Robert_in_ca

I have a set of 7800 Dura Ace cranks. They started making a noticeable amount of clicking/creaking. I figured the first stap was to take out the outboard bearings, clean the threads on the bearings and in the frame's bottom bracket threads. I lubed the bb threads and the shimano BB. Reinstalled correctly, torqued the left crank arms pinch bolts to 15nm, and tried it out...didn't change anything.

I then took out each chainring bolt and applied lube to the threads of each one, reassembled and road again, still the same problem.

Could it be my pedals(using MTB Shimano M520's)? Could the Shimano outboard bearings have dried up? I've read that even though on the bearings it says not to open it, I've read a thread on one of the forums that talks about taking off the seals and cleaning/regreasing the bearings.

Any ideas? Could it be something else completely?

Oh and the noise will sometimes go away after about 30-40 miles of a ride but then come back. Makes me think that I need to regrease the bearings. I've also thought about just replacing the Shimano bearings with new ones, which won't really cost that much either.

Lamplight

Do you have a spare set of pedals you could try? Even just a cheap set of platform pedals would be enough. If it were me, I'd check that before I started taking the bearing assembly apart.

Fast505

I had the same problem. It turned out to be a tight chain link that didn't straighten after exiting the cog and would make a clicking sound as it hit the chainring.

Robert_in_ca

Turned out to be a Shimano PD-M520 pedal that needed service.

Thanks!