How to Service the Bearings on your VPP™ Upper and Lower Links

[@alexgordon8277]

Santa Cruz bike are so nice to work on. You don't have to disassemble the bike, being able to work on links separately makes the job so much easier. All the parts have a healthy size, it's really satisfying to assemble everything a torque the bolts when finished. My last S brand bike was an absolute nightmare. 16 tiny bearings, totally done after 1 season. On my bronson 3 the lower link bearings lasted 3 years in humid German climate. On the upper link I use the SKF Solid Oil bearings. I personally like to assemble everything dry and press in the grease in when completely assembled.

[@RobBobPenny]

Excellent to see Doug again. 😃 Top chap & was always friendly on the World Cup circuit. 🤟🏼✌🏼

[@Qinton123]

As a bike mechanic for 10 years. and have owned a lot of high end full-suspensions. Santa Cruz is the only bike i haven't had to clean / replace bearings every season. by far the best bearing system on any brand. and the only one with life-time bearing warranty

[@AnotherMrLizard]

One of the easiest frames to replace the bearings too being able to just remove the links compared to a usual 4 bar.

[@CarnivoreDMD]

I own a Gen 2 Blur & it was the complete opposite! My Blur LT2 has been great, just got my FIRST PROPACK to rebuild. Yep, 2008-2024. They got it right in 2008. 😊

[@saysthetedd]

I was just thinking to myself that I oughta service the linkage on my 2017 5010 before the season starts. Great timing. Love the bike archive and love this type of educational material. Thanks team SC!

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Right now is the perfect time 👍

[@barkstamassi]

Best pivot hardware in the business, period. Can’t improve perfection

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

👊

[@arhamrasool43]

Love videos like this. Really takes the ownership experience to the next level. Thank you!

[@COLDBEANSOUP]

D-Fresh and Will-E = Legends.

[@lvburik]

Perfect timing, planning to do this next week!

[@theodounis]

Thanks Doug for making this video very easy to understand

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Dougie is a dude!

[@gilbertinni4018]

Hightower baby💪🤘.. I just did my lower link yesterday and it was a piece of cake! Good informative video! Thanks

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Right on!

[@teamoldsoil]

Team Old Soil. Looking good Doug!

[@diegofranco1999]

Well done ! Thank you so much! Informative and Profesional Doing my Hightower now.

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Glad it helped

[@jonathanbichler5056]

Hi, what type of grease and brand of grease gun do you use to service the lower link ?

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Here at the factory, we use Jet-Lube Marine-MP grease. The bearings are not rotating at high speed or anything, so thick waterproof grease works best to keep contamination at bay. For the gun, any decent quality Zerk Fitting grease gun will do the job. Available at your local auto-supply, or a quick search on Amazon will give you a ton of options. Look for the ones that use the 3oz cartridge. Many come packaged with marine grease cartridges for under $30.

[@jonathanbichler5056]

@@santacruzbicycles2841 thanks. After having worked on other suspension systems VPP is undoubtedly the most reliable and servicable on the market.

[@isntrael]

That bearing tool looks amazing! Where do I get this? Thanks

[@Tomzzzzzz]

Excellent video! I have an older Santa Cruz bike (Hightower LT) where the shock mounts to the upper link, does this change the order of the service process? In the video the Bronson shock mounts to the lower link and the service sequence is: 1. Remove shock 2. Remove & service lower linkage, reinstall link and torque 3. Reinstall shock and torque shock mount bolts 4. Remove and service upper link, reinstall link and torque Should this sequence be reversed if the shock mounts to the upper pivot? 1. Remove shock 2. Remove and service upper linkage, reinstall and torque bolts 3. Reinstall shock, torque shock mount bolts 4. Remove and service lower linkage, reinstall and torque bolts

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Nope, upper or lower first, whichever you get to.

[@AOL0321]

Loved this video and love my Tallboy 4. Can you tell me what brand of bearing press you used in this video?

[@fredboudreaux9663]

Great info!

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Norcaljedi_ea]

Nice hat dougie fresh!

[@robertsmark2650]

top notch video.

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Thank you

[@joemorreale9204]

Hi, what bearing press is that?

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Unior brand Universal Bearing Press 👍

[@trevormejia9497]

What tool is he using to press the bearings in? The quick release is amazing

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

We said the same. Looks ace. Dougie says it a Unior Tools bearing press.

[@jogesvar]

Hi. What grease should I use on the headset for the carbon frame? Can I Motorex Bike Grease 2000? Will I damage the carbon? Thank you.

[@theodounis]

Just wondering which bearing installation tool l require for the Santa Cruz V10.6 MY 2016 ?

[@Serial-hobbyist]

I’ve seen some videos that suggest to grease the linkage bores before inserting the new bearings. I don’t see that step done here so I assume it’s not necessary?

[@valciobanu]

I was asking myself the same question

[@ejs811]

what kind of grease is used/recommended?

[@benatbenland]

Cool vid! Do you recommend pressing the bearings into the linkages dry? I.e. fully clean and with no grease to aid their sliding? My Megatower V2 is creaking after a week in the alps!

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

We use a thin coating of grease, but creaking is more likely an axle/ bearing interface than a bearing/ link interface. Be sure to check rear axle, bottom bracket, and pivot axles. Utilize that grease port, and if the problem persists, contact Rider Support here: www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/warranty

[@valciobanu]

What grease should I I use in the grease gun?

[@manuelacosta6029]

whats the recommended timing to replace bearings?

[@santacruzbicycles2841]

Varies greatly and depends on the conditions you ride in, and how often you ride. By doing the greaseport servicing (pumping in new grease, and clearing out the old) fairly regularly (every 3-4 riding months) and keeping things clean, the bearings can (and do) last for years.

[@the1muffinking]

Just replaced my 22 5010 bearings after 2 years of hard riding. None were seized & I prolly could have ran em another season but it was time. Santa Cruz just makes it too easy!