Wanted: Truvative GXP external bearing BB

Hey guys/gals,

My Truvative GXP BB (used with bontrager cranks that came with Lemond Fillmore) has started making ominous grinding noises which I understand will soon lead to its death. I have taken it apart and cleaned an regreased what I could get to but it seems the actually bearings are very tough to replace without some special tool...I dont currently have the money to replace it for full price, wonder if by some miracle anyone has one sitting around they want to get rid of??

Cheers in advance

alternately if someone has a clever idea for how to replace the sealed bearing units on the cheap I am all ears

Usually you would mention the thread type e.g. British. As for replacing them bearings, the tool is not special, the price is... a vice with some rachet sockets will do, but the bearings aren't standard and not too easy to get hold of.

Simplest way is to send the cups to betd and have them replace it for you - that is if you don't already run the 2011 bb cups.

That said, let me have a look if I have some bearings in my spares box.

duh! sorry, my bad....english threading, 68mm shell (not that this matters for the Truvative BB as far as I can tell)
I may be being dense, but I am unfamiliar with betd..."basic english teaching diploma"?
Thanks for reply though and I would really appreciate it!

I had one that I replaced because it was making strange noises.

Turns out the noise was actually coming from the cranks.

The BB is old though, and needed a replacement. But it doesn't make any noises. You're welcome to it for free, if you want to give it a spin.

found betd now...thanks!
Ooh, that would be awesome....if only as a backup if I bugger my current one trying to fix it :)
Will pm you now...

http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/ - betd

personally i'd email truvativ or sram

waste of time imho^

then...thread type does matter as i can tell from experiance ordering italian bb cups from evans and geting 2 times in a row british threaded ones instead - labled as italian but finished for 68mil shell. fucken mogoloids them!

the team gxp bb bearings up until 2010 are a bit budget, but hey so was the price for the bb cups. i went for the enduro replacement bearing set after about 1200mi. good thing about that eduro kit was the silicon seal kit that came with it. brought the friction down to normal level.

whole different story with the 2011 bb's. redesigned bearings, seals and all. think it's worth the upgrade.

as for the exchange procedure, i found this vid well informaive although for shimano type external bb's. so ignore the bit about the plastic seal with the hat type flange or whot ever, the sram ain't got dat.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uQoas_f4Is"]YouTube
- FSA Ceramic Bottom Bracket Maintenance Video[/ame]

worth mentioning is the use of locktite to secure the bearing in the cups. you'l notice you need considerable force to get them old ones out of the cups as they are locktited too, so do it as well.

last but not least, i have a set of 2011 sram blackbox ceramic bb cups, unopened and british threaded here for half the retail price if you stumble over a wallet or purse with 70,- quid in it ;)
but more interesting: a brand new brit. team bb cups collecting dust. yours for a 10er and a beer?

ah, and i used a vice together with a 30mil and a 19mil long reach socket to press them in/out for my enduro upgrade.

A new one is only £15 FFS?

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0024

yepp, but the same "old" sock and italian threadded, so get that and just be able to look at it or get a the new one off me that fits, have a friendly forumenger give you advise on the install/removing of the cups/ bearings and maybe even lend a tool or torque wrench if asked nicely over a beer.

i paid 25 and would like a tenner, do you mind? i do understand/except if one doesn't want to go for it, due to budget reasons or what ever, but i will not hand it over as a gift.

...not for someone i don't know personally anyway. fair enough?

waste of time imho^

then...thread type does matter as i can tell from experiance ordering italian bb cups from evans and geting 2 times in a row british threaded ones instead - labled as italian but finished for 68mil shell. fucken mogoloids them!

last but not least, i have a set of 2011 sram blackbox ceramic bb cups, unopened and british threaded here for half the retail price if you stumble over a wallet or purse with 70,- quid in it ;)
but more interesting: a brand new brit. team bb cups collecting dust. yours for a 10er and a beer?

Thanks a lot for this! I was referring to the BB shell size rather than the threading as being irrelevant, but your point is very true :)

Video was very helpful and I suspect that the noise is probably something between the bearings and the cup rather than the bearings themselves as they seem to spin pretty well on their own...will have a go at cleaning again on the weekend...

Dont think I will have 70 quid to spend for a while, but a tenner and a beer I can definitely do. Will shoot you a pm in a bit...

Cheers guys, fantastic response as always!

...not for someone i don't know personally anyway

Does that mean I only have to buy you the beer?? ;)

nah, you'd have to become a friend first.

that takes time and not just pints ;)

^grooming in progress

*looks grimm and shakes fist

nice meeting you Canaidan

sorry i did not have more time to chat and i hope your noise issue is gone now.

yeah mate! Lovely to meet you and hopefully we will meet again with silent BB the two of us ;) Havent had time to fit it yet, but will probably do it when more sober tomorrow morning....cheers for all the help guys!