Hi!
My rear wheel got suddenly jammed up while riding – the bearing balls went rouge and my axle fell out of its place
I can see that the metal ring where the free bearing balls run on got torn out?
I cant figure out how I could replace this torn out part… or if I can even.
I have some experience in bike building, except dealing with wheels and hubs. This is what I found:
- freewheel
- bolt-on axle ~10mm
- 2x9pcs 1/4? inner bearing balls
Thanks for the help in advance!
by kalinuxer553
7 Comments
Oh yeah that hub is GONE. Probably a lot easier and less expensive to purchase a complete wheel as a replacement.
> I can see that the metal ring where the free bearing balls run on got torn out?
If what you are showing is in fact the hub bearing race (the “cup”), then the wheel is dead. That cup is mangled, will never be serviceable again, and so unless your horoscope is brilliant today and you know both the make/model of that generic hub, AND the manufacturer actually sells the cups, you’re up shit creek without a paddle.
They are bearing cups. You can replace them but I find they never fit as nice as the originals. Remove the old one and make sure you order the right size after measuring. Here’s an example of some for purchase. https://amzn.eu/d/9dChmI6
New hubs for you 🤘
This is the universe telling you to treat yourself to some nice new wheels
Hindsight may help avoid this in the future: breakdowns like that happen when the bearings are neglected for an extended period of time. A wheel will usually become wobbly, noisy, no longer smooth long before that happens. Loose ball hubs can last a very long time as long as they are serviced regularly; they need to be cleaned and re-greased as a part of normal maintenance. You can check your wheels by spinning them by hand to see if they spin freely and stay spinning for a while. Wiggle them sideways to see if there is any slop. Separately pick up each end of the bike and spin/wiggle before or after each ride. If they fail any of those tests, disassemble the axle, clean and re-grease the bearings before riding again. For maximum life, it is a good idea to frequently clean and re-grease loose-ball axles before they show symptoms.
I’m often amazed by what people want to salvage on a bicycle. To me it’s a safety thing. Perhaps it’s possible to fix most anything to the extent that it basically functions, but that doesn’t make it safe. Replace the wheel. Replace any component that could put you at risk.