Can’t track down my awful creaking - any ideas??

[andy.mgnr]

I was hoping to get your guys’ help as I’ve developed an awful creaking on my freshly built Fairlight Holt and I’m at my wits end having tried everything I can think of to fix it.

It feels like a stiff clicking that vibrates through the whole frame, and that happens rhythmically along with each pedal stroke as opposed to the type of creak I’ve gotten on pressfit bottom brackets. It happens whether I’m pedaling very softly (barely at all) or putting down a lot of power. It happens whether I’m out of the saddle or not.

It seems like it has to be coming from the bottom bracket but I’ve never had a threaded bottom bracket creak on me, and it’s all brand new. T47 BB from Wheels Mfg and an M9120 XTR crankset.

I’ve fully rebuilt the cranks and bottom bracket twice now, including the direct mount XTR chainring all according to Shimano’s instructions. Greased pedals, but they’re the exact same pedals I take off and put on my gravel bike which does not creak so it won’t be the pedals. Greased the rear axle. Greased Seatpost and seat collar, but can’t be the Seatpost as I took it entirely off the bike for a test ride and it still creaked horribly. I even greased where the dropper cable enters the bottom of the Seatpost just in case.

Any opinions would be appreciated, cheers!

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by andy.mgnr

I was hoping to get your guys’ help as I’ve developed an awful creaking on my freshly built Fairlight Holt and I’m at my wits end having tried everything I can think of to fix it.

It feels like a stiff clicking that vibrates through the whole frame, and that happens rhythmically along with each pedal stroke as opposed to the type of creak I’ve gotten on pressfit bottom brackets. It happens whether I’m pedaling very softly (barely at all) or putting down a lot of power. It happens whether I’m out of the saddle or not.

It seems like it has to be coming from the bottom bracket but I’ve never had a threaded bottom bracket creak on me, and it’s all brand new. T47 BB from Wheels Mfg and an M9120 XTR crankset.

I’ve fully rebuilt the cranks and bottom bracket twice now, including the direct mount XTR chainring all according to Shimano’s instructions. Greased pedals, but they’re the exact same pedals I take off and put on my gravel bike which does not creak so it won’t be the pedals. Greased the rear axle. Greased Seatpost and seat collar, but can’t be the Seatpost as I took it entirely off the bike for a test ride and it still creaked horribly. I even greased where the dropper cable enters the bottom of the Seatpost just in case.

Any opinions would be appreciated, cheers!

Tighten down your cassette a little bit more and see if it still creaks! I have had this happen a few times! If it's still creaks then check the chain for a tight link.

[Baron Blubba]

Also disassemble and grease every interface on the cassette, before tightening it more than you think you should.

[oldpotatoe]

Chainring bolts?
Handlebar/stem/headset?
cogset/grease on FHB first, then tight(!)...?

[mcteague]

Make sure to grease the QRs, or thru-axles. Over the years I've chased down odd creaks that I was sure were BB related but ended up being the quick release.

Tim

[Mikej]

What type of T/A axle or qr? I’ve found the DT Swiss TA to require a drop or 2 of some Tri Flow between the built in washer and also some in the splines when the lever is pulled out. Be sure to work it in and clean off the excess since it’s close to the disc. On carbon bikes it sounds like it’s the bb.

[carpediemracing]

Can you replicate the noise by pushing down hard on a crank/pedal when the bike is stationary? I'll reach over the bike and grab a pedal with each hand (gloves help), put my torso on the saddle, and then very firmly but slowly push down on one downstroke side, then set the other pedal for the downstroke, and do it again.

Often I can replicate the noise this way, in a quiet, controlled environment, and chase the sound with my ears.

Also, no one said this, and it's a freshly built frame, but check for cracks.

[dcama5]

Originally Posted by Baron Blubba

Also disassemble and grease every interface on the cassette, before tightening it more than you think you should.

Yes to above, old potatoe also. I had creaking and crackling sounds as I rode along that got worse with more distance on a road bike years ago. I just could not find the reason, but when I took the cassette apart and greased all interfaces, it stopped.

[catchourbreath]

Internally routed hoses/housing? Did you use any foam churro to surround it if so?

[Spaghetti Legs]

I had a maddening mystery creak once that turned out to be clear coat on the rear dropout.

[nspace]

I know a common problem on some direct mount chainrings (I just encountered this on my Raceface cinch/turbine setup) is the chainring creaking, just a bit of play on the splines that creates a click sound/feeling through the frame. This literally just happened to me this weekend and it made the bike unrideable for me until I figured it out. The torque is quite high on those interfaces (like 50nm), and a gel loctite on the splines can help if there is play.

Here is a video that may help. Before I discovered this, I was convinced it was my BB setup and tore the whole thing down multiple times. Park tools also has a video on this.

[Geemalar]

I’ll second the rear quick release…….I had a horrible creak and went though the typical A to Z list………..replaced my fancy Zipp qr with an old Bontrager I had sitting in the spares box. The Bontrager had wider flanges that tightened up against the dropouts. Bike was silent from the moment I swapped qr’s, and that was 4 or 5 months ago.

[oldguy00]

Does it happen when you are standing pedalling? If not, check seat rail connection point?

[David Kirk]

Can you make the noise happen while not riding? Try standing over the bike with your hands on the drops and pushing down on one side of the bars and then switching sides as if you were climbing or sprinting. Go slow and firm.

How about standing beside the bike with one hand on the saddle and the other on the stem with the pedal at the bottom of the stroke…now push down on the pedal slowly but firmly. Switch sides back and forth a few times.

Do the same as above but put your foot at the center of the crank arm and not the pedal.

Lastly - who installed the headset? Any chance that the fork crown race had a loose fit?


dave

[OtayBW]

Thirdsies on the QR. It's the low-hanging fruit here. Either that, or your Genecktegesoink may be on the fritz....