MTB pivot bearings advice please

[johnson]

Hi everybody.

My Pyga frame is in need of new pivot bearings. I See Cycle Lab has a good selection (including the one's I need).

Any advice what to use and where to buy will be appreciated.

John

[Headshot]

6 minutes ago, johnson said:

Hi everybody.

My Pyga frame is in need of new pivot bearings. I See Cycle Lab has a good selection (including the one's I need).

Any advice what to use and where to buy will be appreciated.

John

Best bet would be to speak to Pyga - they may have a bearing set kit. If not I'd find a trusted bike repair shop (i.e not Cycle Lab) eg Stoke Suspension in Cape Town or their equivalent in other centers and get the bearings fitted by them. You need not only the right bearings but a bearing press to fit them properly and avoid frame/bearing damage.

[christovdw]

Look if you're in Cape Town, you'll be doing yourself a huge favour to stop by Stoke Suspension Works. Drew is fantastic with that sort of thing!

[openmind]

2 hours ago, christovdw said:

Look if you're in Cape Town, you'll be doing yourself a huge favour to stop by Stoke Suspension Works. Drew is fantastic with that sort of thing!

This. Droo is your man!

[Alouette3]

What ever you land up fitting, I highly recommend very carefully popping the lip seals and packing with some waterproof grease.

Most bike shops will carry or be able to order in a range of Enduro, full complement bearings. They are not cheap, but your only real option for full complement.

I've bought cheap, standard bearings from R&V bearings in CPT on a couple of occasions. In fact the last set is still going after 4 seasons, but I regreased them before install. The stock and Enduro bearings in the past only lasted 2 seasons.

As mentioned, when in doubt, chat with Drop at Stoke, the other bunch to chat with is Knipe Racing 

[johnson]

Thank you for all the advice. Looks like Enduro bearings is the way to go.

[droo]

Thanks for the recommendations guys!

Bearings - Pyga use standard sizes, so you'll be able to get them pretty much anywhere.

Some recommendations though:

Don't buy the cheap and nasty ones. You'll find bearings for 30 bucks a pop if you shop around, and you'll get exactly what you pay for - you'll be swapping them out again in a matter of months, if not weeks. Poor tolerancing, subpar materials and poor sealing mean that there will be play and / or noises in no time at all.

Full complement is preferable. These have more balls in them than standard deep groove bearings, which spreads the load better and will take longer to wear the races. This is because picot bearings oscillate and don't ever do full rotations like wheels and BBs, which concentrates the wear in a very small area of the races.

Enduro, Aero and Cure all do full complement bearings, and you'll find at least one of them at any decent bike shop.

Removal and installation - you'll need to remove and refit bearings square, and only press on the outer races. There are many ways of doing this, but if bearings go in skew you can damage the journals. Pressing on the inner race of a bearing while installing will damage the bearing before you've even ridden it.

The proper way is a bearing puller and press set, PooTube is full of bright ideas, some of which will wreck your frame. If you're not confident in your ability to get this bit right, rather pay someone to do it the proper way. It'll be cheaper than getting in wrong, especially if you've got a carbon frame.

[440MTB]

20 hours ago, Headshot said:

i.e not Cycle Lab

🤣 🤣 🤣

I do agree with what has been said in general.

Pyga's service seems to be really good - they would have what you need and give you advice.

Otherwise, rather take it to a reputable shop (i.e. not Cycle Lab  🤣) and have them install replacement Enduro bearings as getting bearings in and out can be a tricky story, especially if you don't have the right tools (i.e. bearing press kit).

Edited January 14 by 440MTB

[johnson]

2 hours ago, droo said:

Thanks for the recommendations guys!

Bearings - Pyga use standard sizes, so you'll be able to get them pretty much anywhere.

Some recommendations though:

Don't buy the cheap and nasty ones. You'll find bearings for 30 bucks a pop if you shop around, and you'll get exactly what you pay for - you'll be swapping them out again in a matter of months, if not weeks. Poor tolerancing, subpar materials and poor sealing mean that there will be play and / or noises in no time at all.

Full complement is preferable. These have more balls in them than standard deep groove bearings, which spreads the load better and will take longer to wear the races. This is because picot bearings oscillate and don't ever do full rotations like wheels and BBs, which concentrates the wear in a very small area of the races.

Enduro, Aero and Cure all do full complement bearings, and you'll find at least one of them at any decent bike shop.

Removal and installation - you'll need to remove and refit bearings square, and only press on the outer races. There are many ways of doing this, but if bearings go in skew you can damage the journals. Pressing on the inner race of a bearing while installing will damage the bearing before you've even ridden it.

The proper way is a bearing puller and press set, PooTube is full of bright ideas, some of which will wreck your frame. If you're not confident in your ability to get this bit right, rather pay someone to do it the proper way. It'll be cheaper than getting in wrong, especially if you've got a carbon frame.

Thank you Droo.

Very informative info and much appreciated. I'm competent and equipped to do it myself. The bike is already stripped. I've already disassembled the frame and removed the old bearings. I Am now busy cleaning all the parts and getting it ready to install the new bearings when they arrive.

I Was more interested in which brand of bearings is the better to buy and now know what to get.

Thanks again.    

[johnson]

22 hours ago, Headshot said:

(i.e not Cycle Lab)

 

1 hour ago, 440MTB said:

(i.e. not Cycle Lab  🤣)

I Prefer to not even buying something at Cycle Lab.

Taking my bike there to have work done on it...................Never !

[droo]

36 minutes ago, johnson said:

Thank you Droo.

Very informative info and much appreciated. I'm competent and equipped to do it myself. The bike is already stripped. I've already disassembled the frame and removed the old bearings. I Am now busy cleaning all the parts and getting it ready to install the new bearings when they arrive.

I Was more interested in which brand of bearings is the better to buy and now know what to get.

Thanks again.    

We use mostly Enduro - readily available, durable if you look after them, and all the silly sizes that bike manufacturers invent on a weekly basis.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

On 1/13/2026 at 1:02 PM, johnson said:

Hi everybody.

My Pyga frame is in need of new pivot bearings. I See Cycle Lab has a good selection (including the one's I need).

Any advice what to use and where to buy will be appreciated.

John

Just got a full set from pyga for a stage - reasonable and fast.  There are other options but getting from pyga meant thinking less