Is my BB on its way out?

[Spoked Wheels]

Yesterday I noticed a noise coming from what I think is the BB area. It's either the BB or the pedal but I doubt it.

It happened when off the saddle and more so when turning a corner an accelerating (the bike is at angle). I tried a few corners just to make sure it wasn't a one off.

My BB is one of these

and I think it has about 1500 miles max. About a month ago I removed the cranckset and BB to clean and grease again and it was fine after all when back. 500 miles since then. Probably it's worth removing parts again and checking things over or should I order a new BB?

 

[Globalti]

Only replace the BB if there's play or roughness in the bearings. There are loads of places from where the creak could be coming, especially if it's handling-related.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Remove it, clean inside the frame, re-grease, re-install, listen. Worked for me a few times and then I did eventually have to replace.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Since it's a sealed BB there is not so much I can do apart from cleaning the BB shell which I did only a month ago and by the state of it then I don't expect it to be too dirty.

I don't think it's loose as I can put some weight on either pedal and there's no play. I can't feel any roughness in the bearings either.

I will take her out again and pay more attention on the cranks position as the noise appears.

Cheers for the suggestions so far

 

[HLaB]

1500miles, unless it has all been through river no way its the BB. Check your chain ring bolts it could be that, noises are deceptive though.

 

[Mo1959]

You haven't had the rear wheel off recently? I made a total rookie error of managing to not replace the rear wheel totally level in the dropouts when I had it off to change tyres. Made quite a creaking noise when pedalling.

 

[hoski]

What sort of noise? Clicking, ticking, squeaking, creaking, grinding, grating or vibrating?

 

[goo_mason]

Can also start making some alarming noises if it's loose - the BB on my bike has a habit of coming loose no matter how tightly it's screwed in! As others have said, remove it, clean it and the frame threads. Make sure the crank splines are greased before reattaching the cranks. Give all of the chainring bolts a tiny bit of a turn and drop some lube around them. Remove the pedals from the cranks, then clean and regrease the threads on both and reinstall.

I did all of that two weeks ago after the removal/cleaning of my loose BB which cured the worst of the creaking but not all of it. The bike was silent when riding it the next day :-)

 

[Spoked Wheels]

You haven't had the rear wheel off recently? I made a total rookie error of managing to not replace the rear wheel totally level in the dropouts when I had it off to change tyres. Made quite a creaking noise when pedalling.

Not recently but it's an important point that made me think about another issue thanks.

What sort of noise? Clicking, ticking, squeaking, creaking, grinding, grating or vibrating?

I'd say squeaking or creaking.

1500miles, unless it has all been through river no way its the BB. Check your chain ring bolts it could be that, noises are deceptive though.

I was talking to a new guy on the Sat club run and his LBS changes his chain cassette and BB every 400 miles.... the funny thing is that he was recommending the place. I said that next time his bike is due for a service he should try a different LBS and see what they say.

I think the consensus is to strip it down, clean, re grease it all. and put it all back together.

Cheers guys, much appreciated.

 

[ianrauk]

I was talking to a new guy on the Sat club run and his LBS changes his chain cassette and BB every 400 miles....

That's ridiculous.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

That's ridiculous.

That's what I thought but I couldn't be so outspoken I had just met the guy.

 

[uclown2002]

That's ridiculous.

It's beyond ridiculous!

 

[anyuser]

The only BB I have had fail in less than 1500 miles was an FSA one. It was replaced by a Uberbike one which is running fine at another 1500 miles and all the shimano ones and SRAM ones are going strong at far longer mileages.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Right!!!! All its well now.

I did as posters suggested and the problem's gone away. I think the BB was OK and my money is on the crank's two small screws. I don't think they were quite as tight as they should have been. The instructions said 12 - 14 Nm so I did 13Nm last time but now I went for 14Nm.