squeaky bike

webbhost
webbhost Posts: 470
edited October 2008 in The bottom bracket
Hi alll,,

Ok so I have had my dawes 300 bike for about 2-3 years now - and the time is coming where I'm starting to hear quite a few squeaks... but how I know where they're coming from I dont know.

The wheels are newish.. front wheel meant to be "maintinance free" on the bearings, and I replaced the back bearings + cage with just bearings so that I have no cage to break down and crumble on me.

I have a slight feeling that there might be bearing problems in the stem (if thats what you call it? the bit at front of bike that connects frame to forks)... but I think I replaced that with just bearings a year or so back too.

Anyway, the real concern is that I'm thinking it may be coming from the bottom bracket, as I have only really noticed the "squeaking" when I am pedallling so far.


How durable are these bottom brackets, and how hard are they to replace? Can't say ive ever had to install one or take one out so im a little in the dark about this one.

Also if it turns out "not" to be bottom bracket, what tips do you have for finding the problem source?

I dont yet have a bike stand btw so pretty hard for me to put bike stationary n get the pedals moving to find the cause.
http://www.battlesnails.com/index.php?datastream=6

Comments

  • feel
    feel Posts: 800
    something like THIS is a cheap way of getting your bike off the ground to examine it better. Not familiar with spec of dawes 300 but removing BB will almost certainly require some investment in some specialist tools. However there are loads of other things that cause clicks squeaks etc. Check all your spokes - they should all make approx the same sound when tapped (one side of rear wheel might be different to other side) Put a drop of oil where the spokes cross each other. then it's a case of loosening allen bolts etc , greasing and retightening. Pedals and chain rings are a good place to start . (NB the left pedal has a reverse thread so it appears as if you are tightening it to undo it). Surprisingly seats can be a source of mystery sounds.
    We are born with the dead:
    See, they return, and bring us with them.
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    I cured a bottom bracket squeak this week . I was convinced that the BB had worn out.

    I removed the crank arms and found rust on the tapered axle faces.
    I gave the inner faces of the crank arms (square fixing holes)a very light file with a square nose file.I then cleaned the square axle tapers off and applied a very thin smear of grease. No more squeaking.

    Be very careful with the filing of the crank fixing hole faces. You are looking to remove just the surface oxidation with a new square face file .Its essential to check as you go and make sure you are not filing out of square. I just filed twice on each face very gently.
  • chriskempton
    chriskempton Posts: 1,245
    Emery paper would surely be safer?
  • webbhost
    webbhost Posts: 470
    hi all,

    Thanks for the replies. Just out of interest whats this "specialist" tool that I would need to invest in to remove the bottom bracket?

    I've been considering building my own carbon bike for a long while now, and if I ever decide to go ahead with it, it would be an essential tool.
    http://www.battlesnails.com/index.php?datastream=6
  • david 142
    david 142 Posts: 227
    Its not quite as simple as that, I'm afraid. There are a number of different patterns, corresponding to differing designs of bottom bracket.
    Have a look here:
    http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion ... ield2.y=10
    Useful site, BTW, and well worth exploring for "how to" guidance!
    Not the only quality brand though. FWIW Halfords have started to sell some of their stuff.

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