Chezhoff

I had my bike in for a tune-up today. One of the things they worked on was a creaking BB.

Once I got it home, I took it for a spin and the BB was still creaking, worse than it was when I took it in. It definitely appears that they worked on it (or at lease cleaned it) as I saw some new grease on the outside of it.

My questions are:

1). It doesn't seem like they test road the bike. It doesn't creak when the cranks are spun with no load on them, but the moment you get on the bike....creak-city...is it 'normal' for bike shops not to test ride after something like this?

2). Since they took the whole BB and crank assembly apart could this just be something that needs to be 'broken in' (for want of a better term) and will stop after a bit more riding?

Thanks for your help/opinions.

Brian

Martin O

Is the creaking coming clockwise?
I use the white Shimano mounting grease and before i get it in my hands I used copper grease.
Copper greasse is not so good on aluminium frames because it can be galvanic corrosion (It's electric leading).

CRUM

If it still creaking, it probably will not go away. From the sound of the repair you paid for and apparently did not get, I would call them and let them know. In my shop, I would want that bike back pronto.

sydney

Maybe it isn't even the BB.Creaks come from evreywhere,and always seem to sound like from BB.

Chezhoff

Thanks for the responses. Good point that it might not be the BB. I'll report back after I take it back in today. The whole thing is annoying - I don't like losing training days with an upcoming century! Argh.

CRUM

You are right. But I still would want the bike back. If re-seating the BB and crank arms does not work, then we look elsewhere. From the sound of it, no test ride was performed to see if the creak had been fixed. And possibly no test ride performed before the repair was attempted. As much as I would like to say it would never happen in my shop, it has. But when called on a mistake, I admit it, fix it at no extra charge, make an offer of a full refund and hopefully I have not lost a customer.

Regarding the creaks, groans, and crunchies bikes develope - Sometimes it seems the bike knows when the mechanic is there and will not perform the nasty sound. I will take the customer's word and perform a series of tightening procedures and weld inspections on various parts or the frame. They usually know their bike and how it sounds better than I do. When they come to pick it up, I ask them to test spin it themselves before they head home. That way, I have a chance to address the noise/problem again without making them come back. I will often take another bike out with them and follow or ride along side to try and hear the noise. That has been helpful a few times. My biggest headache recently are the creaks and squeaks dual suspension bikes develope. Often replacing parts is the only answer. This does not go over well when some of them develope creaks after only a couple of months.

Chezhoff

My big lesson learned is goes along with one of your points Crum...in the future I will always test ride the bike before leaving the shop.

Jerl

CRANK ARMS!
Try taking the crank arms off, greasing them up inside, along with the spindle and then put them back on.

I have had this happen, especially after commuting in very wet weather. I swore that my BB was toast and sure enough... creak/groan gone.

Chezhoff

So thanks again for all the advice.

It turned out that they'd neglected to tighten up the BB correctly after rebuilding it and some of the chain ring bolts (as someone suggested) weren't tight.


Thanks,

Brian

Alzonder

I had the same problem and it did sounded like the BB, but it turned out to be a pedal.

MudPie

I had a creak I thought was the BB, but was the seat post. When I'd crank hard, I hear a creak, and cranking hard meant a stressed seat. I think I figured it out when I noticed no creaking when out of the saddle.

Noises transmit readily through the frame.

FoX11

i don't know what BB stands for, so i'm just going to spill my thoughts. last time my bike creaked it was the spokes. try and wiggle the spokes, if they really move you should get them tightened, cheaper then having your rim trued.

p.s. as i was writing this i realized BB could stand for back brake...correct?

FlatTop

I've had creaks from spokes too. And BB is shorthand for Bottom Bracket, the piece that the cranks rotate in.

neil0502

For posterity, I'll add the Park Tools creaks, squeaks, and clicks link to this thread:

https://www.parktool.com/repair_help/...queaking.shtml