Clickety-Click

[Salad Dodger]

This weekend I tried (for fun) to ride my full suspenion MTB up a really steep hill. The sort of hill that I would normally get off at the bottom of and walk....

Result - a lot of clicking sounding like it was coming from the rear suspension bushings. Every pedal stroke (or every flex of the rear suspension brought on by every pedal stroke) caused a click noise.

Riding on the flat does not cause any clicking noise.

So, 2 questions, please:

1) Is there anything that might need lubricating in the rear suspension linkage?

2) Do I need to take anything to bits to lubricate the bearings, or do I simply oil the pivots from the outside?

Sorry for my obvious lack of mechanical know how........

 

[lpretro1]

If you have a full sus bike then it it likely the click will come from the shock bushing than the frame bushings. If you lift the bike by the nose of the saddle you may feel a clunk/click. If so this is the shock bushings. If you get hold of the shock and wiggle it in line then you may feel some play as well. Bushings wearing is normal wear and tear and they are stock items to change on shock service. If it is not the rear shock then you may wish to take the bike to a shop as it is easy to do a lot of expensive damage if you don't know what you are doing. However, not all bike shops will have the ability to service these so may have to be a dealer for your make of bike.

 

[Maz]

If the problem only manifests itself in lower gears, is it possible that the rear derailler is hitting the spokes?
I had this problem once.

 

[Salad Dodger]

Thanks for your replies, guys. Sorry not to have acknowledged sooner, but I have been away for a few days. Bike has not fallen to bits, but the noise persists on steep hills, so it will have to go to the shop for a check over.....

 

[fossyant]

Check the really stupid stuff first - cranks, BB, chain ring bolts and pedals - I know suspension adds another element of checks, but check the obvious (or not) first.

 

[the_mikey]

Clicks can come from spokes too, check for loose spokes, but also be careful not to over tighten them.