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Whats that creaking?

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Old 02-20-09, 09:41 PM
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Whats that creaking?

Whenever theres alot of tension on the chain/pedals theres some weird creaking noises...Was wondering what can be done and if its anything serious? Thanks guys
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Old 02-20-09, 09:55 PM
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Does it happen if you are standing and sitting?
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Old 02-20-09, 10:02 PM
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barely if im sitting, mostly when im standing
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Old 02-20-09, 10:06 PM
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Here's the things I have encountered with creaking like that:
-One or more pedals are loose. Make sure they are tight.
-Your bottom bracket has something going on with it.
-The spindle on your pedal needs more grease or other work.
-Make sure the crank bolts are freakin' tight.
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Old 02-20-09, 10:13 PM
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it has nothing to do with the pedals thats for sure, so its either the bb or the crank needs some tightening

thanks alot for the input tho
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Old 02-20-09, 10:34 PM
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grease the bb threads.
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Old 02-20-09, 10:50 PM
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This isn't a SSFG thing. You'd probably get a better answer here.

That being said, it can be:
- Pedal spindles
- Pedal bearings
- Dry chain
- Chainring bolts
- Crank arms
- Bottom Bracket shells
- Bottom Bracket bearings (if it's loose ball)

The bottom bracket is the most time consuming. I'd lube and or tighten in this order (and check for the creak after each step):
- Lube chain
- Grease and tighten chainring bolts
- Grease and tighten pedals
- Grease and tighten crank arms
- Service the bottom bracket


Trust me. I had a creak last week. After removing the rear wheel, pedals, crank arms, BB shells, BB ball bearings, cleaning and lubing the ball bearings and reinstalling ALL of that. I found that the creak was coming from the master link on my chain. ONE drop of lube would have saved all of that work. Seriously...one drop.
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Old 02-20-09, 10:55 PM
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Also, I forgot to mention that it could be that your headphones aren't up loud enough. Locate the volume nob and turn up until you can't hear the creak anymore.
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Old 02-21-09, 09:23 PM
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had the same prob and it was the chain. try replacing it if its not the bb or pedals
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Old 02-21-09, 11:16 PM
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Usually for problems like this, I distinguish if it's a creak or a squeak. I know it sounds semantic, but it has helped me diagnose whether something needs to be tightened or lubed. I had a creak for a week before I realized I'd lost a chainring bolt. I would check those if your problem hasn't already been solved. Now I tighten those regularly.
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Old 02-22-09, 10:47 AM
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When I had a Mercier Kilo no matter what I did, I had creaking up until I swapped out the bottom bracket. As soon as I did that it never creaked again.
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Old 02-22-09, 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by chrispiascik
When I had a Mercier Kilo no matter what I did, I had creaking up until I swapped out the bottom bracket. As soon as I did that it never creaked again.
thats great as im about to switch my bottom bracket out as well. did it make a pinging sound? i suspect the chainring may be the culprit of that.
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Old 02-22-09, 12:38 PM
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Pedal threads do this all the time, tight or not.

Remove pedals. Grease threads. Replace and torque to spec.

That has ended every weird creak or click I've ever had.

.
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Old 02-22-09, 12:43 PM
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Yeah let's just randomly start guessing at things.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html
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