Creaky bottom bracket?
 

So I have been riding my new bike for about a week now. I have this bottom bracket :

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...3#ReviewHeader

Today, out of nowhere, I started getting some fairly loud creaks coming from the bottom bracket area. It happens at a certain point on every rotation, and happens mostly when I am pedaling forcefully (ie. starting after stopping at a light) but it is very obvious and is driving me insane. I have removed the cranks and BB, re-installed and tightened everything. Also tightened all the stack bolts on the chainring. This fixed it for about 10 minutes, then it started again. Any ideas?

Lube. If the problem persists it's a trip to the LBS. You may want to buy a new, higher quality BB as well.

It may not be your BB at all. It could very well be a pedal.

Does it happen when you're out of the saddle? If not, lube your seat rails.

Thought it could be the saddle, but it happens when I stand and pedal or push forcefully on the pedals. I'll double check the pedal tightness.

Yup, it could be pedals. If you really don't know what it is the LBS is a last resort.

Yeah, I like to figure it out myself though cause then I learn, and this site is an excellent resource as well. If all else fails, I'll definitely hit up the LBS

What cranks are you using? Some low-buck cranksets often have less than perfect square-taper interfaces and the poor fit can cause some creaking.

Wait...you have S-300s with a GXP right? Did you grease the spindle?

Sorry, its not the bike in my sig but a new bike I built up. Running these cranks

http://store.somafab.com/irdde144trcr.html

Do I still grease the spindle?

No. Splined spindles get grease, square-taper typically doesn't.

Ok, so typically just grease threads of square tapered BB's? Just wanted to make sure..

Yessir.

I get the same creaking in my cranks every once in awhile, lube on my square taper spindle makes it go away though (even though you technically don't have to lube the spindle)

the reason for not greasing the taper as to avoid over seating the crank arm and potentially cracking the aluminum crank arm interface

x 1 million, I tore my touring bike apart looking for a clicking noise from the BB area. Turned out being a pedal going bad.

I've encountered this problem as well. Not the pedals, but in only happens when I'm out of the saddle and sprinting. More importantly, how do I take off cranks? I don't know much about maintenance.

You need a crank puller. If you're unsure, visit your lbs.

Had the same issue, retightened everything, and it turned out to be a tiny bit of the pedal that was missing some grease. Just enough so that the added weight of at the right time in a rotation would cause the metal on metal creaking.

Ok, I got home, took of cranks and BB and regreased BB threads. Re-installed cranks, and greased pedals. Tightened everything as much as it will go, but still that damn creak when I am sprinting or out of the saddle. I can "feel" the creak in my pedals so to speak and it happens usually on the down stroke of the right foot. I have some cheap-ass pedals that came with my Windsor awhile ago that I temporarily threw on my ride until I get some nicer pedals... No way its seatpost or saddle - tightened the hell out of them. Also tightened quill.

Two questions:

1.) Could cheap-o pedals cause a creak?

2.) Also I tightened the hell out of the fixing bolts that screw into my BB spindle. As tight as I could. This seemed to help a little, but cant over-tightening these bolts be bad for the BB?

Thanks guys this creak is driving me to madness!

Absolutely.

It can be worse for the interface on your crank arms than your BB.

Assuming all your chainring bolts are tight, try putting a drop of light oil (or even chain lube if that's all you've got) on each one where it makes contact with your chainring.

It's also very possible that your BB isn't fitting into the frame as snugly as it should. You may want to try teflon tape (like what plumbers use) in place of grease.

Will do on grease - all I got is triflow. And teflon tape will be my next attempt. Thanks man

this was my guess...