Rear hub sealed bearings
12-05-23, 06:18 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 176
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 126 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
9 Posts
Rear hub sealed bearings
I would like to know more about sealed bearings in the hub.
1.
I removed the axle and this is what I have:
both bearings spin easily but one is smooth on disk brake side and you can feel roughness on the other behind the freehub (like the grease has been washed out)
2.
the axle spins smoothly in the freehub.
there are 2 more bearings in the freehub, is that correct?
how would you remove axle from the freehub to access the bearings? (I wont do this, I am just wondering about the desing of all this)
1.
I removed the axle and this is what I have:
both bearings spin easily but one is smooth on disk brake side and you can feel roughness on the other behind the freehub (like the grease has been washed out)
2.
the axle spins smoothly in the freehub.
there are 2 more bearings in the freehub, is that correct?
how would you remove axle from the freehub to access the bearings? (I wont do this, I am just wondering about the desing of all this)
12-05-23, 06:34 AM
#2
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,517
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2747 Post(s)
Liked 3,401 Times
in
2,058 Posts
What brand/model/info do you have for the hub?
12-05-23, 07:35 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 1,404
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 682 Post(s)
Liked 453 Times
in
338 Posts
Two bearings in the freehub is common, one at each end.
Sounds like the sealed one in the hub drive-side is worn. Bit surprising as it’s probably the one that’s best protected from the elements.
Sounds like the sealed one in the hub drive-side is worn. Bit surprising as it’s probably the one that’s best protected from the elements.
12-05-23, 10:13 AM
#4
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,369
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6222 Post(s)
Liked 4,222 Times
in
2,368 Posts
Usually.
You persuade it out. Put in an open vise or balance it on something where you can support the edges of the freehub (red boxes). Using a soft hammer, tap on the other end of the axle to drive it out of the bearings. You don’t want to go all John Henry on it. Gentle persuasion is the key.
how would you remove axle from the freehub to access the bearings? (I wont do this, I am just wondering about the desing of all this)
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
12-05-23, 01:26 PM
#5
Really Old Senior Member
NDS just has gravity.
IME, DS cones are more prone to wear/pitting etc.
Likes For Bill Kapaun:
12-05-23, 03:58 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,100
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4212 Post(s)
Liked 3,883 Times
in
2,318 Posts
Sometimes the LH axle end has an 8mm hex socket allowing the axle to be held. Then a wrench on the RH axle end cap that has those two flats. Good chance that end cap will unthread and the axle be able to be slid out of the FH body from the backside.
generally the bearings in the hub shell are fairly easy to remove but the FH body ones can be really tightly pressed in. In those cases I'll warm up the FH body in the oven to about 250 degrees to expand it. I'll also replace all the bearings when I do these jobs. For the cost VS the hassle to redo any sooner than needed it's worth it IMO. Andy
generally the bearings in the hub shell are fairly easy to remove but the FH body ones can be really tightly pressed in. In those cases I'll warm up the FH body in the oven to about 250 degrees to expand it. I'll also replace all the bearings when I do these jobs. For the cost VS the hassle to redo any sooner than needed it's worth it IMO. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
12-05-23, 04:43 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,904
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2604 Post(s)
Liked 1,933 Times
in
1,213 Posts
Likes For pdlamb:
