Hot take: I used to rebuild hubs every season but now I just flush the bearings with degreaser and repack grease instead of pulling everything apart

Switched to this method after watching a shop in Portland do it on a worn Shimano hub that had 8,000 miles on it and the bearings still looked perfect after the flush, anyone else found this saves time without sacrificing longevity?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryang6514d ago

I remember a mechanic at the River City shop in Sacramento telling me degreaser can actually damage the bearing seals if you let it sit too long. He said ten seconds max then blow it out immediately with compressed air. I used to spray and let it soak and ended up with gritty feeling hubs after a few rides. The trick is using a light grease like Phil Wood not the thick marine stuff because it doesn't pack into the cage as well. Your method works but just watch the contact time with the degreaser.

the_tara13d ago

Right about the Phil Wood, but warm the grease first so it flows into the cage better (game changer for me).