TP_Mantis

Hi All,
I am building a bike and after doing a lot of reading, i think i am more confused on bottom brackets.

Crankset:
Force CX1 PF30
Frame:
68mm wide
Bottom Bracket:
Are all PF30s compatible?
My confusion comes in when looking at the BB - some fit snugly to to frame like Chris King and others like race face stick out of the shell a bit.
Any way to make sure i get the right bb?

Since i have your attention what are your preference on BBs? any advantages to Ceramic bearings other than lighter wallet. This is for a Road / Gravel / Cross bike, so it will get dirty.
Extra bonus for Orange BBs

thanks!

deacon mark

Is your frame a press fit BB or threaded, it is not clear in your post. You said you have pf30 crank and your frames BB determines your course of action. Report back and we can go from there, might ask to post this to mechanics forum we deal there better than here.

rpenmanparker 

Just go with a standard PF30 BB such as offered by SRAM and Loctite it in place. Stainless bearings if possible. You will save bundles of money and are likely to have no issues. Ceramic is for the gullible. They offer no advantages. Since the major issues with press fit BBs is the creaking, not bearing failure, spend your time on money on getting the installation with Loctite 609 correct. Ceramic bearings are the least of your needs.

TP_Mantis

Sorry about that - it is a Press Fit frame - not threaded

dr_lha

Echo this. The Raceface BB's are for MTBs and some are only compatible with Raceface cranks.

Psimet2001 

You have to go with a PF-30 standard BB if the frame is a PF-30 frame. There are threaded options for PF30 though that are kind of the bees knees, but more hassle or expense than they may be worth for you.

You don't need to loctite in a PF30 bb. Just drench the cups in a waterproof grease. Press and forget. Helluva lot easier to remove it when you need to and replace as needed because honestly they aren't that expensive anyway.

Psimet2001 

FWIW - I bore out every PF30 that comes into the shop. So many of them are made below min spec size and end up squeezing the bearings assemblies and causing a lot of drag. When I bore them correctly with the right tools to spec size they end up being pretty dead on and work great.

Ceramic in a BB isn't needed - to echo above.

TP_Mantis

Thanks All!
Appreciate the help

deacon mark

I will throw a different angle if it was myself I would get a shimano crank like a 105 and the go with a Praxis conversion. More expensive but very good eliminates the issues of press fits I think.

DinoShepherd

The RaceFace X-type adapters work great on road frames if you want to run a Shimano crank.

dr_lha

Sure, but the OP didn't want an adapter BB, just a PF30 one. AFAIK Raceface doesn't make a "straight" road PF30 BB.

DinoShepherd

Hmmm. My Canadian isn't as strong as it could be, so I may be deciphering the RaceFace site wrong, but it appears the PF30 Cinch is their listing.

Mainly just wanted to let others know that for sure the RF X-Type Shimano adapters are sweet and I have lots of use on mine.

Carry on!

:-)

dr_lha

I'm pretty sure the "Cinch" BBs only work with their "Cinch" cranksets. Might be wrong. Whatever, they're certainly not what the OP wants.