Quill stem/headset creaks?

[ravdg316]

I've had two bikes so far with threaded headsets, and both of them seem to creak. Any recommendations on how to deal with this before I start taking everything apart and greasing everything? Thanks all!

Some more info: one was a campy record (brand new) threaded headset, and the current one is an Ultegra. Both used the same Nitto stem/nitto M106NAS handlebar combo.

[Black Dog]

Carbon prep paste on the bar stem interface and the stem steerer interface and creaks will go away.

[MerckxMad]

the culprit was the nut that clamps the stem extension around the bars. On two bikes with this setup, I greased the bolt and torqued to spec. No more noise.

[drewellison]

Is the Nitto bar one of the sleeved ones, like the noodle bar? Sometimes the noodle bar will creak in the sleeve. I had one once. What I did is use some of the threadlock, easy flow kind of locktite and try to flow some into the sleeve. Seems to work.

[ravdg316]

Although @Drew not sure what you mean by sleeved?

[drewellison]

Although @Drew not sure what you mean by sleeved?

I was too lazy to look up the M106NAS bar before, and I see it's not sleeved, so that would not be the source of your creak.

This one is sleeved, with the center raised section being a separate piece - sleeve.

[ultraman6970]

There is a chance is not the stem nor the hendlebar but the headsets.

Creaks is the reason it is important to grease and prep the frame before installing the headset.