I have some pike 454's, they are a couple of years old, but have already had the csu replaced twice and are now out of warranty.
They creak, or make a cracking sound under compression and even more so when braking. They have been doing this a while, but are starting to do my head in.
I guess its the bonding between the stanchions and crown that is causing this, just not sure whether to keep running them and just wear an ipod to get rid of the sound, or to bite the bullet and replace?
Anyone else run forks with this for a considerable length of time with no horror stories?
My mates Shiver SC's used to creak ... they snapped clean in half when he pussied out of a road gap and hit the brakes! I know where I would put the forks ... bin.
Some will say just keep riding them, some have successfully ridden creaking csu's for a long time.
My take is that the creak is indicative of minute movement at a bond thats not meant to move - It takes all your braking and impact forces and you have no way of knowing when it will fail, or whether it with fail gradually or suddenly.
Change soon as to avoid the risk IMO.