Cartridge BB Removal and Installation

Most cartridge bottom brackets are held by retaining rings or cups on either side. The description below is based on the Shimano® brand of bottom bracket, but most others install in a similar manner. Use this page as a GENERAL guide only. It is essential that you follow the manufacturer's instructions precisely for what ever brand of bottom bracket you are installing.

There are two different styles of Shimano® cartridge bottom brackets, seen below. One has a fixed flange on the right side (drive side), the other one has a fixed flange on the left side (non-drive side). Each one uses a removable ring opposite the fixed flange. See the figure below.

How to remove a cartridge bottom bracket.

First, remove both of your crankarms.

Check to see if your bike uses British(ISO) or Italian threading in the bottom bracket.

NOTE: Most modern bikes use an ISO thread standard for the bottom bracket which is the same as British threading. The left side thread is a right-hand direction thread, which tightens clockwise and removes counter-clockwise. The right side thread is left-hand thread, which tightens counter-clockwise and remove clockwise. Look for 1.37 inches x 24 threads per inch marking on your bottom bracket cups to identify a British or ISO thread.
Bikes made in Italy may have both sides right hand thread (look for 36 x 24 tpi marking on the outside of the flange.) Older bikes from France may also have right hand threads on both sides.

Insert a Park BBT-2 fully into splines on left side of your bottom bracket. Use care to hold tool firmly in place. Remove the bottom bracket cup by turning in the appropriate direction. (For some models, this removes just the cup, in some models this pulls the entire cartridge body out.)

Insert the Park BBT-2 tool fully into the cup's splines on right side. Remove the right cup by turning in the appropriate direction.

How to install a cartridge bottom bracket.

Begin by preparing the threads of your bottom bracket shell. Clean them with a brush and bio-degreaser. Wipe away the bio-degreaser with warm water and let the threads dry completely.

Generally speaking, if a bottom bracket cartridge has a flanged cup you do not need to use Loctite. A flange allows for a tensioned fit. If your bottom bracket cup does not have a flange then you may have to use Loctite to hold it in place.

Campagnolo Record and Chorus bottom brackets come with a form of Loctite on both the flanged and non-flanged cups.
Phil Wood bottom brackets also require Loctite on both of the adjustable rings or cups.
Shimano bottom brackets vary.
In all cases follow the directions that came with your bottom bracket or refer to our suggestions that are listed under the respective models in our Bottom Bracket Section.

Plastic lockrings or cups need only grease on the threads. Do not use Loctite on plastic as the plastic may become brittle.

A bottom bracket can creak where the lockring or cups meet the bearing body. To prevent this, apply a thread locking compound such as Loctite #242 to the inside area of the removable ring or cup, where it meets the body of the bottom bracket cartridge. Do not apply any thread locking compound if the ring/cup is plastic.

Look on the body of the bottom bracket cartridge for "L" and "R". "L" goes to left side of bike, and "R" goes to right side of bike. For British threaded(ISO) bikes, the right side ("R"), has left-hand direction threads. Thread this side in turning the cup counter-clockwise. The left side ("L") has right-hand direction threads, so thread this side in by turning clockwise. Thread the cartridge body into your bottom bracket shell by hand, being careful not to cross the threads.

Use the Park BBT-2 tool to snug the fixed cup flange against face of your bottom bracket shell.

Thread in the removable ring to the appropriate side.

Secure the removable ring on a Shimano bottom bracket to at least 360 inch pounds using a torque wrench. If you are using a hand wrench, and are holding the wrench 6 inches from the bottom bracket spindle, apply 60 pounds of pressure… which is tight. By securing the removable ring, you are securing the other side at the same time. The removable ring on a Shimano bottom bracket pushes against the fixed flange.

Phil Wood reuires only 25 foot pounds to tighten their rings/cups. Campagnolo calls for 51 foot pounds of torque.

Seized Cups

If the bottom bracket seems rusted in place, make sure you are turning the tool the correct way. Review the thread description above. If the tool will still will not budge...

Apply lots of penetrating oil to the bottom bracket threads on both sides of your bike.
Purchase an 8mm x 1mm x 40mm bolt and two washers which is available from most hardware or auto parts stores.
Slide the bolt and washer through the Park BBT-2 tool and your bottom bracket spindle.
Slide a washer over the threaded end of the bolt and against your bottom bracket spindle. Then hand tighten the nut.
Now the BBT-2 tool is securely held inside of the bottom bracket's splines and cannot slip out.
Use a large adjustable wrench on the flats of the Park BBT-2 tool and loosen 1/4 turn.
Loosen the nut you hand tightened and gently loosen the Park BBT-2 tool and cup.