Results Posted:
After poll is taken
What if press-fit bottom brackets never creaked?
21 Comments
- + 3
iamamodel
(Oct 12, 2017 at 0:34)
I've had six or seven bikes with PFBBs and none of them creaked (Giant and Scott, 4-5k dirt kms annually each bike). Perhaps poor execution/tolerances by some brands gives PFBBs a bad reputation? When aluminium cracks, people blame the company, but when carbon cracks, people blame the material. Same thing with PFBBs?
- + 3
As if creaking was the only problem...
You can add wear at the seats/frame and having to use glue to get them to stay put and very often also shorter lifetime of the bearings, due to misalignment because of "cheap" manufacturing.
Pressfit was never introduced because it was better than BSA, but only because it is cheaper to make and a few grams lighter.
You can add wear at the seats/frame and having to use glue to get them to stay put and very often also shorter lifetime of the bearings, due to misalignment because of "cheap" manufacturing.
Pressfit was never introduced because it was better than BSA, but only because it is cheaper to make and a few grams lighter.
- + 1
NOPE One reason is it was made to stiffen up the BB shell of the frame, It works great, It's usually the mechanic and/or rider that doesn't take care of the bike properly. Which is the majority today unfortunately. I hear the, "my bb is creaking" statement a lot, it is not always the problem, pivot bolts, bearings, headsets. pedals, etc.
- + 1
I have only ever had one pf92 BB Creek. I've replaced all the bikes with Shimano press fit bottom bracket. I made sure the installation was spotless clean. I have never had an issue with the Shimano press fit bottom bracket creaking. Maybe I'm just lucky or maybe it's I do the install correctly.
- + 1
PFBB was sold as a solution which made road frames stiffer, right where you want it... the power transfer area of the frame. Actually, scratch that. BB30 was. However, BB30's tolerances were way to difficult for most road manufacturers to achieve reliably. Remember, all these frames are made in Taiwan / China, and quality varies. So, PF30 was born. Add some plastic sleeves and you just solved your tolerance issue.
A big plus for the industry was that frames were cheaper to manufacture without the BSA insert, so they could be "modern" and improve their profit margin at the same time.
Creaking usually occurs when you either have a) bad tolerances, b) not enough grease, or c) the grease has washed out from wet riding. It's this 3rd scenario that makes PF30 particularly bad for mountain bikers who ride in wetter climates. Overall, I don't see much benefit from a PF30 BB on a mountain bike. If you watch closely, you'll notice that many companies that have tried them, have ended up going back to a threaded system. Which is all well and good in my book.
A big plus for the industry was that frames were cheaper to manufacture without the BSA insert, so they could be "modern" and improve their profit margin at the same time.
Creaking usually occurs when you either have a) bad tolerances, b) not enough grease, or c) the grease has washed out from wet riding. It's this 3rd scenario that makes PF30 particularly bad for mountain bikers who ride in wetter climates. Overall, I don't see much benefit from a PF30 BB on a mountain bike. If you watch closely, you'll notice that many companies that have tried them, have ended up going back to a threaded system. Which is all well and good in my book.
- + 1
I think the main reason companies go back to threaded is because of internet warriors protesting every time a new bike has PF, its a major selling point for some people to have a threaded BB because of their mindset and image PF has, I've had bikes with both and think the reputation PF gets is unjustified and polls like this don't help, when a website like Pinkbike states "What if press-fit bottom brackets never creaked?" it implies all PF BBs creak, but they don't, mine never have and that's fact, the amount of comments on here saying their PF BBs never creek proves its all just a few people with issues (probably from lack of maintenance) shouting the loudest, nobody ever shouts about it when it works fine.
- + 1
@maglor: I had 3 PF BBs so far and only one was creating some noise at the first 50miles. However I am one of the interwebz warrior's because BSA BB could be changed in no time. PF will be most of the time destroyed if you change it so this PF crap can die..
- + 2
I prefer a threaded bb just because it's so damn more convenient to wrench on. If the tool of choice is a big mallet it's probably not the most elegant solution...
- + 1
@mnorris122: You can get a solid Wheels manufacturing Press for less than $100 And press in Headsets and pivot bearings.
- + 1
@maglor: because you don't actually need to press the headset in. How many new headsets did you changed? I could push them out with only using a small tap with a piece of wood and I could fit a new one with my hands.