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07-11-12, 03:56 PM
I'm working on a buddy's bike with a creaking noise which sounds like it might be from the bottom bracket. It's a somewhat older durace crank and bottom bracket with external bearings (maybe circa 2004-ish). From what I understand, he fought it last year but it's starting to worsen.
I observe a lower frequency almost ticking noise when standing on the pedals. It's creaking on on both downstrokes. Shifting body weight to the rear reduces the noise and sitting on the saddle seems to eliminate it. At least, with the short bit of riding I did to evaluate the noise.
Today I disassembled the crank and bottom bracket. The crank end cap was WAY over-torqued. The park bbt-9 plastic end cap tool wasn't up to the task of loosening the end cap. The bearings turn without grit or grinding. I noticed the drive side bearings don't turn quite as freely but there is no binding.
I reassembled everything and properly torqued the crank end cap and bolts. The creaking continues and I'm uncertain what to try next.
Could this still be a result of bearing problems even though the feel OK? Something has to be moving on me and I just don't know what it might be.
FYI- I didn't find any headset play and I tried swapping pedals. The creaking noise doesn't seem to change if I lighten pressure on the handle bars.
Ideas would be appreciated. I don't know if I've missed something with the crank/bottom bracket or if I need to look elsewhere.
I observe a lower frequency almost ticking noise when standing on the pedals. It's creaking on on both downstrokes. Shifting body weight to the rear reduces the noise and sitting on the saddle seems to eliminate it. At least, with the short bit of riding I did to evaluate the noise.
Today I disassembled the crank and bottom bracket. The crank end cap was WAY over-torqued. The park bbt-9 plastic end cap tool wasn't up to the task of loosening the end cap. The bearings turn without grit or grinding. I noticed the drive side bearings don't turn quite as freely but there is no binding.
I reassembled everything and properly torqued the crank end cap and bolts. The creaking continues and I'm uncertain what to try next.
Could this still be a result of bearing problems even though the feel OK? Something has to be moving on me and I just don't know what it might be.
FYI- I didn't find any headset play and I tried swapping pedals. The creaking noise doesn't seem to change if I lighten pressure on the handle bars.
Ideas would be appreciated. I don't know if I've missed something with the crank/bottom bracket or if I need to look elsewhere.