Myth Busting: Corroded bearings need to be replaced immediately!
Published on: 18th May 2025 Written by: Janice
MYTH Debunked! 
Corroded bicycle bearings do not always need immediate replacement.
However, after a bit of a debate in our household this week, it seems that approaches to dealing with corroded bearings are very diverse depending on whether your a bike repair shop and/or a rider.
After asking for some feedback via Social Media, this week, there was pretty much a resounding "just replace the corroded bearing immediately regardless of severity" from the mechanics and a mixed response from riders.
Before looking at the reasons for this, let's have a look at what constitutes "corrosion".
Corroded Bicycle Parts: What Should I know?
Firstly, not all corrosion is bad; light rust, usually, doesn’t affect performance and bearings are, generally, built to handle some wear. Therefore, knowing the difference between surface rust and problematic damage can save you money and from sustaining an injury.
Signs of Corrosion
As with any problems, early detection is key.
Signs to look out for:-
- Rust
- Rough surfaces
- Grinding or clicking noises.
It is important to regularly check bearings for any play as well as listening for odd sounds. Most Bicycle Brands recommend that you do this before ride.
Looking at the photo above, you can see a new bearing on the left and a used bearing on the right; you can see that there is some rust developing on the right bearing. If trying to manage the corrosion is something you wish to do before considering replacing the bearings, then the extent of the corrosion can't be determined until you take a closer at the bearing.
Clean Your Bearings: A build up of dirt and debris can make it difficult to determine the severity of the corrosion. You can remove the bearings and their seals, soak the bearings in a degreaser for a few minutes and then scrub gently (we use a baby's toothbrush!) and make sure they are dried well.
Grease Your Bearings: If, after cleaning, you believe that the corrosion is superficial and replacement isn't necessary, you can use a high-quality, waterproof grease and apply a very thin layer inside the bearings (making sure not to over-grease). Re-grease regularly!
If you're looking for a great grease that will help protect your bearings, we stock Enduro grease for both standard bearings and MAX bearings.
In fact, Enduro (being their usual awesome selves) have a fantastic video showing how to use their grease for bearing maintenance!
Enduro Video Showing Cleaning and Lubrication of a Bearing
When Replacement May Be Necessary
Replacement may be needed when the early signs of corrosion have been missed; heavy rust, deformation, or visible cracks. Therefore, it is important to weigh up the risks when deciding between fixing and replacing. Continuing to use bearings that are irreversibly damaged can not only affect your bike's performance but can, also, compromise your safety.
Preventive Bearing Care Tips
- Be mindful of your environment. Riders on the coast can expect higher rates of corrosion due to the salty air. Likewise, riders in wet climates can expect faster corrosion due to the wet, dirt and debris.
- Clean after wet rides even if you live somewhere warm!
- Inspect your bearings regularly and take action when you notice the first signs of corrosion.
By following these steps, you will extend the life of your bearings and improve your ride quality.
Now for the Controversy!
When asking (on Social Media) about Bearing Maintenance v Replacement, responses were pretty mixed but feedback from bike repair shops was a resounding "just replace immediately regardless of level of corrosion"; mainly due to the time involved in the cleaning and lubrication of the bearings (especially, if it's all of the pivot bearings being assessed). Quite often, the labour costs for doing this could meet or exceed the costs of replacing the bearings; meaning a higher cost for the customer. Furthermore, there is the element of risk involved for the customer. They could pay to have the bearings cleaned and greased but then, if they still experience some issues, they may believe that they've not been worked on properly and/ or have to pay for brand new bearings anyway. Therefore, offering a cleaning and maintenance service is not a service Bike Repair shops would, usually, consider.
Feedback from riders was more mixed; there were some riders (with high levels of mechanical experience) just riding until their bearings were singing their favourite song and then doing a straight replacement and then there were riders with less mechanical experience, doing a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule. Reasons for this were, also, varied. For example:-
- Some riders couldn't be bothered with the time involved and just wanted to ride their bike;
- Some riders liked the process of stripping their bike and maintaining. One rider even referred to it as "therapeutic";
- A number of riders would ride in dirty, wet conditions and felt that they'd be replacing their bearings too much and it would be costly, so maintaining keeps their costs down;
Therefore, it seems to be down to the cost and/ or the attitude of the rider to time spent on the mechanical sides of their bike.
Wrapping Up!
Regardless of your on opinion on Bearing Maintenance v Replacement, I think it can be agree that not all corrosion requires immediate replacement, so we've busted the Myth!
What is, somewhat, contentious is the approach taken when any level of corrosion is spotted; light or severe.
Before getting to that point though, using the correct products and following our tips above, you can keep your bike in great shape, so even light corrosion is not encountered quickly and, if it does, we've highlighted some great products and processes to help maintain before replacing, if you wish.
So, where do you land?
Let us know your thoughts on our Facebook or Instagram page!