Bicycle Mechanics - Freehub periodic noise (possible rubbing) - worth investigating further?

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lineinthewater
09-27-09, 12:00 PM
So ever since I've had my current road bike, the rear wheel has made a slight rubbing/off noise periodically while free spinning. It is barely noticeable. Now that I'm finally maintaining my own bike, I determined that the noise seems to be coming from the freehub - more noticeable when the freehub is attached to the wheel. The LBS mechanic told me to squirt some tri-flow into the freehub and spin it up. This seemed to help out a little, but it is still there. I'm guessing tri-flow wasn't the ideal lube since it is pretty thin - but it's not like you can squirt grease into the freehub. I have no idea how to service a freehub - but would be willing to learn if necessary (and if possible). The mechanic seemed to indicate it wasn't a big deal - had no impact on performance. Should I just leave as-is?

DMF
09-28-09, 01:55 PM
Just leave it. You really don't want to go into a freehub if you can avoid it.
sooprvylyn
09-28-09, 02:03 PM
You sure you arent getting rub from brake pads or somewhere else?

If it is the hub I'd leave it, bikes make noise, even the really good ones.

lineinthewater
09-28-09, 02:21 PM
You sure you arent getting rub from brake pads or somewhere else?

Positive. When I pull the wheel off and spin it holding the cassette, I can hear the same noise.


If it is the hub I'd leave it, bikes make noise, even the really good ones.

So that is two votes for "leave it alone". Sounds good to me.
cyclingman1
11-18-09, 03:38 AM
When the pawls in the freehub do not completely engage, they slip against the freehub body and make a popping/creaking sound. A terrible sound actually. Freehub bodies are usually replaceable as a unit.
Luke52
11-18-09, 04:06 AM
Do you have a plastic spoke protector in place behind the cassette?
cyclingman1
11-18-09, 07:50 AM
one millimeter spacer goes on before cassette on free hub body. My sound is from the free hub body - no doubt. In fact, bontrager acknowledges that they produced a batch of unreliable free hubs.
davidad
11-18-09, 10:03 AM
If you want to service the freehub, remove it, pop out the seal, and run solvent through it. Dry it and use a heavy oil to relube it.
shimano used to make a tool to take apart their freehubs. Based on a Zinn article I bought one and replace the spring in my freehubs with a heavier one made from piano wire so I could pump grease through them. I use this tool to pump in a light grease every other overhaul. http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&c=Tools&sc=Freehub/Freewheel&tc=Freehub%20Lubricator&item_id=MP-FHB1&id=453593013705