Thought i'd throw this one at you as there seems to be a few mountain bike fans on here.I have a Klein Attitude hardtail with a Shimano deore lx chainset and hollowtech cranks/bottom bracket which has developed a severe creaking noise.I have tightened the cranks , re-assembled the chainset , cleaned chainset , checked the sealed bottom bracket , all to no avail.

Any ideas?

 

I've experienced the same problem since i had a new chainset and cranks (deore) fitted. Seemed to be fine before, but it cant be anything to do with the frame, it has to be related to the new cranks.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm might be the weight upon the saddle thats making the bike creak

 

atleast i dont have suspension under my seat

 

Cranks are the usual culprit - but your efforts seems to rule that out - do you have a friendly local specialist shop that could service it for you? I take mine over to one near me once a year to try and pre-empt my bulk damaging my crank/seatpost/frame/local roads...etc

 

Aluminium frames are prone to "unexplainable" creaks from the bottom bracket area....
Get onto a cycling forum - this subject has been puzzling them for the best part of the last 2 decades

 

i doesn't creak but i do tend to fall a sleep on mine though

 

It is an aluminium frame (my first so don't know what to expect as far as durability goes).The bike is about 18 months old.Like a few on here i used to be into biking 10 years ago but now everything seems to be sealed for life or impossible to fix without specialist tools/knowhow.The noise seemed to develop after my local dealer tightened my bb as it had come loose.Should i look to replace that as it's a sealed hollow unit?

TIA

PeteS

 

Bottom bracket knackered. Replace.

UB

 

Creaking crank here too! As I ride in town I need a stealth machine, the noise has kept me off this particular machine for some time now.

Anyone want to buy a vintage Cannondale with creaking cranks and leaking forks or have something interesting to sell?

 

Try the seat clamp to the seat post, take it to pieces and give it a good clean, make sure its really tight, then make sure the seat post into the seat tube is good and tight, it can often be those areas that creak. Is it only when you pedal? Try standing and pedaling does it still do it? Could be the cranks like the others have mentioned...

 

Bottom Bracket or Cranks most likely - problem with BB sealed units is that you have to replace the whole thing - get a new one installed & put some Coppa slip on when you install it - then easy to get out/regrease as required.

 

Ive had this on my bike. I found that grease had got where the pedal arm connects to the bottom bracket. Clean with meths and bingo...no more creak!

 

Clean the BB cup threads and crank mating faces VERY VERY well to get rid of any small bit of dust. The creaking can be due to grinding of dirt against alloy faces.

Nick

 

Most likely to be the cranks or bottom bracket, but during 6 years working in bike shops I've seen it caused by:

Cranks
Chainring bolts
Bottom bracket
front mech clamp (there can be enough flex in the frame to make it move slightly)
Seat post in frame
Seat post clamp on frame
Seat post head (where it clamps the seat)
Saddle
Rear wheel in frame
Rear hub
Cable outers rubbing on the frame
Stem (noise travels through alu frames, it can be hard to tell where it is)
Headset (see above)

Testing things to determine exactly when you get it can help, i.e:
Does it only do it when pedalling ? (indicates drive train)
Does it only do it when seated ? (indicates seat post and saddle)
If you stand up with the pedals level and bounce hard on them does it creak ? (indicates cranks or possibly BB, if not possibly chainrings)
If you do it again does it creak a second time ? (If not, prob cranks on BB spindle)
If not, try switching which foot is at the front and try it, now does it creak ? (if it does it is definately cranks on BB)
.....

If you are stuck take all the things I suggested apart, clean them, smother in fresh grease (apart from crank to BB interface if it's square taper) and re-fit nice and tight. Saddle rails in seat post clamp creaks can sometimes be fixed by wrapping a wee piece of greased paper round the rail before fitting.

 

Thanks for all the replies.It's definitely drivetrain related as it's only there when i pedal and still does it when i stand up.The cranks attach to the bb on a spline.I will try and clean this.Why is everything sealed nowadays (apart from the obvious attempt to get you to buy a replacement!).If i do need to replace the bb should i replace it with the same or upgrade it as it's only lasted 18 months.I thought deore stuff was supposed to be good!

Cheers

PeteS

 

????

 

Would you care to enlighten me?