Anyone else suffer from the old creaky CSU problems?
Three forks in the last 12 months for me.
1x Zeb
1 x Lyrik
1 x Fox 36
So annoying and un needed.
There must be a better way to make a CSU.
Think the EXT ERA has a better design. Shame I could never get them set up to my liking.
Had it twice with my Lyrik, both times just outside the two year warranty period. The first time I paid for a new upper, the second time I got a new heavier duty steerer installed by RSF Suspension.
He glues in the steerers, they’re not just pressed in, and I’ve got the ebike version designed for up to 190mm travel forks. It’s only been in there about 6 months so I can’t tell you if it’s been a good solution but I’m more hopeful…
Yeah RSF have re bonded a 36 for me before.
Guess what happened to it?
Yep lasted around 9 months before the creak returned.
I have considered a DC fork on my enduro bike but not on a trail bike.
Dual crowns are the answer, Formula Nero R’s are only about 350g more than 38’s or Zebs.
I was very excited about the Selva dual crowns, but they never saw the light of day alas. Bloody Covid!
“ Yeah RSF have re bonded a 36 for me before.
Guess what happened to it?
Yep lasted around 9 months before the creak returned”
Ah, that’s not great…
Which model of steerer did you have fitted into the 36?
Think it goes to show that the axle to crown lengths and larger wheels are too much.
I used to have the same problems with 26" forks too.
Which model of steerer did you have fitted into the 36?
They just re bonded all the original parts back in.
Said they looked fine for re use.
TBH it's always the brake side stanchion that goes first for me. The steerer is normally ok.
I have considered a DC fork on my enduro bike but not on a trail bike.
set of SIDs will do you fine 🙂 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255688376735
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“They just re bonded all the original parts back in.”
That makes me feel a bit better!
I’m assuming that if a pressfit part is creaking then there will be some fretting wear, so a fresh part will fit more tightly. And the chunkier ebike steerer I had fitted will flex less and be less likely to creak.
“TBH it’s always the brake side stanchion that goes first for me. The steerer is normally ok.”
Interesting! I thought most of the creaking CSU moans were steerer related.
I’m sure if Fox and Rockshox had to offer five year warranties on their forks that the 38 and Zeb would be dual crown designs. But not enough people make them creak with the warranty period so the problem continues…
I’m assuming that if a pressfit part is creaking then there will be some fretting wear, so a fresh part will fit more tightly
The way he explained it to me was that the more wear marks there were on both surfaces the better the bond would become as it retained more of whatever bonding compound he uses.
Wasn’t there a company that made forks with a one piece steerer/crown to stop the creaking? Whatever happened to them as that seemed like a good idea?
It might have been Ohlin’s but could have been Cane Creek 🤷🏼
3 pairs of Zeb's, sold the 4th set. Fitted a set of Neros, no creaks, so much better than the Zebs for damping.
Bike seldom gets pedalled non big days and lives on uplifts, so its a mini dh bike bike.
Wasn’t there a company that made forks with a one piece steerer/crown to stop the creaking? Whatever happened to them as that seemed like a good idea?
It might have been Ohlin’s
Problem with the ohlins is that the bearing didn't fit all that well and creaked! (Atleast mine did)
EXT have an extended crown which silences a lot of the issues.
Agreed it’s frustrating as hell
had zebs go almost instantly older lyriks the same and a set of 22 fox 36 go the same
its frustrating as hell as you have to check everything under the sun to rule it out being the forks before sending in
Does anyone have the newest 2023/24 fox 36? Weren’t they supposed to eliminate this somehow to with the latest ones?
its frustrating as hell as you have to check everything under the sun to rule it out being the forks before sending in
Take the forks off, rest the lowers on the floor and the steerer on something higher so they're at a shallow angle to the floor (<45 degrees). Stand on the fork just below the arch.
Turn over, stand on the other side in the same place.
If it creaks/ticks, its the CSU, if not, it was almost certainly something else.
Only ever had one set of older Pikes go creaky, I obviously don't ride hard enough!
I thought the easiest test was bike upside down, wheel out and push and pull the legs alternately (like you're on a cross trainer)?
its frustrating as hell as you have to check everything under the sun to rule it out being the forks before sending in
The third pair I was asked if it was my frame or headset or something not the fork. Explained to Sram tech that when you stuck them in a vice and lent on them, they creaked.
I won't run Renthal stems as they creak, same as split crown races, always solid ones, preferably steel. The hope ones pit a creak after a while on the G1. If you can run a tall top headset like the Reset racing one or EC44, then you have less steerer flopping about which stops the top headset creaking.
Has anyone been able to send a creaky fork back direct to Sram?
How did you go about it?
Fork was bought off the Alpkit Outlet Store on Ebay and they've as yet not responded to my message.
Another thing Bomber Z1s, the original ones, have done better than subsequent forks (bolted CSUs).
Has anyone been able to send a creaky fork back direct to Sram?
An LBS may be handle a warranty return but will probably charge for it. Commencal asked me to return some stuff via a local shop and then refunded the 50 quid it cost.
I sent some Zeb's back with a creaky steerer and play in the bushings and they sent me a new fork.
Is a creaky CSU something to be concerned about or just noise?
I sent some Zeb’s back with a creaky steerer
You sent them direct to Sram?
Do you need a returns No or something like that?
I've always just taken forks back to the shop they came from before but it doesn't look like that's going to be possible this time.
No worries now.
All sorted and on their way back to warranty.
Is a creaky CSU something to be concerned about or just noise?
As unsure if it's just my internally routed cables or a brand new X-Fusion fork clicking on compression of fork.
I mean it's not going to fall apart on riding I v much doubt.
As an update on this thread I've had another two sets of Zebs go creaky since starting this thread.
Last one only lasted four rides.
Unimpressed is an understatement.
I'm now giving some serious though to some Formula Neros.
“As an update on this thread I’ve had another two sets of Zebs go creaky since starting this thread.
Last one only lasted four rides.”
FFS! It’s insane!
I wonder if the proportion of riders who ride hard enough, and are observant enough to realise that noise shouldn’t be happening, is small enough that they don’t care? Are the magazine tests too short or do they send them the parts that were made with the tightest tolerances, so are least likely to creak?
Dual crowns for all!
Took my epicevo for a full suspension service at the LBS in late 2022, and think it was plush told them that the reba, cos of the steerer fork interface creaking, was toast. It was just outside warranty and SRAM said not interested, but the LBS spoke w Specialized who forked (!) out for a new one. Kudos to Spesh, and Beyond Bikes who did the chat to sort it
Contrary to what I said 6 months ago, my 23 Lyriks are now creaking and will be going back once I'm back from holiday in two weeks!
Any point in just running some loctite into the creaky bits?
And another CSU has got the dreaded creak.
A Lyrik Ultimate that was replaced almost 12 months ago for a creaky CSU.
I blame myself as I was just thinking how nice it was having a silent bike.
Anyone have any experience with DVO forks?
Thinking of giving them a shot as I've had enough of RS.
I’d just ignore it personally. If it’s this frequent of an occurrence then provided it isn’t dangerous, I’d just consider it a quirk of the product.
I’d just ignore it personally.
I wish I could.
I know that it's unlikely to be a massive structural issue but it's always there at the back of my mind.
I also have a Mezzer back with JTech at the moment.
That's also waiting for a warranty CSU to arrive for fitting.
I know I ride a lot compared to most folks but the load is spread over four bikes so shouldn't really be any more than average per bike.
You fellahs need to learn to embrace the mince. 😁
Do dual crowns ever have this problem? They look a MUCH better structural solution.
DCs creak at the clamp bolts both top and bottom, I usually clean ours about once a month, take bolts out, take legs out, clean and refit.
We do use it in silly muddy conditions but dusty conditions will also bring some creaks at times
So they creak but because they’re bolted together you can clean them at home to make them silent and safe?
Even if that's the case, DC seems a lot easier to sort that SC.
Yeah my boxxers did sometimes creak but it was a different creak- just the user-servicable interface moving a little where the clamp and tubes bolt up. Just not the same thing as a pressfit csu getting loose.
The frustrating thing is that when you get the csu fixed, it'll very rarely come back- your local suspension company can do a better job than Fox and Rockshox can be bothered to do. It's an almost solved problem. The existance of aftermarket fixes for factory problems is often infuriating like this.
So they creak but because they’re bolted together you can clean them at home to make them silent and safe?
I've not had them creak for the reasons related to the topic no.
I've not handle a single set of single crowns not creak, it's painful.
Dual crowns can still creak, but as mentioned above, you can remedy it.
On the subject of getting new steerers pressed in, I got an ebike steerer fitted by rsf, I swear the forks were a lot stiffer as a result, forks felt so much better when that was the only change.
As I mentioned earlier on in the thread i had everything pressed out and re bonded back in on a 36 by RST.
That lasted for a while longer but eventually started creaking again.
It had been sat in the back of the garage as a spare for months. It was upside down with some loctite pooled in around the stanchions and steerer.
I fitted it back on one of the bikes when the Mezzer went back for warranty.
Surprisingly the 36 is silent again.
So for anyone that wants a home remedy, stand your fork upside down for six months with a pool of either loctite 290 or 638. 😂
It was that long ago i can't remember which one i used and I've tried them both before in the past.
So that's three forks in a month for me now. 🤬
Another Zeb gave in to the dreaded creak half way round todays ride.
****, ****, shit, ****.
Oh well at least one of my other creakers should be back from warranty with a new CSU tomorrow.
At least I'm not having to do a full service on them as they're not even getting to 100 hours.
