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Technical FAQ: XTR pipe-spindle bottom brackets.

by Lennard Zinn

• May 23, 2002
• Comments

Lennard,

Regarding the DA BB question and your response to it not spinning very well and decreased rain performance, how can you tell if you have a first generation pipe billet BB?  Did the model number change when they improved it?

– Dick

Answer: A first generation DA or XTR pipe-spindle BB comes all apart and you have two sets of ball bearings and two sets of needle bearings that are loose (and that you can clean). A year or two later, the sealed cartridge appeared, which is not serviceable.
-Lennard