How to Service the Bearings on your VPP Upper and Lower Links.
Mountain bikers everywhere relish the thrill of sending rugged trails and ripping berms to the absolute limit. Regular maintenance is key to keeping your Santa Cruz or Juliana performing at its peak.
A critical element to keeping your bike running smooth and tight is servicing the pivot axles and bearings. In this article, we’ll explain the maintenance process and when to replace these essential wear items to ensure your bike lives a long and exciting life. So grab a cold one and some hex wrenches and read on.
TLDR; I just want to watch a video - Check this out!
How often should I check my bearings?
In general, around 6-12 months is ideal, but this depends on the conditions your Santa Cruz/Juliana has been subjected to. Folks that ride in wet, sandy, or very dusty conditions may want to check this essential hardware more frequently.
How do I check the condition of my bearings?
To check your frame bearings, you will need to remove the upper and lower links:
- Place your frame in a work stand. Using a 4 or 5mm hex wrench, unthread the three-piece tapered washer assembly from the axle head. If the tapered washer gets stuck, use the short end of an L-shaped hex wrench to pry it out.
- Using a 5 or 8mm hex, unthread the pivot axles. Support the swingarm during axle removal and place a soft cloth between the triangles to prevent frame damage.
- Remove the upper or lower link from your frame and give the bearings a spin. If they feel smooth, they’re good to go.
- Reassemble using the torque values and application of grease and thread locker according to the specs for your model found in our Bike Archive.
If you feel any resistance or anything less than smooth, it’s time to replace your bearings. Check out our Do It Yourself - Maintenance Guides.
(If your bearings looks like the top right, new bearings are long overdue.)
How do I know when to replace my pivot axles?
All of our pivot axles and bearing shields are anodized black. This coating reduces friction, provides corrosion resistance and also acts as a wear indicator. If you pull these parts and see any silver, the part should be replaced.
(Black anodized pivot axles; the anodization has been worn away, exposing the alloy underneath. These should be replace.)
How do I add fresh grease to my links?
We’ve made this incredibly easy with a Zerk grease fitting on the lower link: your old pal Garen shows you how.
For the upper link, a thin application of grease on the pivot axles is sufficient.
If your nipples become damaged and need replacing, the M6 size used is available at most hardware or automotive stores.