Shimano LX UN54 model has super-accurate bearings for smooth operation and improved durability Features: •Durable, hard-wearing sealed cartridge bottom bracket. •Maintenance-free sealed cartridge bearing assembly keeps out dirt, mud and water fo ....Read More...
Have raced and trained 3 seasons of cyclocross on one of these and it's still as smooth as the day I installed it. Before that it was in my old commuter/winter trainer for a couple of years of all year riding. Nothing wrong with the good ol' UN54 - a reassuring beacon of simplicity in an increasingly complicated world.
I've used Shimano square taper bottom brackets on a number of bikes- some as original equipment, others as replacements. I can't say how long they last, because I haven't worn one out yet. The oldest has been going strong since 2004; no sign of wear or roughness. I raed in a recent manual that some people yearned for the days of adjustable, self-maintained bbs. Not me. Sealed bbs are one of the most impressive and genuinely useful innovations of the past 20 years. Shimanos are just excellent- cheap as chips, long lasting, come in all conceivable sizes, easy to fit and forget. Don't buy one, buy ten (but you'll never use them all). They are slightly heavier than some titanium spindled, ceramic bearinged models- and a tenth of the price. No contest.
Replaced the bottom bracket on my 16 year old Marin Eldridge Grade. The old one had quite a bit of play in it and came out relatively easily considering it had been in for about 10 years. I discarded the plastic cup and used a metal one instead. The difference is very noticable. Very smooth and quiet.For £12 this is a bargain and if you still have an old square taper set up I recommend that you buy one.
how do i measure the size of a BB from the frame - if i havent got an old BB to measure????
CRC Replies:
To get the correct BB size you will need to measure the Width of the bottom bracket on the frame. It will be 68mm or 73mm on a Mountain Bike. The axle length depends on the cranks, as a guide, most modern ISIS cranks use a 113mm but there are exceptions