Help Finding Source of a Squeak
 

I have a squeak which seems to be intermittent and having trouble locating. I have not been able to hear it while riding, even on low traffic quiet streets. I first noticed it while walking my bike into the house where I keep it. When I first heard it, I thought it was my puppy wanting out of her pen but realized it is coming from my bike. This weekend I was washing and servicing my bike and after doing so, while still on the stand I spun both wheels, slowly and then fast and did not hear anything. I grabbed a hold of the wheels and tried to rock back and forth to see if the bearings may be failing and the hubs seemed solid. When I rolled the bike into the house I did not hear any squeaking. But once again this week rolling the bike out of the house and back in the squeak is there. Any thoughts or suggestions as I am at a stage of learning to do more maintenance and repairs? Thanks.

Isolate (Take off wheel to see if its not the wheel, etc) , use a stethoscope..

my LBS mechanic and I were talking about my squeaky bikes a while ago. He mentioned there is a rubber seal (more like a big rubber cup (or cone?) ) on the non-drive side of the rear wheel (outside of the hub, not internal or anything) . He said he's seen bikes squeak at this seal a few times, and just applies a bit of grease to the seal where it rubs the hub. I think it usually spins with the hub, so you may need to apply grease on the axle as well (if you have this seal).
I think it's only newer, cheaper wheels which have this big rubber cup. If you've got a nice old bike, it'll just have more of an integrated washer kind of seal.

This makes sense to me since were walking your bike. Not a lot of stuff to make noise except the wheel hubs.
Maybe time to re-pack the hubs? All you need is water proof grease, a set of cone wrenches, Overhauling & Repacking Hubs , and the gentle touch to make sure you leave the "right" amount of play in the hubs after everything is back together. I like the heavy duty blue shop towels for this job too.

I bet you could get a 99-page thread going on what is the "right" amount of play to have.....

Thanks for this helpful reply. This weekend I will make time to check ad grease the seal you mentioned and if not will just go ahead and overhaul & repack the hubs.

Good call; I remember seeing that on a pair of Vuelta wheels...

You hit the nail on the head with your first suggestion. I cleaned and applied a little grease as suggested and wa-la, problem solved. Again thank you.

[MENTION=426970]Hermes1[/MENTION] ->> COOL! I'm not actually a bike mechanic, but in my garage, I play one.

It's a damned mouse hiding in yer saddle!

LOL! I was beginning to think so because of the intermittent nature, the sound and difficulty troubleshooting.

Bicycle magazine just had a cover story on dogs. However, I recommend riding with a cat to deal with your mobile-mouse difficulties! :roflmao2:

You can't hear it while pedaling? The problem is?

ooh, you speak french!

I just want it on the record that as I read the thread I was also going to suggest the same solution, since I had a bike that squealed like a siren, and it turned out to be the rubber gasket/seal on the rear wheel, that was just crying for some lube.