Cycling UK Forum

I'm buying some new wheels for the sportive play thing, Campag Zonda's which are light, reasonably priced bits of kit. They are supplied (as far as I can ascertain) with cone and cup steel bearings. It is possible to replace the steel with ceramic as an upgrade, the Campag set is not cheap at @ £100 a set but it is possible to buy loose ceramic balls at much lower cost.

I don't want an argument over the pro's and con's of steel / ceramic - I've done the reading!

What I would like is some feedback on these unbranded bearings. Has anyone used them?

Missing link

freeflow wrote:Missing link

link? I didn't have any on the post

So which unbranded ceramic bearings are you referencing?

foxyrider wrote:I'm buying some new wheels for the sportive play thing, Campag Zonda's which are light, reasonably priced bits of kit. They are supplied (as far as I can ascertain) with cone and cup steel bearings.

Yes, Zonda wheels are cup and cone.

As for ceramic cup and cone bearings, they are in the Bora, Hyperon, Bullet Ultra and Shamal.
They are steel cup and cone in the Eurus and Zonda.

However, the cups and cones have different part numbers ceramic vs steel.

I have always said that it's cheaper to buy a whole new hub than to buy the cups, cones and balls ................ but that's for steel bearings.
You can't buy a ceramic hub. You need to buy the whole wheel.

Could be wrong here .......................... but I reckon the cups and cones are different with ceramic vs steel, and you can't just swap the balls.

Apology for off topic but Zondas can be difficult to change tyres on - just saying.
Make sure you do a practice before going out on them. One good point is that the tyre is unlikely to roll off the rim if you have a puncture.
Sorry I can't help with bearing question.

freeflow wrote:So which unbranded ceramic bearings are you referencing?

These for example

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CERAMIC-BALL- ... OePAdGqq2A

What is the supposed advantage ? Are ebay "bargains" even round ? Many cheapo ball bearings are not.

They claim to be Grade 5; if so, that makes them very accurately made.

cheers

foxyrider wrote:What I would like is some feedback on these unbranded bearings. Has anyone used them?

No advantage whatosoever.
100% Waste of money.

For cup and cone I'd stick to steel bearings. For cartridge bearings I'm happy with ceramic.

I don't think I've ever had balls wear out if kept clean?
Usually been the cups that makes the hub kaput.
Cones can be replaced.
Do ceramic balls rust?

Cups as well as cones can be replaced.
Done it a few times over the years.

As I said, it's cheaper to buy a whole new hub than buy the bits to refurbish it. You can sell the QR easily ......... and the empty shell maybe.

Mick F wrote:Cups as well as cones can be replaced.
Done it a few times over the years.
As I said, it's cheaper to buy a whole new hub than buy the bits to refurbish it. You can sell the QR easily ......... and the empty shell maybe.

I've scrapped a couple of Shimano hubs due to cups being worn. Shimano don't show cup parts in their drawings. Not sure even if you can get the old ones out?

I've wondered if ceramic ball bearings might wear a cup or cone smooth if slightly pitted. Maybe i have read other speculate this might be possible and an having cryptomnesia again. Seems a bit optimistic and more likely they would cause further degradation of the surface?