Creaks in the crank/bottom bracket area

blorg

I have a very annoying creak which manifests itself when I put and power on the pedals (the more power, the more creaking.)

This may have occured after I cycled through a small flood with water that did go above the bottom bracket level.

Cartridge bottom bracket itself is perfectly stiff, no wobble or give at all. Cranks are tight. Changed the pedals although I wasn't expecting that was it anyway.

Cassette and chain are brand new, cranks and chainrings are original, around 5-6 years old with 20-30,000km on it. Frame is aluminum.

Second bike shop reckoned the space between the bottom bracket and the frame needed regreasing and after doing this it does seem improved but the creaking is still there.

There is really a noticable flex in that area if I push down on one side with the brakes on. Now it is possible that it was always like this but I didn't really notice until the creaking.

Any ideas? Off to do the Camino de Santiago on this bike Saturday and the creaking is driving me nuts!

simonahfrost

Hmm, me too sometimes, strip and clean chainring mating surfaces and re-tension all chainring bolts, often problem is solved by this when all else seems OK. Mine occurred after many miles in the rain, scottish summer cycling scene this year!!
Good luck

woody-som

I had the same problem on my nearly 1 year old bike, I removed the BB, and regreased the threads. Took the chainrings off and beded them in grease, and even pulled the spindle out of the pedals. The clicking was still there, fitted a new pair of pedals and that solved the problem.

A noise like that it more trial and error in correcting.

A friend had a new Bianchi bike that had a creak, it turned out the frame had a fault, so check the frame very carefully around that area.

blorg

Trial and error is indeed what the first bike shop reckoned. So far we have changed pedals, tightened cranks, and removed and re-greased BB.

As I said, there does appear to be a lot of flex in the frame associated with the creak- anything to look out for there specifically?

woody-som

excess movement between frame parts, different amounts of flex on opposite sides (like you have). You may be able to see a small crack especially around the welds around the BB shell and where the other tubes join it, always a spot for failure due to excessive forces in this area.

HuDDy25k

Question ?

DO YOU USE THE JET WASH WHEN CLEANING YOUR BIKE?

blorg

Hi Huddy, no, certainly not, I am well aware of the warnings against that. I generally use Muc-Off and stick it in the shower. I can assure you with our water pressure (or lack thereof) there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

MarvintheAndroid

Useful advice on Parktools about this issue.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=30

Marv