Suspension pivot maintenance

[Butterbean]

Quick Question

 

Obviously most maintenance guides out there are for replacement of pivot bearings, but I find that after a couple of washes, my pivots creak...

 

I am not using a high pressure washer, before you come with that. Process is a touchless wash of MPC foam, and then a spray down with a garden weed pressure sprayer...

 

So, for those in the know, is there supposed to be regular teardown and greasing up of all contact surfaces, even going as far as repacking grease into the bearings, or is there another way to do it?

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

[Eddy Gordo]

I normally just drop some lube on the pivots.

[Rudii]

I normally just drop some lube on the pivots.

What lube do you use for the pivots? 

[Capricorn]

Quick Question

 

Obviously most maintenance guides out there are for replacement of pivot bearings, but I find that after a couple of washes, my pivots creak...

 

I am not using a high pressure washer, before you come with that. Process is a touchless wash of MPC foam, and then a spray down with a garden weed pressure sprayer...

 

So, for those in the know, is there supposed to be regular teardown and greasing up of all contact surfaces, even going as far as repacking grease into the bearings, or is there another way to do it?

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

did your pivots squeak just after the cleaning, ie, when clean or within the first few rides after cleaning. If the latter, it's likely dust causing the squeak. But that dust is being held up around the pivot means its sticking to something, likely lubricant or slighty amount of grease oozing past the endface bearing seal. Depending on how long since last pivot service, might be worthwhile to get at the bearing, and while still installed on the bike, carefully remove the facing side's seal, degrease the internals, and then re-grease. Just sure to clean up properly during reassembling so there's no errant grease around which dust can later accumulate.

[Puncture Kid]

Depends on your pivots, but if you tighten them too much they will creak as the frame parts rub against each other.

 

This happened to me when my LBS did my suspension and overtighened everything. So as I rode, the swingarm and frame (carbon) rubbed together creating hectic creaking sounds. I dismantled everything. The overtighening in the axial direction caused the bearing to also not run properly. Re-assembled and was smooth as silk afterwards

[Quagga]

I normally just drop some lube on the pivots.

This will not achieve anything but gather dust.

[Quagga]

Depends on your pivots, but if you tighten them too much they will creak as the frame parts rub against each other.

 

This happened to me when my LBS did my suspension and overtighened everything. So as I rode, the swingarm and frame (carbon) rubbed together creating hectic creaking sounds. I dismantled everything. The overtighening in the axial direction caused the bearing to also not run properly. Re-assembled and was smooth as silk afterwards

If this happened then the LBS did not put in a washer.....By design most frames can not be over tightened 

[Quagga]

Quick Question

 

Obviously most maintenance guides out there are for replacement of pivot bearings, but I find that after a couple of washes, my pivots creak...

 

I am not using a high pressure washer, before you come with that. Process is a touchless wash of MPC foam, and then a spray down with a garden weed pressure sprayer...

 

So, for those in the know, is there supposed to be regular teardown and greasing up of all contact surfaces, even going as far as repacking grease into the bearings, or is there another way to do it?

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

What I found is that the bearings come with very little grease in them so when I buy new pivot bearings I carefully remove the 2 rubber seals, and then pack them FULL of grease so much so that when I put the seal back the grease comes out.

 

Pivot moves VERY little so any moisture gets in it gets the beargin to rust and stop moving.

[DieselnDust]

Quick Question

 

Obviously most maintenance guides out there are for replacement of pivot bearings, but I find that after a couple of washes, my pivots creak...

 

I am not using a high pressure washer, before you come with that. Process is a touchless wash of MPC foam, and then a spray down with a garden weed pressure sprayer...

 

So, for those in the know, is there supposed to be regular teardown and greasing up of all contact surfaces, even going as far as repacking grease into the bearings, or is there another way to do it?

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

 

 

I use a silicone spray on the pivots. Just a few drops of short spray. Not much. Its washes the water out and reduces the stiction of the seals against the bearing housing

[Quagga]

I use a silicone spray on the pivots. Just a few drops of short spray. Not much. Its washes the water out and reduces the stiction of the seals against the bearing housing

That should not cause a sound

[DieselnDust]

That should not cause a sound

 shouldn't but they do. Dry rubber sliding over dry metal

[Capricorn]

 shouldn't but they do. Dry rubber sliding over dry metal

still shouldn't because one side of the seal should be pure grease. if squeaky dry, means the bearing needs to re-greased.

[Quagga]

still shouldn't because one side of the seal should be pure grease. if squeaky dry, means the bearing needs to re-greased.

I put soooo much grease in the bearing it takes about a year before I need to replace them AND

I use a presure washer :-)

[Butterbean]

So, I'm assuming then, that most people do not just fit and forget pivot bearings, but actually do do some form of relubrication and cleaning?

[Headshot]

My take on it: Wash your bike frame as little as possible. In Cape Town it works well especially in summer because your bike doesn't get very dirty. When it is, a light wash with minimal water works fine. I clean my drive train with a brush and old towel more often and use a wax lube like Smoove. Stuff seems to last okay. 

 

My new bike has neat little aluminium disks with rubber seals at the edges to help keep water out the bearings at the back. I took a linkage off the other day and the bearings there were still smooth after 14 months. I think bearings in other more high stress, wetter locations wear out more quickly. 

 

When it is time to replace them, after my experiences, I'd recommend taking it to a trusty mechanic who has the right tools i.e a bearing press. Either that or buy a bearing press and do the job properly. Using bolts, nuts and washers is recipe for frustration and possible a damaged frame and/or sticky bearings.

[Headshot]

So, I'm assuming then, that most people do not just fit and forget pivot bearings, but actually do do some form of relubrication and cleaning?

Perhaps on this thread, but I think most people do just wait until they are toast before doing anything. 

 

One issue is that the bearings move very very little so all the wear occurs at one point. Taking the frame apart and rotating the bearings might help a bit. Re-greasing the bearings is an option but the seals always get a bit damaged and water gets in more easily afterwards.