Cracking saddle
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 158
Likes: 4
Cracking saddle
So I need your help.
My saddle cracks a lot. I have a Trek Domane with standard seat post (steel clamp with carbon post) and a WTB rocket saddle with titanium rails.
You can reproduce the creaking by holding each edge of the saddle and torquing up and down...
The interesting thing is that the creak can increase or decrease depending on how tight the front and rear screws are set. The issue is that you need to adjust those screws in order to set the ideal saddle angle.
I went to my LBS and they said the creaking seems to be from where the rails is inserted in the saddle. They put some lubricant in the area but didn't helped a lot.
I tried to install another saddle (sella italia also with titanium rails) and something similar happens.
Thoughts?
Is this to be expected?
Is there something wrong with the clamp in the seat post?
Is this common in titanium rails?
The creaking drives me nuts when riding.
Any thoughts?
My saddle cracks a lot. I have a Trek Domane with standard seat post (steel clamp with carbon post) and a WTB rocket saddle with titanium rails.
You can reproduce the creaking by holding each edge of the saddle and torquing up and down...
The interesting thing is that the creak can increase or decrease depending on how tight the front and rear screws are set. The issue is that you need to adjust those screws in order to set the ideal saddle angle.
I went to my LBS and they said the creaking seems to be from where the rails is inserted in the saddle. They put some lubricant in the area but didn't helped a lot.
I tried to install another saddle (sella italia also with titanium rails) and something similar happens.
Thoughts?
Is this to be expected?
Is there something wrong with the clamp in the seat post?
Is this common in titanium rails?
The creaking drives me nuts when riding.
Any thoughts?
#2
You try greasing the seatpost bolts?what about hardware on seatpost clamp? Ie barrel nut if it has one.
You can also try wiping down clamp interface/saddle rails too with some rubbing alcohol. I’ve heard of lightly greasing seatpost/ti rail interface too but IME can lead to slippage but something else to try if all else fails.
You can also try wiping down clamp interface/saddle rails too with some rubbing alcohol. I’ve heard of lightly greasing seatpost/ti rail interface too but IME can lead to slippage but something else to try if all else fails.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Quebec, Canada
Bikes: Specialized Secteur Sport 2015, Vitus Zenium VRS 2014
Put a lot of grease anywhere metal touches metal.
In my case it was the lower saddle clamp part moving against the seatpost that was the issue. I had cleaned and greased it but I hadn't put enough grease.
In my case it was the lower saddle clamp part moving against the seatpost that was the issue. I had cleaned and greased it but I hadn't put enough grease.
#5
So I need your help.
My saddle cracks a lot. I have a Trek Domane with standard seat post (steel clamp with carbon post) and a WTB rocket saddle with titanium rails.
You can reproduce the creaking by holding each edge of the saddle and torquing up and down...
The interesting thing is that the creak can increase or decrease depending on how tight the front and rear screws are set. The issue is that you need to adjust those screws in order to set the ideal saddle angle.
I went to my LBS and they said the creaking seems to be from where the rails is inserted in the saddle. They put some lubricant in the area but didn't helped a lot.
I tried to install another saddle (sella italia also with titanium rails) and something similar happens.
Thoughts?
Is this to be expected?
Is there something wrong with the clamp in the seat post?
Is this common in titanium rails?
The creaking drives me nuts when riding.
Any thoughts?
My saddle cracks a lot. I have a Trek Domane with standard seat post (steel clamp with carbon post) and a WTB rocket saddle with titanium rails.
You can reproduce the creaking by holding each edge of the saddle and torquing up and down...
The interesting thing is that the creak can increase or decrease depending on how tight the front and rear screws are set. The issue is that you need to adjust those screws in order to set the ideal saddle angle.
I went to my LBS and they said the creaking seems to be from where the rails is inserted in the saddle. They put some lubricant in the area but didn't helped a lot.
I tried to install another saddle (sella italia also with titanium rails) and something similar happens.
Thoughts?
Is this to be expected?
Is there something wrong with the clamp in the seat post?
Is this common in titanium rails?
The creaking drives me nuts when riding.
Any thoughts?
Take out the saddle and clean the seat clamp VERY thoroughly. Then apply a bit of WD40 to the area. (don't know about grease, seems messy to me). The reinstall the saddle and see if that worked.
Could also be dirt between the seatpost inside of the seat tube. You can take the seatpost out and clean both thoroughly with a rag. Then apply some fiber grip paste to your CF seatpost.
Good luck!
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,711
Likes: 74
From: Conejo Valley, CA
Bikes: Domane SLR7 Disc
I get this same sound on my Domane, using an SMP saddle. It comes and goes so I've never really done anything about it. Drove me nuts as I was thinking it could be BB or spoke or who knows what! Creaking stopped when I unweighted the saddle. May try some of the fixes listed above.
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#10
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 158
Likes: 4
I tried everything.... complete cleant rais and clamp.... with grease, with carbon grip...
Still creaking.
So I switched to a Fabric carbon saddle (carbon rails) and the noise is gone.
The Fabric Scoop is not as comfortable as the WTB but should do.
So is the creaking issue a known problem with titanium rails?
Maybe my saddle had an issue?
Still creaking.
So I switched to a Fabric carbon saddle (carbon rails) and the noise is gone.
The Fabric Scoop is not as comfortable as the WTB but should do.
So is the creaking issue a known problem with titanium rails?
Maybe my saddle had an issue?
#11
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 653
From: Minas Ithil
Make sure it's not your seatpost creaking inside the seat tube. I've had a couple of them I've had to shorten by an inch or two so they don't stick down so far. If they go down too far they can creak. It does sound like it comes from the saddle.
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