That creaky bottom bracket...
#1
Thread Starter
...

Joined: Oct 2021
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From: Whitestone and Rensselaerville, New York
Bikes: '23 Canyon Endurace, '87 Bottecchia Equipe Professional
That creaky bottom bracket...
Was actually chainring bolts that needed tightening. But I did get to change a press fit BB twice.
#2
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
I find ring bolts are often dry of lube and rarely checked for tightness. Since they are easy to check for tightness this is one of the earlier things I do when chasing crank noises. Andy
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AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#5
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,349
Likes: 5,466
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
I have thought of LockTight for threads as being a somewhat last resort. Having drilled out too many ring bolts that were frozen but still loose I like being able to easily tighten or remove, clean, lube and reinstall them. IME fine threads want little or no threadlockers. Andy
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AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#6
I have thought of LockTight for threads as being a somewhat last resort. Having drilled out too many ring bolts that were frozen but still loose I like being able to easily tighten or remove, clean, lube and reinstall them. IME fine threads want little or no threadlockers. Andy
#7
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Boulder County, CO
Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track
#8
Sock Puppet
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,701
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From: Planet Earth
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
#9
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 614
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From: NW Peloponnese, Greece
I had a creaky BB30 BB on my new Cannondale Synapse a few years ago.
I tried everything with the BB30 brgs. Removal, re-installation, and using a special sealant. I spent a lot of time with the BB, and even contacted Cannondale, but the problem continued.
When I removed the chainrings from the crank, cleaned, lightly sanded the matting surfaces, greased and re-installed them the creaking disappeared; I used loctite 202, and torqued them to specs.
Whenever the creaking re-appears which happens after a year or two I follow the same procedure to eliminate the creaking. This procedure is always successful.
I tried everything with the BB30 brgs. Removal, re-installation, and using a special sealant. I spent a lot of time with the BB, and even contacted Cannondale, but the problem continued.
When I removed the chainrings from the crank, cleaned, lightly sanded the matting surfaces, greased and re-installed them the creaking disappeared; I used loctite 202, and torqued them to specs.
Whenever the creaking re-appears which happens after a year or two I follow the same procedure to eliminate the creaking. This procedure is always successful.
#10
Sock Puppet
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,701
Likes: 865
From: Planet Earth
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
I had a creaky BB30 BB on my new Cannondale Synapse a few years ago.
I tried everything with the BB30 brgs. Removal, re-installation, and using a special sealant. I spent a lot of time with the BB, and even contacted Cannondale, but the problem continued.
When I removed the chainrings from the crank, cleaned, lightly sanded the matting surfaces, greased and re-installed them the creaking disappeared; I used loctite 202, and torqued them to specs.
Whenever the creaking re-appears which happens after a year or two I follow the same procedure to eliminate the creaking. This procedure is always successful.
I tried everything with the BB30 brgs. Removal, re-installation, and using a special sealant. I spent a lot of time with the BB, and even contacted Cannondale, but the problem continued.
When I removed the chainrings from the crank, cleaned, lightly sanded the matting surfaces, greased and re-installed them the creaking disappeared; I used loctite 202, and torqued them to specs.
Whenever the creaking re-appears which happens after a year or two I follow the same procedure to eliminate the creaking. This procedure is always successful.
#11
#12
Sock Puppet
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,701
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From: Planet Earth
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
#13
So this seems unlikely.
#14
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Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit and too many others to mention.
Except that for awhile, Cannondale was putting chrapo FSA Gossamer cranksets on bikes - I presume as a cost cutting measure. After 4K miles of substandard front shifting, I ditched it and got a Shimano 6800.
#15
So were tons of other companies. Yet FSA Gossamer cranks don't have a reputation for creaky chainring bolts.
#16
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 614
Likes: 37
From: NW Peloponnese, Greece
My Cannondale synapse HiMod BB area started creaking after 2 years. I estimate about 8k klm during that period since I was using the bike only for races and brevets and not for training.
After using the procedure mentioned in my post above the creaking was eliminated and returned after 2 yrs, and again I used the same procedure; 5 years later (a month ago) it returned. Using the same procedure the creaking disappeared.
Both BB brgs turn smoothly to the feel with the DS very slightly less.
I have never found the chain ring bolts loose.
Since the creaking goes away with this simple procedure I don't plan to change anything.
I understand if I was to replace the crank with a Shimano I would have to install a sleeve in the BB, and have read that this setup can creak also.
After using the procedure mentioned in my post above the creaking was eliminated and returned after 2 yrs, and again I used the same procedure; 5 years later (a month ago) it returned. Using the same procedure the creaking disappeared.
Both BB brgs turn smoothly to the feel with the DS very slightly less.
I have never found the chain ring bolts loose.
Since the creaking goes away with this simple procedure I don't plan to change anything.
I understand if I was to replace the crank with a Shimano I would have to install a sleeve in the BB, and have read that this setup can creak also.
#18
#19
PBP Ancien (2007)

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 373
Likes: 167
From: South Wales, UK
Bikes: Boardman SLR 8.9, Cannondale CAAD12, Cannondale CAAD12 Team CNCPT, Cinelli Experience
I always check the chainring bolts before stripping out the BB. In the summer months I've had good results by simply laying my bike down (drive side up) and applying lube (not WD40) to the chainring bolts. The sun warms up the chainset and you get good penetration of lube and it can save a lot of work. It's not 100% effective though and it didn't work for the dreaded 'Cannondale Creak' on my CAAD12.







