Creaking Bottom Bracket

[CharlesF]

I think I have traced a creaking noise to my Bottom Bracket. It sounds like something leather creaking and I originally thought it was the saddle.

What should I do? Do I just replace or is there some maintenance to be done; by the way it is a 2008 Ridgeback Flight 02 and I have no idea on the type of BB.

 

[Broadside]

Creaks and squeaks are a very tricky thing to pin down, the tubing of the frame transmits sound around very well. Have a look at the Sheldon Brown guides for tracking things down, but here is a list of the following things that have caused creaks for me in the past:

1. Dirty seat post, solved by removing, cleaning, greasing and re-assembly
2. Gear cable guides at top of down tube, this can cause a creak with pedal rotation because you are subtly pulling the bars side to side, solved by removing cables from guides and putting a dab of grease on the end of the cables then re-insert
3. Loose headset or stem clamps, just need to be tightened up
4. Saddle rails, solved by tightening up the saddle clamp on to the rails
5. Bottom bracket noise (on a BB30 bike), solved by torquing up the chainset as it had worked loose
6. Noisey wheel rotation if the wheel axle has rubber seals on the outside, solved by putting a drop of light oil on the seals which stops the squeak
7. Creaking clipless pedal, I never did solve this one but it just went away!

Good luck finding your exact problem, it is a bit of a nightmare...

 

[Tim Hall]

I think I have traced a creaking noise to my Bottom Bracket. It sounds like something leather creaking and I originally thought it was the saddle.

What should I do? Do I just replace or is there some maintenance to be done; by the way it is a 2008 Ridgeback Flight 02 and I have no idea on the type of BB.

A bit of Googling suggests it's a sealed bottom bracket, with either square taper or Octalink. Either way not a lot of maintenance to be done, but for 5 years old it's done you well. You could bite the bullet and put a new one in, they're not everso expensive, but you will need a couple of special tools. I have had success in getting rid of a BB squeak by removing it, wrapping the threads in a turn or two of PTFE tape and reinstalling it. You'll still need special tools to do this.

 

[CharlesF]

Broadside, thanks for the list of things to check. All are relevant except for the wheel axles as they are new. This afternoon I have tightened and cleaned everything. I had a quick ride and it sounds as if the creak has disappeared. Of course, I should have done one and gone for a ride to determine which on your list was my culprit.

Tim, a bit of research using your info shows the BB is an Octalink. abit more searching and I found out how to remove the cranks, and I have the tool (unused) in my box of tools.I am the second owner of the bike and I hound that the threads on the cranks are stripped. That means I have been unable to remove the cranks. Instead, I laid the bike on it's side and dripped some oil in each side.

I will be going for a ride tomorrow and will tell you the result.

Thanks very much for the help.

 

[Nigeyy]

Excellent news! FWIW, my favourite noises that I've had have been:

1. a tap, tap, tap noise. Drove me crazy. After much scratching of heads and realizing it only seemed to occur going down hills or on long straights, I found the culprit.... the cable was hitting the side of the downtube when the bike was in the smallest cog at the back, and with the frame being alu, this noise was magnified.

2. a creak, creak noise. Was 100% convinced it was coming from the bb until I adjusted the headset and all was quiet again!

Obviously, you never stop learning..... By the way, sooner or later you'll need to replace the bb -you've hit upon one of my least favourite bicycle designs of putting weak threads on the alu crankarm to help remove the crankarms (who thought of this, I mean who thought of this stupid idea?) You can use a pickle fork (commonly used for ball joint disassembly e.g. http://www.ebay.com/bhp/pickle-fork-tool) but this is definitely not for the faint hearted -I paid a bike store to do mine when I had the same problem. Oh, and when you do have to change the bb, make sure you or the person who does it uses some kind of anti-seize on the interfaces!

Broadside, thanks for the list of things to check. All are relevant except for the wheel axles as they are new. This afternoon I have tightened and cleaned everything. I had a quick ride and it sounds as if the creak has disappeared. Of course, I should have done one and gone for a ride to determine which on your list was my culprit.

 

[CharlesF]

Broadside, traced the creak to my pedals, replaced them with an old pair, and is quiet. Realised my creaking pedals have covered more miles than the "old" ones.

Nigeyy,thanks for your advice,I will have a look at the tool but most probably ask my LBS for help.

I really appreciate all the help
Vheers!