On my new commuter I elected to use a threadless system, with more modern parts. Bought the VO "tall stack" threadless stem. My bars were 26.0mm, so I had to shim them to make it work. First hill it started creaking. Greased the stem clamp bolts, still creaked. Bought some 31.8mm bars, still creaked. Applied some carbon-assembly grit paste to the bar/clamp areas, less creaking but still some. Should I locktite the clamp bolts instead of grease? If the clamp bolts are alloy, would switching to steel bolts help? Try another stem? Get used to the creak?

Sorry I can't answer your question, but do people really use alloy clamp bolts? That sounds sketchy to me.

Are you absolutely positive it's the bars/stem that are creaking?

I don't know if the bolts are alloy, it was just a thought. I will check them tonight. I'm 90%+ it's the stem clamp, though it could be the stem/steerer interface I suppose. When I stand in front of the bike and grab the bar ends and push and pull straight down and up (like climbing), it creaks.

Pull the bars and stem. Remove the handlebars. Clean the bar clamp area, ensuring that there are no burrs, scratches or dirt above nominal level (no bumps or protrusions of any kind). Clean out the inside of the steering tube, carefully and clean off the stem, carefully. Once again, look for and remove any high spots.

Now, assembly the whole works and use grease in the steering tube to stem contact area. Install the bars dry in the stem clamp. Ensure that everything is tight.

Not sure if that will do it, but it will be one way to eliminate some of the possible causes of the creaking.

I guess it depends on the stem. I have an adjustable one that moves a few different ways because of the three joints. It creaks, don't worry about it.

Are you sure is creaking from the stem? How much steering tube you have in there?? that stem is picky with the steering tube, if its too short then you have a problem in there. Put regular grease in the inside of the stem and tight it. That should do it unless you are missing some details we dont know.

Check your brake levers.

Had the LBS torque all the stem bolts properly yesterday (I don't have a torque wrench), creaking is mostly gone now, I can live with it. Never had this problem with quill stems!

Man - Don't ya just hate that unidentified creak, squeak, rub, thunk, snap....

Sometimes they are not so bad once you know exactly where they are coming from and why...

19$ Torque that works: https://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eig...rench-807.html

Home Bike Torque Table: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ghlight=torque

I traced down a creak recently to my saddle itself. It's not the seatpost, and it's not the clamp-to-saddle interface, either. Creaks often don't come from the source you think. Keep investigating. You'll find it eventually.

Also, your quickrelease on the front wheel. Noglider is so right. they come from funky places they one might never expect. Take your stem out and put a little grease in there hten re-insert it back through the headset.

Yeah, they're tricky. I was once convinced my headset was creaking on a ride, turned out to be the saddle rails...

Usually its in my knees.