Press-fit bottom brackets have almost become the standard over the years. They fit snugly in the frame, hardly get dirty and are generally lighter than conventional threaded bearings. However, their disadvantages should not be ignored. Creaking noises are not uncommon. There are many reasons for this. Tolerances in production and material expansion of the metal can cause annoying noises in the event of temperature differences - especially in conjunction with the large resonance bodies of voluminous carbon frames. Pressfit bearings are also a challenge for screwdrivers. The bearings can only be knocked out of the frame using special tools and sometimes brute force. They are often damaged in the process and cannot be reused afterwards. Pressing in the new bearings also requires a special tool and a lot of experience.
To prevent the bearings from tilting in the frame, work must be carried out very precisely. Our tip: It helps to press in the two bearings one after the other rather than at the same time. If you have the maintenance done in a workshop, it will cost around 50 to 70 euros. The professional doesn't care whether it's a BSA or press-fit bearing. The time required is the same and the necessary special tools are already available in the workshop.
Some manufacturers have recently realised that press-fit bearings do not have any major advantages over threaded bearings and are now going back to the old BSA standard, to the delight of amateur mechanics. They can now service the bottom bracket themselves again with little effort. All you need for removal and installation is the appropriate bearing spanner. After unscrewing, the bearing can be cleaned, greased and then reinserted. A defect is virtually impossible. This is easy on the wallet and the environment.
One hurdle is still the numerous installation dimensions on the frame, which differ depending on the manufacturer and model. This makes it difficult to find the right bearing for your bike. For a better overview, Sram has created the DUB standard, for example. All cranks have the same crankshaft diameter. This means you only have to select the DUB bearing that matches the frame.
Shimano cranks, on the other hand, cannot be fitted to every frame without further ado. In some cases, the bottom bracket must be adapted to the Shimano standard using special adapters from third-party suppliers. However, both manufacturers have both press-fit and BSA bearings in their portfolio.
The costs
Whether press-fit or threaded - the professional rarely needs more than 30 minutes of maintenance time for either type of bearing. Press-fit bearings 60 euros, BSA bearings 60 euros.
