Ceramicspeed Claims Their Bearings Could Outlast Your Frame - Eurobike 2018
These are just samples, but they represent the final bearings without the dust cover. The white polymer matrix hides the ball bearings.
Cermaicspeed's brand new SLT bearings are putting out some bold claims with a novel and revolutionary (in mountain biking, at least) design that promises to reduce the number of times you need to change the bearings on your bike. Ceramicspeed's new bearings use the same technology as in food processing applications.
Although the main parts of the bearings, like the inner and outer races and the balls, are all made from standard materials - like Ceramic Speed's silicon nitride for the balls - these new bearings have an entirely new approach to lubrication that they claim will increase the bearing's life to a minimum of 4 years before replacement. In lab testing, the bearings survived 2 million cycles from 0 to 15 degrees before a decrease in performance was noted. A normal bearing lasts around 600,000 cycles.
A bearing fitted with a dust cover
The same bearing without the cover
During the manufacturing process, a polymer matrix that is infused with oil is poured into the bearings in liquid form and is then baked to cure into a solid state. The oil in the matrix lubricates the metal balls as the bearing spins. Because the matrix goes solid during the baking process it reduces the number of gaps or space inside the bearings helping keep out contaminants and water.
The baked polymer matrix that's baked to harden
Initially focussing on the OE market, fitting their new bearings to range-topping bikes, it has been rumoured that Ceramicspeed has been working with a large American and German manufacturers in a bid to improve the longevity of their bikes. Aftermarket kits won't be available right away, but there are plans to produce pivot bearing kits, and when they are released, they're expected to cost around €500. Cermanicspeed are also planning on producing these bearings for other applications such as headsets.
Scaled-up ball bearings
The white material is the polymer matrix that acts as a barrier and lubricating device.
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If you're under the impression that there is no wear on high tolerance items when having bearings removed and pressed back in, I'm sorry to say you're incorrect.
By having a higher quality bearing, you need to remove them less often, and therefore your tolerances stay better for longer, which results in less creak coming from the interface.
As an aside, I work as a professional mechanic and have for over a decade. I've seen this in real time; tolerances wear out. That's life. Higher quality bearings keep your shit rolling for longer, it's not even a debate.
And, at the end of the day, with the right design (for example like on the '15 Reign i have) changing most of the bearing bores is cheap, just buy a new set of links (that covers 8 out of 12 bearing bores). ANd you can still glue the bearing in if it falls out. After all, i have heard of loose bearings on more or less new Liteville frames, where even gluing them in didn't help. And this was from more than one source.
Yes, I understand correct bearing installation. Grease is not going to completely prevent the issue. Something like bearing retention compound can help, but that's to fix an issue you seem to be refusing to admit.
I'm with Gills. By no means am I saying get these bearings, just keep interface wear in mind when grabbing a set of new bearings.
'Ceramic Speed ASTM' and nothing from Ceramic Speed comes up. Nothing proves these balls are better than 'cheap Chinese balls'.
It's the dirt that's the issue. Once it gets in, it's life over.
As for the winter in the UK, i suspect Santa Cruz solution is the key - open bearings on the inside (so properly mounted RS bearings instead of 2RS), then grease up the buggers through a grease port with a gun. And flush the dirt out if you're lucky. That and a form of additional sealing on the pivots to prevent dirt coming in in the first place.
The open bearings on the inside do make a huge difference too
now lets say you ride 65km that roughly equals to 130 000 rotations on the bearings which makes 4 million sound a lot less impressive
or am I reading too much into this ?
My hub bearings are not done after 1’300 km...
the above claim that normal bearings fail after 600,000 cycles does sound very ambiguous to me......... so in response to you.... yes..?...?..............
Marketing man: Lets claim there are some ceramics in there too, as no one will want it if it's just plastic wedged between 2 bits of metal.
Sales Guy: Lets price them rediculously, cos no one wants something more than something they can't afford.
Jean-Luc Pickard: Make it so!
I guess it means your bike is in the shop three times fewer so you gain three weekends riding over the four years?
My drwam bike is closer with every month.
That's 16.67 ebay kits
6,668,000revs
So the ebay kits last longer......