Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Where's the Squeak Coming From

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Where's the Squeak Coming From

Old 03-24-06, 08:44 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 420
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Where's the Squeak Coming From

I have a Cannondale R700 with about 2500 miles on it. It has a 9-spd Ultegra triple crankset. Every now and then, when I put some force on my left pedal, I hear a squeak. Any suggestions on where to look and how to eliminate the noise?

Thanks.
Comatose51 is offline  
Old 03-24-06, 10:23 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times in 741 Posts
1. Pedal threads. Are they tight?
2. Your shoes and cleats. Do they rub on the pedals? Spray with WD-40 for a quick fix.
3. Are the bottom bracket cups tight?
4. Are the chainring bolts tight?
5. Is there a tight link in the chain?
HillRider is offline  
Old 03-25-06, 03:34 AM
  #3  
The Flying Scot
 
chewa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North Queensferry Scotland and London (and France)
Posts: 1,904

Bikes: Custom (Colin Laing) 531c fast tourer/audax, 1964 Flying Scot Continental, 1995 Cinelli Supercorsa, Holdsworth Mistral single speed, Dahon Speed 6 (folder), Micmo Sirocco and a few more

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
All of the above, but most likely is the pedal threads. It's steel against alloy Undo and grease then rebuild.
__________________
plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens

1985 Sandy Gilchrist-Colin Laing built 531c Audax/fast tourer.
1964 Flying Scot Continental (531)
1995 Cinelli Supercorsa (Columbus SLX)
1980s Holdsworth Mistral fixed (531)
2005 Dahon Speed 6 (folder)
(YES I LIKE STEEL)
2008 Viking Saratoga tandem
2008 Micmo Sirocco Hybrid (aluminium!)
2012 BTwin Rockrider 8.1
chewa is offline  
Old 03-25-06, 04:21 AM
  #4  
Long haired freak.
 
wethepeople's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Still stuck in hell.
Posts: 6,281

Bikes: 2011 SE Old Man Flyer.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Check your seat for the squeek to.

You'd be suprised how many people come into our shop and ask us to play a game of "find that damned noise" and it turns out to be a loose seat.
__________________

"the bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began...there was Cowboy Neal at the wheel of a bus to never-ever land."

wethepeople is offline  
Old 03-25-06, 04:47 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Trakhak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,340
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2429 Post(s)
Liked 2,889 Times in 1,646 Posts
Check the crank bolts. Retorqueing the crank bolts is probably the single most important step in a bike shop's standard 30-day new bike checkup. If the crank bolts weren't snugged up after the bike was assembled, the left crank in particular is likely to have worked its way loose on the bottom bracket spindle. (Most of the force you apply to the right crank goes into the chain; all of the force you apply to the left crank has to go through that left crank/spindle connection.) You can easily ruin a left crank (and possibly the spindle) by riding on it when the bolt's loose. It's a cheap fix now but expensive later.
Trakhak is online now  
Old 03-25-06, 05:17 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 349
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Does it only happen when it's wet out?
DonPenguino is offline  
Old 03-25-06, 05:43 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 420
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by DonPenguino
Does it only happen when it's wet out?
No, any time I ride. The cleats and crank bolts are the best guesses.

Thanks guys.

BTW, didn't you have a cool little avatar?
Comatose51 is offline  
Old 03-25-06, 03:33 PM
  #8  
ppc
Senile Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 506
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
If you've checked everything else (seatpost, cranks, pedals...) and it still squeaks under load, check for frame cracks, especially about the bottom bracket shell area, and especially near the welds. All the alu bikes frames I cracked started squealing under load for no reason before failing. If you have a crack, it may be quite hard to see : if it's just starting, it'll be a very thin hairline, so take your time to check.
ppc is offline  
Old 03-25-06, 05:29 PM
  #9  
YOU ARE NOW TUNED IN
 
No_Minkah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The City that Works
Posts: 1,185
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
what if I'm hearing a creak in the front wheel, or in the general frontal region, every wheel revolution?
No_Minkah is offline  
Old 03-25-06, 08:03 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 420
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks everyone. I loosened and then rethigthen the crank bolt and heard no squeak today during my long ride.
Comatose51 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.