Santa Cruz Hightower bearing Service

[@marcusware4586]

Man, this helped me IMMENSELY today working on my 2017 5010. Thank you!

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Glad it helped!

[@msiddens]

Just came across this after I serviced my frame. PERFECT and thanks!

[@peterjv8748]

Looked everywhere on how to get these pivots apart to clean and grease them. Thank you.

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Glad I could help

[@markkeefer9437]

I found this very informative article, Can you supply a link to the bearing press and puller you use? Everything I can find in the US is bigger and not nearly as simple. They have large handles. I tool list in the description would be great. Thanks for the video, great job.

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, Thanks for watching, you may find what you need here, www.kineticbikebearings.com/tools.html

[@thebigjracer]

Brilliant video! Didn't know one could pick out the seals and reuse. Thank you!!

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Glad to help

[@jamble7k]

you can but since santa cruz will send you free bearings may as well replace them in this case

[@darrenfoster5267]

Which bearing remover do you use & press tool for top linkage ? How much are they ? Where can I get them? Great informative video👍👍👍

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi Darren, Thanks for watching, We have had them about 10 years, we bought them direct from Taiwan, I the only other place I know that sell them are www.kineticbikebearings.com/tools.html I have used them before are are good quality.

[@greghess6475]

thanks! appreciate you taking the time to explain!

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@didzy9349]

hey great video where did you get the tool to remove the smaller bearings on the upper link (the smaller bearings) please, would love a simple tool like this as the bearing puller doesnt grip it enough as you suggested

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, Thanks for watching and your comments, we are looking to delvelop new tools all the time, most bearings can be removed and inserted using tools like this www.kineticbikebearings.com/frame-pivot-bearing-removal-installation-tool-full-kit-covering-12-sizes.html others we make

[@gerardoarteaga4737]

Thank you very much for the video, it helped me a lot to do the frame maintenance perfectly, I didn't know how to do it but with this video everything was very easy! What grease do you use for the link below where the grease fitting is? Thanks for the help!!

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, Thanks for watching and pleased that the video helped. I use Park Tool High Performance Grease (HPG-1) daily on most stuff.

[@hookinfish]

This is a fantastic 'how-to' video, thank you for doing this. One thing not mentioned in your description are the hollow tube-like sleeves that sit inside the three regions where the pivot collars slide in. On Santa Cruz's exploded diagrams, the part number is 26-17625. SC sends three of these when you request the bearing replacement kit. They rest between the bearings, two on bottom lower leg, one up top. I have a 2017 High Tower CC and these sleeves were not in when the bike shipped. Are you using these hollow tubes now when you do bearing service?

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, our Santacruz distributors are generally great at supplying us with the latest kits including the sleeves if required.

[@aidm3462]

Great video, thanks for sharing really found it useful. Is that a specific grease gun you use to pump the bearings full of grease or is it and adaptor that than be purchased for the normal cycle metal grease guns. Could you possible advise where you purchased it from, thankyou.

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, they are hard to come by, try here www.evocycles.co.uk/bike-parts/frames/santa-cruz-spares/

[@Innogrouphongkong]

Awesome explanation. How much would that job cost in UK out of curiosity?

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, a full bearing service would be £49 plus bearings not supplied under bearing warranty

[@nomad_lyfe]

Take a shot every time he says grease nipple, I've never heard those two words used in the same sentence before until this video xD

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Thanks for watching, Please consider subscribing to my channel, kzbin.info/door/U0hrLswU55eaZ7kjYQ0PeA

[@brunonogueira6470]

Amazing video! What type of grease do you recommend for this type of maintenance?

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Thank you, I use park tool HPG-1 when I can get it.

[@gaceconi1]

Great video. Just a question about the servicing aspect, or just the regreasing with the lower link Zerk fitting. Do you recommend rotating the bearings around so that the ball bearings in the race don't take same the load all the time? Not sure if the ball bearings inside move forward after they rotate or if they just stay stationary or not.

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, Thats a great question. the bearings on the lower dogbone, the one with the grease nipples, I like to take it of and clean it every 6 month, the bearings can be turned then. It's worth turning them if you can get to the inner race without removing the bearing, It's also worth picking the seal out the check for sludge and muck in the bottom of the bearing, The main thing when replacing them use Enduro Max, or get an original kit. Dave

[@reykjavik9187]

Could you possibly explain a statement you made at 11:18 that if I remove bearings from the lover link of a bike I should throw them away? Why so? I just wanted to service bearings all over my bike, for instance, I don't normally straight away throw bearings from the hubs of the wheels or headset, how do lower link bearings differ?

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, bearings are not really serviceable in my opinion, if you remove the seal you risk damaging the seal leaving room for water to get in. if you remove bearings using the tools shown the bearings are not reusable as they get damaged with the forces used to remove them. use full compliment bearings (max)

[@reykjavik9187]

@@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic Thank you for your answer, I guess I'll just replace them for a pair of new ones as you suggested 👍

[@willcampbell2909]

Great video!

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Glad you enjoyed it, Thanks for watching.

[@dancing8595]

Great vid. Question, please -- Did you ever have a gap form between the lower linkage and the rear triangle, on the drive side of the bike? When I screw in the pivot axel bolt into the rear triangle, the tab the bolt screws into is pushed away from the linkage - leaving a 1-2 mm gap. It super tight/flush on the non-drive / bolt insertion side. If so, any solutions to fixing it? Thanks!

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, Thanks for watching. Everything should fit snug and tight up to the pivot dust seals on all pivot parts. its difficult to see whats happening to yours without a video, to see, the only thing I can suggest is strip the dog bone from the bike and double check all the parts are in the right place and there is no damage to the parts or frame. check the diagrams www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-GB/bike/hightower/2-carbon Other than that if you could send me a video.

[@dancing8595]

@@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic Thanks for the reply. I have a Nomad 3. Made a video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4i5kIJ_qs2po7M Maybe that will help clarify. Thanks!!!

[@dancing8595]

My other concern is that the linkage has previously rubbed some of the frame material (carbon/paint) away on the drive side, so now there a slight circle grove in the frame. I worry as the bearings get broke-in/ looser over time, the link will get pulled more into the frame as the pivot axle bolt has to be tightened down ever so slightly more. Hope to address that issue before I ride the bike again, too. I don't want to make things worse. Any thoughts, please?

[@Tomzzzzzz]

I have a Hightower LT (2018 MY) and the grease port seems to be inaccessible for grease gun access unless you take the pivot apart? Is there a "best" way to access the grease port without needing to disassemble to pivot? Maybe just remove the shock bolts? Thanks!

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

Hi, thanks for watching, take the shock out and let air out of your tyre

[@Tomzzzzzz]

@@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic I just gave that a try and I got some limited access to the port. Not sure if its operator error on my part, but I can't get a good seal with the gun on the nipple and all the grease seems to just squirt out around the port. Not sure if any is getting inside the bearings. Is it normal for a large amount of grease to leak out around the port?

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

@@Tomzzzzzz It can be normal for the grease to squeeze out around the nipple but you should see grease coming from the around the dust seals. Make sure you hold the gun strait on the nipple

[@sergiogutierrez6091]

Fo those seals come with the bearing kits

[@sergiogutierrez6091]

They do not come with the bearing kit I just found out

[@TheYorkshireBikeMechanic]

thats right, the seals need ordering separate., thaks for your comments