Bicycle Mechanics - Creaking on my Stumpjumper FSR Comp ... I can't find the source.

So my 03 Stumpjumper FSR Comp is creaking really bad when I'm cranking away. I don't think it's the rear suspension anywhere, but I'm not sure. Could it be the cranks and bottom bracket? How would you guys go about finding where it's located and then solving the problem? When I lockout the rear suspension I still get it, but definitely not as loud. It's the most noticable when I have nothing locked out and I'm pedalling while standing up on the cranks ... usually uphill when there's a lot of stress on the bike.

Thoughts?

I would start with the cranks and pedals. Creaks can be a real pain to find since the sound travels around in the frame. At least you can rule out the saddle and seat post, which is a common source of creaks.

I had a creak that I swore was in the drive train. Same symptoms as you, creaking when hammering and once per crank revolution. It was the front shock!

Thoughts?

Take it to a bike shop.......

as long as your bb is still good (there is no play in the spindle):

remove the cranks

remove the bottom bracket

clean bb threads in frame

clean threads on bb

grease threads in frame liberally

wrap threads on bb with teflon

replace bb

make sure no grease is on bb spindle

replace cranks

get back out and ride

total cost of the above at my shop: about $25-$30.

So it's a creak, not a click?

If it's a click, every possible cause has been posted on the discussions below: :)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=53236
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=53105

have you thought about the pivots? i remeber hearing somthing about the pivots on some specialized bike that didn't last particularly long...it may have been the bighit though. anyway, its worth a shot to check the pivots...

I don't think it's the pivots. I've been trying to troubleshoot this problem every time I ride and it only happens when I'm going uphill or if I'm sprinting on a flat in a very high gear (or low gear I forget the naming convention). I'm thinking it's the BB because when I'm not cranking away and I bounce around on the bike and try to put the same tension in the frame it doesn't make the noise. Oh by the way it's a creaking and not a clicking. The creak is getting increasingly worse each time I ride.

I also thought it could be the headset, but I think I've ruled that out as well. I've never taken cranks off before, but I do have a crank puller that I've never opened. Should the BB be replaced or just cleaned out and used again?

did you not see my reply????

I don't think it's the pivots. I've been trying to troubleshoot this problem every time I ride and it only happens when I'm going uphill or if I'm sprinting on a flat in a very high gear (or low gear I forget the naming convention). I'm thinking it's the BB because when I'm not cranking away and I bounce around on the bike and try to put the same tension in the frame it doesn't make the noise. Oh by the way it's a creaking and not a clicking. The creak is getting increasingly worse each time I ride.

I also thought it could be the headset, but I think I've ruled that out as well. I've never taken cranks off before, but I do have a crank puller that I've never opened. Should the BB be replaced or just cleaned out and used again?


Take it to a bike shop. You will never be able to find it yourself. The last time my bikeshop had a bike that was creaking it was figured out to be the spider on the crankset was loose.

i've just solved a creaking on my play bike after finding it was the pedals, swoped them over from another bike only to find the old ones don't creak on it enymore