Overheard a mechanic say he skips re-greasing headsets on new builds

Was grabbing parts at my local shop in Portland and heard one of their guys telling a customer he never bothers greasing cartridge bearings because they're sealed anyway. Has anyone else run into that mindset or am I right to keep doing it the old way?

2 comments

2 Comments

betty_ward7d ago

Honestly, I gotta push back on "a little extra grease inside the head tube stops the bearings from shifting around in the cups." That's not really how it works. The grease in there is mostly for preventing rust and keeping water out, not for stopping the bearings from moving. If your bearings are shifting around in the cups, that's usually because the headset isn't preloaded right or the cups aren't seated properly, not because there wasn't enough grease. Grease isn't glue, you know? It won't lock things in place if everything isn't tight enough already. So yeah, I'm all for greasing those new headsets to protect against the elements, but don't expect it to fix a creak that's actually from loose parts.

cameron_craig7d ago

He said cartridge bearings are sealed anyway so no need to grease them. I get where he's coming from but that's missing the point. Those seals aren't perfect, water and grit still get in there eventually. I had a set of Shimano bearings dry out after two wet winters because the factory grease was barely there. Plus a little extra grease inside the head tube stops the bearings from shifting around in the cups and causing that annoying creak sound. So yeah I'm sticking with the old way, it takes two minutes and saves headaches later.