfer the parts or try to get the part directly from the manufacturer somehow :(

im not giving up!

All depends on if you can trust your LBS. I have had times where just decided to DIY fix something that I just paid to have fixed because I didn't want to have to go back and wait more.

I like your advice but I have lost trust in the bike shop where I bought my bike, after they botched my bike PDI inspection. My rear wheel fell off during the second short ride, breaking a spoke and brakes were hardly bled! Then when I tried to get them to replace the spoke the guy pushed the nipple into my rim, causing him to pierce the tubeless rim tape to recover it, I ended up buying spokes elsewhere, then got Halfords to repair the mess created.

As long as everything goes back in the same place, including the correct new bearing sizes and types, and you have a press and extractors then it’s easy. Just time consuming on some frames.

It's simple. If your mechanically minded go ahead, if you're not an engineer/mechanic make sure you read up from reputable sources on what damage exactly can be done (could create imperfections/ridges that lead to vastly increased bearing ware, increased likelyhood of fatigue cracks near frame pivots, creaking, bore holes that will constantly miss-align bearings and not take a bearing under appropriate pressures again, and damaging your new bearings so that they fail in weeks.) The reason damage is so easily done is because we have to press hardened steel into soft alaminium, I use getto methods on steel parts but not on my bike which is alaminium. I managed to get a good 7050 aluminium pressing set for £90 and reasonable puller set with a slide hammer for 30 (although I have ideas towards an upgrade for the pullers.) Wrapped frame in rags, gently clamped it, and pulled the bearings out perfectly straight (were ceased from the previous owner) and pressed in new ones perfectly straight. I will quickly make my money back, it's fun, I can sell the tools or replace bearings for other people, I don't have to leave my bike at a shop, and I can use the presses/pullers in other projects. 6 Wins for doing it yourself properly.

100% correct. Of course I had already done it the hard way. If you have a good bike shop, let them take this job. Santa Cruz has free bearing replacements I believe so no excuse not to if you own that brand. Thanks for the video.

Once or twice a year change out bearings😂 . Alot of bike manufacturers don't even reccomend that. Also, pulling bearings is a critical skill for all forms of wrenching: automotive, small engines, utilities, etc...its a good skill to learn. I will say, proper puller tools really does change the game; but you don't have to spend 500$ with park took. Any ol 2 jaw or collet style puller set from harbor freight will work just fine for

Thanks for the video. I like to gradually collect the tools needed as the jobs come up. I think with care, the home mechanics can manage most of these tasks successfully but I agree it’s not for everyone.

my rear triangle was bent when i had my frame bearings replaed by halfords,dont think they had the right tools for the job.

Hi there. I follow you on FB. Hadn't realised I wasn't subscribed on KZfaq! That's me subbed and looking forward to checking out your vids 👍

Fortunately I have my own lathe and have made my own tools to replace bearings on my Trek rail 😊

Short term outlay, long-term recoup!

There seems to be a high number of negative comments here? Great video. Relaxed vibe and interesting to hear your thoughts on this, looking forward to watching some more 👊 (although the real secret to easy bearing changes is to ride a hardtail 🤷‍♂️)

i have just pulled out a bearing that isnt a bearing so now i need to make one that has never been done befor

All you need is the right tools by that I mean a good quality bearing press and a good quality bearing extractor, and then just take your time.

This and wheel truing are two jobs I won’t do myself if I need perfection.

Hey Dude, first of all..I'm happy to see a Video about this sketchy topic, and I do appreciate the way you thought it through.It's a controverse topic.. But.. I'm working as a pro-mechanic for half of my life, and have been part of half a dozen shops..and just one of them had at least a few tools to get the job done.. The other shops just used the old hammer-washer-bolt method, and there's so much to do wrong with it!! And also none of them told the customers that they're charging em for destroying their frames.. It's a sketchy topic!!

A thing to remember is to place all parts you take off in a save way, so you don't lose bolt , nut or spacer. so place in a good spot visible spot on the table or work bench mat.

Buy specific bearing puller and fitting tools for your bike. You can often find them for under $50. My bike shop would probably charge upward of $250 for a pivot over haul. I’d rather do it myself on a Sunday. If you aren’t good with tools or dislike faffing, support you local bike shop

I see your point. Most people will not want to undertake this job. But I have to disagree with your assessment of the long-run, Consider this- you only buy a quality wheelsmfg tool once and after the first time you start to be more efficient. Not only that but since you have tools, maybe a spare set of bearings too- when your it creak you can fix the most likely cause immediately instead of driving it to LBS. If you own a FSR you intend to keep for years like my Camber its worth the trouble in cost savings and will add lengevity by not waiting to do important noise fixes.

Share your bearing swapping tips and tricks and whether or not you take the plunge or take it the the bike shop.

I use a generic c-clamp and a short socket to press my bearings in.

Glad to see a Banshee...

No lbs for me anymore after some lbs mech ruined my headset putting some forks on. Had them in upside down.

best demotivating video:))

I buy the kinetic bearings tools which allow install and extract .3 sets required at £20 each .I also bought kinetic max bearings and the job was painful and trouble free infact it was a pleasure . Using sockets etc is just a recipe for disaster.but the right tools and once your done with the bike a few years later etc sell the tools and get half hour money back if they don't fit your new bike. I am blessed with the skill set and fix a fleet of bikes for the club I'm in and I did take the cyctec course upto level 2 Imo if your only ever visiting your lbs to just have your frame bearings done and don't use them for anything else ,thinks embarrassing as your giving them all the risk with little reward .

I would if i could! All the bike shops round here are too busy, they have a 5+ week lead time for changing frame bearings at the moment ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It's a 2 or 3 week lead time just to get it in the shop. That includes the shops i don't trust much, which you're usually better off doing it yourself anyway because they do get things wrong.

Got a trek EX7 2019, just made 1st disassembly of suspension. (2 seasons in) Lucky I sat at home a lot with depression this winter, otherwise I'd be already in deep sh trying to remove bolts. Few bearings are shot, but had to stay in, no cash. Thing is all those problems (mine and your examples) are manufacturer's fault. And that is a frame that trek prices a stupid amount for. No grease on bolts, thread lock overspill, gluing bolts to bearing races, and I BET - dry bearing sockets. Frame is actually not really well made. I bet I could strip some bolts if I'd use torque that's printed on them. But as I agree with you, that it might be well worth it to give it to a mechanic, you wouldn't like to see what "experience" means. There won't be fooking about, and they won't have all the tools from manufacturer, and they will see this frame for the first time, and they won't even have all the gadget tools you sometimes need. Because bike shops also can't spend limitless amounts on tools, just like we can't. Suddenly Orange bikes became really attractive to me.

Take it to " my bike shop"?! Lmfao 🤣🤣 , let me tell you... A " wise man" once told me... " Bike shop mechanics doesn't get paid enough to give a fuck"! And guess what...He was absolutely right! I do an absolutely way much better job than any mechanic I've encountered in that specific shop, I just did an excellent job on replacing my bearings the other day, took my time to clean inside the bearings droppings, greased them with the highest grease grade I could get from a motorcycle shop! all while assuring that it'd only take me 3 hours to finish the job! Are you telling me that the shop was going to give me the bike back in only 3 hours with a hefty fee of $100 , knowing that it wasn't going to be the job I exactly wanted done? Not a chance.... Here's my advice... " Learn to be your own mechanic and your bike will ALWAYS run as new"... Mine has 3700 miles in it and it actually rides now better than it was new! 👍👍👍P. S ... That specific shop is rated one of the best 100 bike shops in North America and I'd challenge ANYONE there to do a better job than me on my specific bike ! 🤘🤘

i just get a blowtorch and a make a bolt the correct size. the blowtorch expands the aluminum suspension arms slightly more than the steel bearings, then i just hammer the bearings out/in with soft mallet.

All the bike shops where I live are terrible. Don’t really have a choice but to do it yourself.

Can't tell if he means it honestly or sarcastically.😂

you might not need to swap bearing if it's a budget frame with bushings, then that's different procedure.😂 so don't need get that expensive too just yet then.😂

pop them out with a hammer, or press them out with a nut, bolt, and washers. press in the new bearings using the old bearing and a nut/bolt. total cost $0.00 and an hour of your time. LBS-$100+ and a week or 2 wait... ill agree that if you dont have the most basic tools you should just take it to your lbs, because there is a slim chance you know how to use them. but for the other 90% of people....getting bearings swapped 2 times a year like you said would be ridiculously expensive. get creative, you can use random junk laying around as a die to press them in/out if needed. i didnt even know bearing cup sets for bikes existed until recently, never needed them..

Bike shops charge more for doing the work than the cost of the tools itself, or about the same cost. If you change bearings once a year, learning how to do this yourself will save yourself a fortune in the long run.

get a santa cruz where the bearings are in the links NOT the frame - much easier to maintain!! I wish all FS bikes were as easy to work on!

Your hair is beautiful

I just use finger because am stronk

Peace ! 🤣

thanks for the video but i think its well within the realms of most owners ability.

Use a punch to remove them and the old bearing to hammer the new ones in. Funny how people are so careful with their silly presses and drifts. If you have a carbon frame tho...

They shouldn't even use bearings in the first place, when they get shot they are gonna act like bushings, My frame has a stuck bearing and I feel no difference in the rear suspension, It probably was a manufacturing defect because one bearing comes out by hand and the other doesn't wanna come out, I tried with a hammer I don't have a press for it

Was about to buy these parts but you convinced me not to! Thanks !!

If anyone struggling doing this just remember, there is always a bigger hammer!

Disagree, easy job for someone competent in fixing their bike, once you do a single and double bearing replacement once and successfully, you can do it again fairly easily and save quite a bit of money in the long term.

It's William Wallace

I'm not letting some little spotty mong touch my £8000 Nomad pal..

bearing horror stories: Trek having cheap bearings with almost no grease. Having to freeze tool, use hot tap water on frame, to undo a 10nm torque hex bolt for rocker link,chainstay pivot,, that was over torqued way past that, maybe more than 50nm? it was impossible to undo the hex key would just bend and hand hurt, that's improper assembly at factory, unacceptable, no wonder Trek do not do factory tour.😂 changing ball bearings in cheap Shimano hub, new axle and 3 rides axle is bent, probably bad tolerances in hub. Noticing the difference between tolerances of cheap cane creek headset compared to Chris king headset, much tighter fit. Once a Enduro bearing did not seem to be up to spec, as it was much tighter fit, it went in but much tighter. maybe it was the frame, and the bearings were in good tolerances or better than before, who knows, not tried to see if that was the case yet. some bearings sounding crunchy when new. But now lastes Enduro bearings I bough had enough grease, some did not before. I've seen a dude riding a bike with fully workout bearings,and crank had missing bolt so it was ''fixed'' with a big bolt used for building houses or balconies, and everything had huge play, and bike was sagging, and it survived few drops of 1 m too, I would not do that. scary to a bike in such condition. it was a Mongoose Black Diamond Double .

i think you are to defeatist, you got to try in life and how much is the shop for 10min.

how depressing.

Yeh it would be nice if you could trust your LBS. But at the end of the day they charge the same amount of money as qualified car mechanics without actually having s qualification. Where I live this can be 100 dollars an hour. In my experience they often are not as accountable as actual qualified mechanics\tradesmen. If you're going to be into bikes for a long time you're better off buying the right tools and learning to do it yourself. Most of the tools are cheap compared to paying your LBS the hourly rate they charge.

Ya lbs does frame bearings and hub bearings. Bb not so bad but frame ya no way. B4 u know it. 500 bucks spent. Gunna pass

Yep, just give up 🤦‍♂️

It's a simple job .........

it’s not that deep

Awfull mindset! If you dont try to learn you will never learn…

You dont even use a proper press

Piece of piss frame bearings 🙄🙄

This is why I won't buy a million pivot bike or a press fit, I've had my bike to the bike shop once since 1992, I now have five. I've kept rolling and saved a fortune and a heap of time, learn to do it, it's not rocket science.

I was expecting to hear some actual reason why you shouldn't EVER change your bearings. This is just you looking out for us getting frustrated with a quirky DIY service job? Strange. I also don't understand your cost argument. You suggest paying the shop to change bearing twice a year as being cheaper than getting the tools to do it yourself? Are you only riding one season and then giving up on riding after that? SMH

so basically you made a video advising to take bike to the bike shop for bearings replacement? it’s not really a rocket science you clearly don’t know much about servicing bikes…

I dont understand why you make it sound so difficult and put people off trying it themselves, your insentive will make people spend unnecessarily and not learn for themselves, its actually a lot easier than you make out and you dont need to rely on "specialised" equipment, every bike owner should be learning to maintain their own bikes not line the pockets of overpaid mechs due to uncertainty and laziness

Boring