Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Full Santa Cruz Service: Pivot Bearing Replacement & Linkage Deep Clean
Mapdec Technical Skool.com page: skool.com/mapdec-technical-9991
(Very Early Days Yet, Ready for Super Keen Alpha Testers)
In today’s workshop video with Tom, we’re tackling a full strip-down and rebuild of a beautiful Santa Cruz mountain bike. This bike came in with the "New Year" blues—plenty of wobble in the pivots, a sluggish dropper post, and a whole lot of grit hiding in the linkages.
We walk you through the professional process of extracting and installing frame bearings, utilizing the Alt Alt bearing tool kit and a Wheels Manufacturing press to ensure everything is seated perfectly without damaging the frame.
⚠️ What’s Covered in This Video:
The Santa Cruz Bearing Warranty: A quick look at how you can get replacement bearing kits if you are the original owner.
Pro Tip for Brake Removal: A simple trick using an elastic band to keep your caliper spacers and bolts organized.
Bearing Extraction: Using the @altaltbike kit to safely remove old, gritty bearings from the linkage and yoke.
Parts washer is a @rozonelimited8910 biomemediation smart washer. Amazing bit of kit.
The Clay Problem: See what happens when you don't purge your grease ports for a year, or rather don't push enough through.
Grease Port Service: How to clean and test the internal grease runners and nipples to ensure your new bearings stay lubricated.
Reinstallation & Torque: Checking the exploded view diagrams for correct torque settings (9Nm for the grease nipple) and where to apply thread lock.
Timestamps / Chapters
0:00 - New Year, Same Problems (Wobble & Slow Dropper)
01:03 - Investigating Chain Line & Spacers
01:36 - Quick Tip: Brake Caliper Management
01:51 - Santa Cruz Lifetime Bearing Warranty Explained
02:32 - Bearing Tool Setup & Orientation Warning
03:12 - Don't Forget the Shock Bearings!
03:56 - Extracting the Yoke Bearings
05:03 - The Grim Discovery: Grease turned to Clay
06:03 - Cleaning & Purging the Grease Ports
06:45 - Reassembly & Torque Specs (Grease Nipple)
07:51 - Grease Science: Why Mobil XHP 222?
08:23 - Pressing in New Bearings
@santacruzbicycles2841
Full Santa Cruz Service: Pivot Bearing Replacement & Linkage Deep Clean
Mapdec Technical Skool.com page: skool.com/mapdec-technical-9991
(Very Early Days Yet, Ready for Super Keen Alpha Testers)
In today’s workshop video with Tom, we’re tackling a full strip-down and rebuild of a beautiful Santa Cruz mountain bike. This bike came in with the "New Year" blues—plenty of wobble in the pivots, a sluggish dropper post, and a whole lot of grit hiding in the linkages.
We walk you through the professional process of extracting and installing frame bearings, utilizing the Alt Alt bearing tool kit and a Wheels Manufacturing press to ensure everything is seated perfectly without damaging the frame.
⚠️ What’s Covered in This Video:
The Santa Cruz Bearing Warranty: A quick look at how you can get replacement bearing kits if you are the original owner.
Pro Tip for Brake Removal: A simple trick using an elastic band to keep your caliper spacers and bolts organized.
Bearing Extraction: Using the @altaltbike kit to safely remove old, gritty bearings from the linkage and yoke.
Parts washer is a @rozonelimited8910 biomemediation smart washer. Amazing bit of kit.
The Clay Problem: See what happens when you don't purge your grease ports for a year, or rather don't push enough through.
Grease Port Service: How to clean and test the internal grease runners and nipples to ensure your new bearings stay lubricated.
Reinstallation & Torque: Checking the exploded view diagrams for correct torque settings (9Nm for the grease nipple) and where to apply thread lock.
Timestamps / Chapters
0:00 - New Year, Same Problems (Wobble & Slow Dropper)
01:03 - Investigating Chain Line & Spacers
01:36 - Quick Tip: Brake Caliper Management
01:51 - Santa Cruz Lifetime Bearing Warranty Explained
02:32 - Bearing Tool Setup & Orientation Warning
03:12 - Don't Forget the Shock Bearings!
03:56 - Extracting the Yoke Bearings
05:03 - The Grim Discovery: Grease turned to Clay
06:03 - Cleaning & Purging the Grease Ports
06:45 - Reassembly & Torque Specs (Grease Nipple)
07:51 - Grease Science: Why Mobil XHP 222?
08:23 - Pressing in New Bearings
@santacruzbicycles2841
