Frame Creaking Rage

Ok, so I bought a 2nd hand frame off ebay and set about building it up. I have done this a few times before so was not to concerned but upon finishing the job there is a really load creaking/clicking noise that sounds like it is coming from the bottom bracket. I have changed the bottom bracket and the problem is still there. It only creaks when stomping on the pedals and there is nothing on compression of the suspension so I don’t think it is those bearings or the bushings. Really not sure what else it could be apart from the frame itself, which would be bad. Any ideas???

Grease your quick release skewer on the back wheel, check gear hanger bolts are tight, check chain ring bolts are tight.

It could still be bearings/bushings. I’d go through the usual logical procedure of removing, cleaning and greasing the BB and crankset; spraying silicone lube into the front/rear of the chainring bolts (temporary damping) and checking the pedal threads are greased. If you still have noises, then maybe you’re going to have to set about the bearings/bushings. You can use silicone spray to temporarily lube each pivot point, just remember to cover your brake caliper/rotor.

Don’t mean to worry you, but I had a similar issue last year. Turned out I had a frame fracture where the seatpost joined the BB shell. The crack was very fine and not too big (10mm) so could barely be seen when the bike wasn’t being pedalled. It was only really visible when the frame was under strain. Try leaning securing the toptube/seattube and having a waggle of the BB to see if you can see anything.

Mmm. The dreaded C word does spring to mind – but only because that was the reason for my recent creaking experience. It’s probably not that though. Lots more things to creak on a full suss. Mind numbingly annoying though.

Silicone spray is about the worst thing you could use, its not meant for metal to metal contact.

Sure it’s not your pedals needing a grease?

Silicone spray is about the worst thing you could use, its not meant for metal to metal contact.

You’ve misunderstood. Notice the word ‘temporary’ in my post – the spray is being used as a means to lubricate junctions temporarily in order to determine where a noise is/isn’t coming from. It’s much, much quicker than stripping down to clean/regrease. It’s not in the least bit harmful to anything and minor excess will dry without wet residue. If it does reveal the source of the noise, then a proper strip/grease can be carried out.

Pedals, seatpost, Rear QR.

They were the last causes of creaks on my bikes.

Once upon a time i had a creak from the front mech, could have sworn it was BB! As i tightened the front mech a little it made the creak, backed off, tightened properly-winner.

Pedals – especially the axle/crank interface?

i had exactly the same after buying second hand frame off ebay. went through what you are going through thinking frame crack / bottom bracket / bushes etc. after a few weeks of worrying i stripped the saddle off the bike cleaned the rails,clamp and threads thoroughly, re-eassembled and it cured it.

Cheers guys. Lots of help. The BB, pedals and cranks have all been either replaced or taken out and greased up in an effort to find out what’s up. Pretty sure its not the seatpost as it still clicks when stood up pedalling, and freewheeling down down stuff the suspension works away silently. Have loosened and re tightened the front mech (as well as the bottle cage bosses, was getting a bit delusional at that point) but I’ll try the chainring bolts and rear QR when I get home. Slightly concerned about it being a crack, but I can get to a point where I can rotate the pedals back and forth by maybee a few mm and it sounds as if it is clicking in then out if you see what I mean allthough it does this with two different sets of cranks both before and after the BB change…

It has occured to me to just get some spokey dokeys and try and drown it out.

What kind of frame is it and are the shock bushes and pivot bearings in good condition?

Do you know when they were last changed?

All you can really do is go through a process of elmination, that said most used frames will have worn bearings and worn bushes, also shocks that need serviced.

What kind of frame is it?

It was the chainring bolts on my wife’s bike. I changed the pedals, seat clamp, seatpost, wheel QR & was about to take the BB out when I checked the chainring bolts. One was loose; quick tighten & no more creaking.

Kaesae – It is an 06 S-works stumpy. Apparently the bearings had been serviced before christmas, however there is some play in the bushing at the bottom of the shock so I am starting to doubt that claim. I realise that the suspension gubbins is going to need a overhaul at some point but the fact that the suspension will move silently and I can get a clicking from just a slight rotation of the pedals make me suspicious of the BB, allthough I suppose pedalling will load the suspension bearings a different way to the ‘normal’ suspension action. (Allthough if the bearings are round, would that make a difference???)

As stevede said, try just greasing your rear dropouts and QR. Worked for me on a couple of bikes. The QR moves slightly when under load from pedalling and squeaks because its dry. It sounds like it’s coming from the BB, but the noise is transmitted through the frame. Only takes 30 secs and a bit of grease, so not worth not trying it

FSR? Check the driveside chainstay pivot. Both my old Intense and Turner used to click there if the bearings were shot or the bolts a fraction loose.

This pivot gets loaded and unloaded by chain tension, and generally they’re pretty tiny, so wear quickly.

Grab the DS seat and chain stays and give them a really good wiggle, or alternatively undo the seat stay from the rocker and see how smoothly the pivot moves.

I’ve have the same/similar problem and its killing me and the creak when off road is very loud and constant – initially I could have sworn it was the seatpost – but this would not appear to be the case.

I have managed to generate the creak whilst off the bike by pressing hard down on a pedal in the 6 o’clock position and then gently pulling the pedal crank out or pressing hard on one pedal and then moving the opt her in to the 6 o’clock position and pushing hard then. This happens on both pedals which suggests it is some form of lateral motion generating the creak. I took it into my local bikeshop and their view was that it was most likely the suspension (it uses some form of ball’n’socket joint)rather than the bottom bracket (which has been greased etc).

Having read some of the dialogue above – i will now check the bike (Scott Genius 20)for cracks.

Despite all indications to the contrary (quiet suspension action etc), the last time this happened to me on a GF Sugar it was in fact the main pivot. New bushings cured it.

As per MtbRoutes – my suspension is completely silent in vertical motion. It would appear to be generated thro’ a lateral motion with body weight when on the pedals

I’d still try greasing the saddle rails and seatpost,don’t take a minute anyhoo.
Ian

I had a the same frame,buy yourself a bucket full of shock bushings,’cause you,ll be changing them pretty regularly.
Just remembered,buy some rearly short crank arms if you dont enjoy pedal strikes.Other than that great frame.

sometimes an easy way to test the pivots etc once you get the creaking is to spray a bit of water from your water bottle onto various interfaces one at a time and test riding straight away. Often you’ll find that everything suddenly quietens down when you lube ( with water) the culprit. doesn’t always work but often will help identify the problem area

I had a vocal 575 frame…..in the end I found it was grime between the frame and the hanger. Took the hanger off cleaned it, and Robert’s your Dad’s Brother !!

I rebuilt my brother in laws 06 stumpy suspension and it was night and day better. Even when the bearings felt ok ish.

The lower pivot on those uses full complement bearings which means they are fully packed with balls, they don’t have a cage that spaces the balls apart which is great for low motion movement(it only ever strikes a small arc) but they are pretty sensitive to dirt and grime.
The pivot bolts are all Ali as well and hate being “dry”.

They are pretty easy to strip down so go for it and grease that baby up and see if it helps.

Hey guys. Just to say that it turned out that the chainstay pivot bearings needed filling up with grease, as a few of you mentioned. All running smoothly now. Thanks again for your help. Cheers

pedals