Frame warranty ~ any advice for me?
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halfLoop
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« on: March 07, 2008, 09:54:19 AM »
I've got a Giant 2005 Trance and looking for some advice or suggestions especially if you've been in similar situation.

I'm reading MTB forum and they are saying the 2005 model has weak rear suspension bearings and a bunch of people where replacing them with enduro bearings.  I hadn't noticed any problems other than occasional squeak but thought that was from the crank arm since it went away when I pedalled by pulling-up on the pedal rather than pushing down.

My new bearings arrive yesterday and I take the rear triangle off and one of the bearings just falls right out of the frame hole/mount.  The outer portion of bearing is still in there and somewhat 'fused' to the frame.  The bearing that fell out is crushed and mangled, ball bearings smashed.  The other 7 are intact but some are real scratchy when turned.  Further, the bearing holder in frame is no longer perfectly circular, it's become elongated a bit and looks like the new bearing would not be properly seated in there.

Tomorrow, I'm going take the triangle and mangled bearing to the LBS where I bought the bike to see what they say.  On the MTB forum I think that I saw 1-2 cases where Giant provided a new rear triangle under warranty and I'm hoping for that same outcome.  If shop offered to remove / replace with new bearing and evaluate to see if it was seated properly I guess that would be a potential solution too but I'm worried since the hole has definitly been damaged and isn't circular any longer.  If shop shrugs their shoulders then I guess my next step is to contact Giant directly.

Anyone have other ideas / advice on how to handle this?

Thanks.

p.s. I'll be riding my mid-1990's Trek 930...
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fishnchips
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« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2008, 10:51:53 AM »
A chance to relive my nightmare: I'm not sure my experience is relevant, but I bought a nice $2000 bike from the LBS a couple years back and kept breaking a linkage bolt. I'm a big guy and I race XC, and they knew that when I bought it. But the LBS was dropping the ball and I would continually have to call them to see if the bolt had come in. When it did it would just brake again. I was like, can't you just get me 10 of them? No luck.... 

One time, two days before a race, it broke, and I went to the LBS, and they said they didn't have the bolt. I turned around and there was a spanking new bike sitting there, and I said, "well, just take the bolt off that bike". to which they replied, "we can't do that, we might sell that bike this weekend". That is the last time I did business with the LBS.

Anyway, I hated to do it, but I started bitching, big time. I bitched to everyone, and I bitched directly to the manufacturer (who only deal through your local LBS). I bitched about SAFETY, and that how I was risking my life , and that the part kept breaking, and on and on, and finally the LBS called to tell me the manufacturer had sent a nice top of the line frame as a replacement. The frame was worth more than my original bike.

The moral is, if you're not getting satisfaction, and the part has a history of failure, it's best to start complaining like a pro. And that "safety" is a keyword and an issue they'll listen too.

best of luck
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Kelly
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« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2008, 12:39:18 PM »
It all depends on the manufacturer really. I've had very easy situations where I had to do nothing and the bike shop handled everything, and another brand required me to call the guy directly and convince him that he needed to replace my frame, which he was reluctant to do. The shop called me and said these guys won't replace the frame, which I broke at the headtube. After talking to the guy I changed his mind, and they sent me a new front triangle.

Be persistant and remember to keep your cool. These guys are just like us after all, only difference is they work with bikes for a living. Lucky bastards.
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Fish
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« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2008, 11:17:10 PM »
Agreed..  Be SURE to research the reputation of the bike company and how they stand behind their product before you buy.  Check out places like MTBR and their boards, etc. and talk to riders.     This should be a big factor in what bike to buy.  I've gotten burned on brands that went under and left me hanging with a broken frame.   Last year I had an Intense 5.5 which I rode for a year and half and it started eating suspension bearings.. had to keep replacing them.   After my LBS called them and explained the issue they realized it was an early run of the frame and they since corrected the problem.   In two weeks I had a top of the line 5.5 FRO new frame with no questions asked.     No secret why I'm on my 3rd Intense... they stand behind it and make a quality product.
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halfLoop
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« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2008, 07:55:35 AM »
Thanks for the replies and advice. 

I've got an update - I went to the LBS and the mechanic suggested to try the new bearings, see if they would press in properly and hold up while riding.  If that doesn't work out then the shop would talk with Giant.  I was a little disappointed at first since I was convinced there was permanent damage and I mentioned how the outer ring was really stuck in the frame.  He was nice enough to hammer it out for me ~ took him like 5 minutes to get it out and I was happy that he was doing it in case any damage resulted from removing the bearing.  Although the frame is definitely worn down at the pivot point , the actual hole where bearing sits only has a minor flaw where a bit of the retaining wall was worn down.

So, I pressed in the new bearings and there didn't seem to be any difference between the damaged side and the good one.  Rode twice and so far no play back there so I'm hoping its all good. 
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Fish
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« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2008, 09:01:38 AM »
Cool.  By the way.. Enduro bearings are the top of the line and all many vendors like Intense use them stock..  They should last as long as it's a tight seat and there's no play where the bearing is pressed in.   You can also buy any size online as a spare, etc. .but you should get at least a year or two out of them (or more) depending on how much you ride.
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max
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« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2008, 08:19:15 PM »
sorry to hear about your  bike!

(first a disclaimer before my rant) i stopped riding a full-sus and started riding a singlespeed when i just started breaking to damn many parts and missing to many rides due to broken stuff.  Grin

we ride hard out there in the wiss and it is hard on bikes. if your willing to give up suspension and gears you can really keep a bike going for little too no money but once you add complicated bits to the bike (in my experience) price per mile of fun just goes up a little. stuff eventually just wears out.

if i were to run a full suspension bike i am sure i would eat up at least 2 sets of gears a year. a siuspension frame and fork i probably wouldn't expect to get more than 2-3 years of full time riding out of???

it is not golf or yachting but mountainbikes can cost you a good bit of money too keep running sometimes.  Grin

that said i have no idea how old your bike is... if it is under a year old that would trouble me as well.

new bearings in the suspension have got to feel wonderful!
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2008, 09:34:03 PM »
Max is right. High performance=High maintenance. But if you treat your bike well it will return the favor.

In my personal experience:
Fork, shock and bearings you will usually get one to two years depending on how much/how hard you ride. Riding in wet conditions is going to make this number go down of course.

Full drivetrain rebuild including front chainrings (2 for me cause I run 24/36/bash), chain and cassette at least once a year. It's much better to just do them all at once.

Wheels one to two years, depending on how many sqaure edge rocks you bash into at full speed, and how much you leave the ground.

Personally I find it easy to keep my steed rolling but it is always good to have a spare bike. Even better make that spare bike a SS!
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Dmitri
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« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2008, 08:53:01 AM »
I don't know much about FS bikes, but it seems that current trend is moving toward multi-link designes. They might be ultimately better performing, but they also increase the number of pivot points, increasing the wear and need for replacement and cos of such.
Good old designs of single pivot with good bearings/bushings might prolong your uninterrupted riding bliss.

That said, I'm +1 on Max's post. Now if I could find a chain that would last a full season and a BB that would not cease on me like these new external BBs, I'd be all set!  Wink

dz
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2008, 09:22:16 AM »
.02

I think the performance gains and fun factor that you get from riding a badass FS bike are well worth the cost and little bit of extra annual maintenance. The way they are making the frame bearings nowadays they are quite durable and if you keep them clean can last a long time. This coming from a guy who rides VPP, bearings and linkages out the ass.
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Dmitri
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« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2008, 09:34:56 AM »
Like I said, I'm a dumb rigid SSer... what do I know?  Wink

dz
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Chuck U
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« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2008, 10:08:22 AM »
Quote from: Dmitri on March 20, 2008, 08:53:01 AM
Now if I could find a chain that would last a full season and a BB that would not cease on me like these new external BBs, I'd be all set!  Wink

dz

Square taper!  Sometimes older is better.  The tapers don't stand up to the huge airs and bigger riders as well, but the bearings last forever.  I have a few cheap Shimano ones that are old (up to and over 10y/o) and they still feel like new.  They are heavier though.   Could always try some phil wood or higher end enduro bearings in your external BB too....

Chain?  I have an idea, but it wouldn't be cheap or light, so probably not worth the trouble.
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Dmitri
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« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2008, 10:44:54 AM »
We've completely highjacked this thread!  Cool

Speaking of BB, yeah, I have figured that out. I have a PW BB with Middleburn cranks sitting on my work bench, or whatever counts for one at my house. The problem is that I opted out of the getting middleburn spiderless ring, cos it's alum, and ordered Boone one... Well, i'm about to celebrate 1 year anniversary of the order date!!!  Shocked And there is no ring in sight...  Cry
So for now I'm squeezing every last drop of life out of my external RF cranks/BB

Chain, i'm hearing good things about Whippermann, puttin gone on this wekeend, we'll see how it lasts.

dz
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Chuck U
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« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2008, 11:07:40 AM »
Quote from: Dmitri on March 20, 2008, 10:44:54 AM
We've completely highjacked this thread!  Cool

Not yet...

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OK.  Done.    Grin
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Dmitri
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« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2008, 11:31:18 AM »
Not even close....  Now it's done!
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Chuck U
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« Reply #15 on: March 20, 2008, 11:39:24 AM »
Hah....

 Grin
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