Short BB bearing life - Try Ceramics?

[Crawf]

I'm getting pretty average life out of BB 6805 bearings even when using the supposedly more robust Enduro MAX's... gritty in a couple of months.

I'm not interested in the fluff surrounding the performance of ceramics.
I'm purely after reliability and longevity.
Will hybrid or full ceramic give me that?

[macca33]

Ceramic bearings won't necessarily increase service life. When installing, try to smother the outer face with marine grease to provide a barrier to water/grit. I get well over a year out of $10 bearings and only generally change them during the annual 'major' service...

Cheers

[MichaelB]

I'm with macca33. The ceramics will end up with the same issues and cost more to boot.

I've usually gotten a couple of years out of mine, and I'm slack with maintenance.

Maybe look at those with better sealing ?

[ValleyForge]

I recently replaced the bearings on our Thule bike trailer. Several had seized up with dust ingress.

I rang around and a local heavy industry rep recommended getting SKF dust-seal bearings. They were about 20% more in cost, and not as fluid as the poorly-sealed Chinese ones, but seem the goods.

[Crawf]

Apparently the MAX bearings I used are not intended for BB's, they're for fork suspension.
That would explain my disappointment. So standard SS Enduro's have been recommended.

[MichaelB]

Apparently the MAX bearings I used are not intended for BB's, they're for fork suspension.
That would explain my disappointment. So standard SS Enduro's have been recommended.

That would explain it. Prob main difference is in the sealing.

[jackthelad]

why were you using them in first place?
were they put in by a shop?