Whats that creaking?
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 0
From: Rohnert Park, CA
Bikes: Pake track, Soma DoubleCross, LeMond Etape, Maruishi RoadAce 303
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.
-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.
#7
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.
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.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 0
From: Rohnert Park, CA
Bikes: Pake track, Soma DoubleCross, LeMond Etape, Maruishi RoadAce 303
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.
#10
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.
#11
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Cambridge, MA
Bikes: Soma Rush, Ebay "track" frame beater bike, Standard 125R 24" BMX
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.
#12
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.
#13
Schuylkill Trail Bum


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 937
Likes: 197
From: Conshohocken, PA
Bikes: 1997 LeMond Alpe d'Huez ... 1986 Shogun Prairie Breaker PRO
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.
.
Remove pedals. Grease threads. Replace and torque to spec.
That has ended every weird creak or click I've ever had.
.
#14
cab horn

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 28,353
Likes: 30
From: Toronto
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione




