Overhaul A Bike's Freehub Body

Introduction

Overhauling a freehub body can be a time consuming job. Always replace the ball bearings with new ones, as it's not worth re-using the old ones. When you buy the new ball bearings, it's worth taking the old ones to your local bike shop to make sure you're replacing them with bearings of the same size. Be careful not to lose any of the ball-bearings when they fall out of the hub, and that you count how many there are in case you lose any before you buy the new ones.

This is a long guide, so you can choose to either watch the entire video above, or follow it in smaller chunks by clicking on the individual steps below.

Steps to Overhaul A Bike’s Freehub Body:

1. Remove A Bike's Rear Wheel With Quick Release Skewer

Removing a rear wheel is a simple task, although the gear mechanism makes it a slightly more complicated than removing the front wheel.

Remove A Bike's Rear Wheel With Quick Release Skewer | MadeGood.bikes

2. Remove A Bike Wheel's Cassette

The cogs on a bike cassette slide onto a set of splines on the freehub and are held in place by a lock-ring. The cogs usually come in a set, with some bolted together and some loose.

Remove A Bike Wheel's Cassette | MadeGood.bikes

3. Service A Freehub Body On A Bike Wheel

An freehub body has bearings like a front wheel and the freewheel screws onto the hub shell. You need to remove the freewheel to service the hub bearing.

Service A Freehub Body On A Bike Wheel | MadeGood.bikes

4. Mount A Bike Cassette

The freehub body has a set of splines that allow the bike cassette to grip and turn the freehub. The cassette slides on to these and is held in place by a lock-ring.

5. Mount A Bike's Rear Wheel With Quick Release Skewer

Mounting a rear wheel with quick release skewer is simple, although the gears make it a slightly more complicated

Mount A Bike's Rear Wheel With Quick Release Skewer | MadeGood.bikes

6. Check A Bike Freewheel

A freewheel is a ratchet mechanism mounted on the rear hub which allows the chain to drive the wheel forwards via a cog but when the wheels move faster than the chain the cog is not driven round by the wheel. A freewheel allows a rider to rest their legs while the bike is moving forward.