Refresh on my Ellsworth Evolve Mountain Bike

After cracking my inner chain ring in Moab and with the upcoming mountain bike season close at hand, I decided it was best to get ahead of the curve and do some servicing/upgrades on my bike. I pretty much tore it down to the individual pieces and then built it back up again. I’ll admit I was dismayed to find that most of the eight suspension bearings were seized or partially seized. Surprisingly the suspension felt fine pivoting on the bolts but this of course is a bad, bad thing.

Work performed:
1. Replace all suspension bearings
2. Replace inner, middle, and outer chain rings
3. Replace chain
4. Replace front and rear tires/tubes
5. Remove, clean, and lubricate crankset
6. Clean rear cassette
7. Disassemble, clean, lubricate upper/lower guide pulleys
8. Replace rear brake pads
9. Replace front shock seals, fill with new fluid, and lubricate stanchions
10. Lubricate rear shock stanchion
11. Install drop seat
12. Swapped saddles with another one of my bikes
13. Replace headset bearings
14. Tru both wheels

Parts purchased (for my own future reference):
Enduro 6001 LLU MAX ABEC-3, Radial Suspension Bearings (4)
Enduro 608 LLU MAX ABEC-3, Radial Suspension Bearings (4)
Truativ Inside Chainring (22T)
Shimano XT M780 Middle Chainring (32T)
Shimano LX FC-T671 Outside Chainring (44T)
Shimano XT FC-M770 Inner Chainring Bolts (4)
SRAM Chain PC-1051 (114 link)
Risk Crank Arm Fixing Bolt
Maxxis Assegai EXO Front tire 29 x 2.5
Maxxis Aggressor EXO Rear Tire 29 x 2.3
Continental MTB 29×1.75-2.5″ tubes
SRAM Sintered with Steel Back Disc Brake Pads (Fit Elixir and DB Series)
Brand-X Ascend II Dropper Seatpost
BAA1130 (40-Series Zinc-Coated Steel Cartridge Bearing – 36 x 45 Degree – 41mm)
BAA1132 (40-Series Zinc-Coated Steel Cartridge Bearing – 36 x 45 Degree – 52mm)

Bike specific tools used:
Zdovivot Bicycle Bearing Press Set ($40 from Amazon)
Crank Adjusting Cap Tool
Park Tool CNW-2 Chainring Nut Wrench
Finish Line Gear, Chain & Grunge Brush

Shop supplies:
Park Tool PPL-1 Polylube 1000 Grease Tub
Finish Line Dry Chain Lubricant with Teflon
Finish Line Stanchion Lube / Pure Fluoro Oil

2 Comments

  • Ethan June 19, 2024 at 9:42 pm

    Do you by chance know where to buy the pins/bolts for the suspension pivot points?

    Reply
    • Chris French June 21, 2024 at 7:28 am

      Sorry but I don’t, mine were serviceable.

      Reply

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