Mountain Biking - Bad botton Bracket?

I have an '03 XT Bottombracket that I think might be bad. Does anyone have any experience as to what a bad bottom bracket does when it is bad? Mine creaks under load, but might it be something else? The LBS says that it had water in the housing and it should be OK but it has not stopped yet after 2 months. I hate having a badass bike (SantaCruz Heckler)that sounds like SH**! :mad:

Sounds like you have ruined bearings. If it is an ES-70 or ES-71, just replace it they are only $25, and if you ask me its worth it for piece of mind. ;) Yea, sounds like you might have some ruined bearings. Is it the ES-71? If so just replace it, its under $25 for piece of mind.

Have you checked if it just needs to be tightened a little bit? My BB was creaking a while back (actually was more like a knock) and I fixed it by removing it, putting teflon tape on the cartridge and lockring threads, greased the threads in the BB shell and then reassembled everything and did it up tight and I haven't heard a peep since. If you remove the cranks and turn the BB spindle with your fingers does it feel smooth?

Yea check the bb,generally a creaking means it wasnt greased enough or isnt tight enough, you basically need to take it out, check to see the threads are ok, and put a LOT of grease in, and tighten it bascially as tight as possible

Ride it until it breaks!





I've had the same bottom bracket for like 7 years.. creaks like a mofo but I don't give a damn.. still rolls fairly smooth.


:D

I'd check the fit of the bracket as other have suggested. Also check that your cranks are seated and tight. Pedals bear investigation also.

yep, check the fit of the BB.
Remove it, clean it.
then take some finish line Xcountrychain oil and put some drops on the bearing seals and turn the axle till it works the oil into the bearing.
Refit the BB and it should be ok.

It might be your knees!

Seriously, I had similar problem, turned out to be cranks and easily fixed with some tape and proper tightening.