Phil Wood Bottom Bracket Sets

I've used this on my "rain bike" for the last year and a half. Super smooth bearings, solid construction and great seals. Fit my old square taper Campy cranks with no problems. Will outlast the Chorus cartridge BB by far.

You will need two phil wood tools to install the cups.

Cups and install tools are sold separately

Pros: Super smooth bearings, great seals

Cons: Price, separate cups, two install tools needed

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: May 21, 2013
Reviewed by: Matt O., Pacific NW

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The last bottom bracket you will ever buy

As with all Phil products, this will last forever. Super smooth and very stiff. Setup take a little more effort and you need their cup tool, and locktite for the cups but once its installed, you will never have to remove it. Its also a good BB to use if you want total control over how the BB is centered in the frame.

Pros: Top quality bearings and build, will last forever. Very adjustable cup setup

Cons: More difficulty install

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: April 20, 2012
Reviewed by: Brian K., Oregon

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These are supposed to be one of those iconic bits of cycling gear. I did have to send one back though because the bearings were corroding or wearing much sooner than they should have. The folks at Phils fixed it for no charge but I was without a bb for a while. I installed a cheap Shimano unit (the one with the cheesy plastic cup) while the Phil was being fixed and the shimano one felt great and lasted a good long time. Is the Phil's unit worth the upcharge? Maybe. It's clearly a quality item. It might depend on how much you like having nice bits installed on your bike.

Pros: Well engineered, good customer service

Cons: Not infallable. Mine was far from 'set and forget'. There is some competition from the big S.

Reviewed on: March 25, 2012
Reviewed by: Patrick, Oz

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Smooth

What others have said is true. Smooth bearings and solid. I got the steel version and the stainless cups. I like this better than an amazing SKF bb I was running.

Pros: I like that you can use on a British or Italian bb shell by just switching out the cups.

Cons: expensive but quality product

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: February 05, 2012
Reviewed by: rod c., California

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These are awesome

Top notch product, great bearing life, very well made, worth every penny. Very deserving of the Phil logo, if only all bike parts were this nice... sigh.

Pros: High quality, well made, great design,will outlast pretty much anything else out there

Cons: A little spendy, but you so get what you pay for

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: November 10, 2011
Reviewed by: lee h., Oregon

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Such a great BB. Rock solid construction and lasts forever. I put almost 15,000 miles on mine in a year and then sold it used... that person is still using it!

Pros: Durable. Long lasting. Easy to install.

Cons: Adjusting chain line if you don't know how.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: July 18, 2011
Reviewed by: Dustin R., California

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Hidden Treasure

Sometimes the stuff you don't see is what makes everything else work, and work better.

So it is with the Phil Wood bottom bracket. When I installed my first one (I now have two; as soon as I can afford it, I'm getting a third.) my drivetrain--which consisted of high-quality components--felt smoother. And that's before it broke in.

I was surprised at how easy it was to install, and how little difficulty I had in setting up the chainline.

Getting this bottom bracket definitely brought me one step closer to having my ideal bike.

Pros: High quality construction. Ease of installation. Smooth operation.

Cons: High price. But if it lasts as long as I think it will, it will have paid for itself. And, if you're a weight weenie, you might quibble with its gram count, which certainly isn't excessive.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: December 20, 2010
Reviewed by: Justine V., New York

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What Else?

This is the BB you get when you never want to think about your BB again.

Pros: Super smooth, lasts forever.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: October 17, 2010
Reviewed by: blake c., Colorado

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Phil Wood Bottom Bracket Sets

What is there not to like. It is a Phil so it is smooth as silk and solid as a rock. I expect this BB to outlast me.

I put mine on my quick road bike and spring for the titanium version but I'm considering putting a steel one on a touring bike I own.

The only issue, and this has nothing to do with the BB, is that high quality square taper ISO cranks are getting hard to find (if you are not building a single speed). Middleburn still makes a great ISO Crank, but those are hard to find too.

Pros: It is a Phil so it is smooth as silk and solid as a rock.

Cons: High quality square taper ISO cranks are getting hard to find.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 02, 2010
Reviewed by: Robert L., California

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