C-Bear Bottom Bracket Installation & Creaking

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MrMojo
Posts: 151
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:24 pm
Location: UK

by MrMojo

I looking at buying C-Bear Campagnolo UT 386Evo Bottom Bracket for my Carbon Cipollini NK1K and would just like to ask a couple of questions before as there seems to be conflicting information of installation.

Should I use Loctite, anti-seize paste or install dry? Is there any other installation methods I need to know as the C-Bear website is'nt massively helpful!

Are they a fix for creaking or could there still be a chance as I don’t see how they are massively different to the Campagnolo UT cups? Still pressing in the same bottom bracket shell and they don’t look much wider, they do have an inner sleeve if that makes a difference.

Finally are there any other options out there? Looked at Wheels Manufacturing but they don’t seem to sell this combination.

Thanks.
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jekyll man
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Location: Pack filler

by jekyll man

C Bear recommend grease, not loctite or a dry fit.
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Stueys
Posts: 673
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2014 1:12 pm

by Stueys

Email Bart at CBear, he’s incredibly helpful. Personally I always use loctite with pressfit, my cbear has been trouble free for 18 months now and counting...

dcorn
Posts: 427
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:21 pm
Location: NoVA

by dcorn

I've had a Cbear ceramic BB in my SL4 Tarmac for probably 5 years and not a single noise from it that whole time. The stock Spesh BB cups defnitely creaked. It has been removed and cleaned once I believe, not sure how it was installed though.

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Beaver
Posts: 796
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:06 pm

by Beaver

Just had a creaking C-Bear BB386/GXP which was mounted with carbon paste - maybe teflon grease would have been better?

Image

I will try the threaded Wheels MFG now, as it seems the most solid solution to me and I like the easy to replace bearings.

Image

But that's not compatible with some powermeters...

So there's also a third option from VCRC:

Image

https://www.vcrcbike.com/ceramic-bearin ... m-bracket/

But no Campy UT option I fear. :(

lwk
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by lwk


2old4this
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by 2old4this

I have used c-bear t47 (obviously threaded) and have been impressed with the smoothness of the bearings and quality of the build.
However, you'll be using PF. Unless you use a threaded BB (like wheels manufacoring) or loctite (blue one, not the red one), you'll probably end up with a creaky BB.

MrMojo
Posts: 151
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:24 pm
Location: UK

by MrMojo

Thanks for the advice. I’m liking the look of the BB Infinite bottom bracket, looks like I’ll have less possible creaking issues with that design compaired to C-Bear. It’s a shame Wheels MFG don’t offer a 386 Evo UT solution.
2021 Colnago Master
2020 Colnago C64
2017 Colnago C60
2017 Colnago V1-R
2014 Cipollini RB1K
2008 Colnago Extreme C
2005 Colnago C50
2001 Colnago C40
1996 Colnago Tecnos

drhex
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2016 7:49 pm

by drhex

Just be aware that the bbinfinite is an issue if you have cabled shifting and need to get at the cabling or battery. Also, mine was slightly undersized, getting the UT crank in was a bit of an act as it wasn‘t slipfit post install in the frame. Creak free though.

siim
Posts: 107
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 9:37 pm
Location: Estonia

by siim

C-Bear recommends anti-seize. I used one with Shimano written on the tube and so far it's been creak-free. Installing was smooth and easy as well.

sawyer
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Location: Natovi Landing

by sawyer

I've had a C-Bear PF30 Campagnolo UT BB installed in a new build for the past 5 months ... with anti-seize ... not a single creak
----------------------------------------
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slake21
Posts: 323
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2016 9:59 am
Location: EU

by slake21

siim wrote:
Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:34 am
C-Bear recommends anti-seize. I used one with Shimano written on the tube and so far it's been creak-free. Installing was smooth and easy as well.
mine was also installed with anti seize, and it's creaking every time I'm out of the saddle.
occasionally I remove the crankset and regrease the spindle, which makes it silent for couple of rides, but then it's creaking again... :evil:

nemeseri
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2015 5:40 pm

by nemeseri

I'd recommend Kogel's Aqua Proof Paste for installing or loctite: https://www.kogel.cc/collections/tools- ... tion-paste

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slake21
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Location: EU

by slake21

nemeseri wrote:
Sun Jul 22, 2018 6:11 am
I'd recommend Kogel's Aqua Proof Paste for installing or loctite: https://www.kogel.cc/collections/tools- ... tion-paste
'Shut up Grease'
:D I migh just give it a shot. Thanks!

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Calnago
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by Calnago

Shut-up grease is rebranded Morgan Blue AquaProof Paste. I like it for its tenacious anti corrosive properties. But if your pressfit application is such that there is creaking (caused by movement between the surfaces) then you should really be using a retaining compound (Loctite 609, plus Primer Loctite 7649). Applying grease to a creaky fit will just mask the issue for awhile by preventing the “creak” sound as it moves, but it is actually facilitating that movement, and associated wear. The creak will return eventually. That is not what you want. You want no movement and retaining compound is appropriate in these cases.
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