How to Install Ceramic Bicycle Hub Bearings
- 1). Remove the wheel for which you would like to replace the bearings. On most modern bicycles, simply loosen the quick-release lever of the axle and slide the wheel out of the frame dropouts. On older bikes or bikes with bolt-on wheels, loosen the two axle nuts with a 15mm wrench to remove the wheel.
- 2). Twist the quick-release nuts counterclockwise to remove them from the quick-release skewer. Pull the skewer out of the wheel axle. On wheels with bolt on style wheels, simply twist off the axle nuts. Use a pair of cone wrenches to remove the inner and outer axle nuts from one side of the axle, then slide the axle out of the wheel hub.
- 3). Use a flathead screwdriver of similar tool to carefully pry the existing bearings out of each side of the hub. These bearings can be held in pretty tight, but keep at it and they will eventually pull free of the hub. Set these bearings aside if you wish to keep them or throw them away.
- 4). Apply a small amount of grease to the inner bearing surface of each side of the hub. This will keep the bearing surfaces from seizing to the hub body over time, making them easier to service when required. Press the new ceramic bearing retainers into each side of the hub firmly. Use the axle you removed previously to tap them into place if necessary.
- 5). Slide the axle back into the wheel hub and replace the inner and outer hub retention nuts you removed previously. Do not tighten the nuts against the new bearings as this may damage them. Instead, twist the inner bearing until it stops against the bearing, then use a pair of cone wrenches to tighten the inner and outer nuts against one another, securing them in place without putting stress on the bearing casing.
- 6). Slide the quick-release skewer back through the axle and replace the quick-release skewer nut, or twist your axle nuts back onto the wheel axle. Set the wheel back into the frame dropouts and close the quick-release lever or tighten the axle nuts to hold it in place. Take your bike for a ride and feel what a difference a new set of bearings makes to the quality of your ride.
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