You are reading a single comment by @Jon. and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
-
No.
And yes (sort of).
The term is, incorrectly, used to describe pits in the bearing race caused by micro-welds between the bearing and the race, caused by vibration from the road. When the welds are broken (when you steer), material is removed from the softer race, rather than the from the harder bearing.
As headset bearings return to the same place (when you straighten the steering), the repeated forming and breaking of welds creates pits; these pits resemble the results of a Brinell hardness test, hence the misnomer.
With a sealed bearing, this all takes place inside the bearing and unless you've opened it up wouldn't be visible, so I doubt that's what you're referring to.
Scilly.Suffolk
@Jon.
Is it possible for a cartridge bearing headset to cause brinelling? I seem to have managed it. Admittedly it is on a cargo bike that's seen 50 000 km and hasn't seen a bearing change in that time.