HOW TO: Replace Sealed Cartridge Hub Bearings // No Special Tools!

A simple process to replace your sealed cartridge hub bearings without special tools.

RELATED:
How to replace freehub body bearings:

Hopefully this video gives you the confidence to remove your old bearings and press in new cartridge bearings at home. You don't need a fancy bearing press with the proper drifts (although it's a nice-to-have). This video demonstrates the process with a DIY homemade bearing press made using $5 worth of common hardware. Keep your road bike, gravel bike, or MTB rolling smooth with a fresh set of bearings!

Help support nerdy bike content!

Thanks for watching and subscribing if you haven't already!
#bikenerd #bikewrench #smilespermile

[FraiseRaboteuse]

put the new bearing in the deep freeze for an hour first - makes it a tiny bit undersize and easier to press. Thanks for a nice clear film

[niknicholson]

Your freehand sketches are great, somehow easier to understand than perfect straight-line engineering drawings. Thanks.

[namdarbolour]

Excellent explanation. I like how you show theory of operation with your drawings first, absent on almost all YouTube how-to videos. it helps us understand what we're doing as we go through the steps. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[yowamushiguy]

The BEST tutorial ever. Very brief and easy to understand.

[EM-wdvg]

Done this process a few times on my own wheels but have to say this is one of the most clear and concise videos I’ve seen on this procedure. No expensive tools used, very articulate and informative.

[austinspl]

I really appreciate the tip about using the old bearing as a a drift. Wish I'd have seen this before I did all the bearings on my full sus with sockets.

[henrypretz]

Thanks for this video. I had a great experience with Hunt customer service, as well. I broke a spoke on my 2+ year old Mason X Hunt wheel. I contacted them and they said they would send a new spoke free of charge, or if I sent them the wheel the would replace the spoke and return the wheel to me. The process took about a week or 10 days, and they replaced two spokes and retensioned my wheel. So, thumbs to indeed, to Hunt. (so much that I bought another set of Hunts myself and encouraged a friend whose bike I was working on to purchase a set too)

[shannonparker]

My nearest bike shop is six hours drive away. (Think remote Australia) This tutorial has saved my day. Thankyou!

[robertnykopp]

Clear, well-edited, good communication - gave me the confidence to do it myself. Thanks!

[BenjaminSmith]

I saw those drawings and was like, 'this guy's definitely an mechanical engineer'

[GregBrady]

I've been searching and searching and this is by far the best tutorial for replacing bearings. Great job and thank you!

[nancybryson]

Wow! What a great tutorial! Especially that graphic at the beginning where you drew in and identified all the parts one by one! I mean WOW!

[michaelclements]

The drawback to using washers instead of a proper press with drifts, is it's hard to exert the forces evenly and keep it aligned while installing. Some bearings are tight enough to shift off-center, tilt, or bend even a thick washer. You do cover this at 5:15, though it is not always so easy to fix it. A proper press with drifts makes it so much quicker, easier, reliable and trouble-free.

[awesam]

I like that you always draw the anatomy and in different colors! I could understand visually. Thanks. Just subscribed!

[ssmtb]

After viewing this video several times this seems a lot more easier than I anticipated, definitely going to give this a try and replace my old bearings myself, thanks for sharing 🙏

[geofftweedale]

First video I have watched from this guy and I am so impressed that I subscribed. In particular, the animated drawing of the hub profile was useful to me.

[cycleSCUBA]

Very helpful video.
5:55 i found the best way to help centre the inner sleeve is to put the wheel on it's side and level, then the sleeve will be vertical and the bearing will compress on to it squarely.
As for cleaning, chain and gear degreaser might make your drive train look awesome but will liquify any bearing grease!

[Al-Gore-ithm]

This is exactly what I needed and cannot thank you enough. After spending 60$ at i9 on bearings I was too cheap to spend another 80 on the press kit and extractor so I just got the end cap extractor. This was the last piece to my puzzle, the homemade bearing Press. Lol and of course tips on how not to destroy my hubs. Thanks again. Subbed ..

[sabellano]

I just stumbled on your channel, love your content my friend! This channel will blow up!

[MrJagbolet]

pro mech here.

good tutorial here, luckily this wheel is the best case scenario so dont get too cocky you might get stuck on another brand of hubs or on a rear hub
When working on bearings Always try to understand how the hub is made before dealing any hammer blow. some can have tiny circlips per exmaple.

using the older bearing is a great tip that
pros also use (sometimes you dont have the right tool!)
When using this trick ALWAYS grind the outer surface of the grind bearing so it doesnt get stuck and you can remove it easily.