What is the difference between BB30 and BB30A?

The BB30A is similar to the BB30 standard, but the frame BB shell is 5mm wider on the non-drive side. BB30A system uses thin spacers and/or a wave washer between the bearings and the crank arms to take up any slack and micro-adjust the chainline of the crank.

What is wrong with BB30?

The leading cause of BB30 bottom bracket creaking is bearing migration within the frame bb shell during use. The bearings shift around a minute amount, resulting in the dreaded creaking sounds. Typically somebody greases the bearings to fix it. This only masks the problem, or more often, exacerbates the problem.

Who is the inventor of the BB30 standard?

Cannondale is the company that invented the BB30 standard in the early 2000s and they printed a gazillion stickers that they are still trying to get rid of today. Ignore it. There is no guarantee your frame is actually a BB30 frame. What’s with the A?

What kind of bearings do you need for a BB30 bike?

But the BB30 standard requires close tolerances in the frame to ensure that the bearings fit without play. Early BB30 frames were notorious for creaky bearings, although Loctite and more accurate frame building have reduced the problem significantly. Another way of making BB30 bearings more robust, which is widely used, is the PF30 bearing.

Why do they put BB30 stickers on frames?

According to Cannondale it makes the system wider and stiffer. Other benefits include making shorter seat stays and helping with the Ai, Cannondale’s off center rear triangle and wheel system. Cannondale loves putting BB30 stickers on frames that are not BB30 or even fit a BB30 crank set.

Who is the manufacturer of the Cannondale BB30?

Before we get started, there is a good chance your Cannondale frame has a BB30 logo on the down tube. Cannondale is the company that invented the BB30 standard in the early 2000s and they printed a gazillion stickers that they are still trying to get rid of today.