Creaky drivetrain/Shimano 105

saladfunky

Any ideas what might be causing an annoying creak from my Shimano 105 drivetrain whilst pedelling in any gear. The creak sometimes stops mommentarily if I freewheel for a second and only starts creaking after a mile or so from the start of a ride. The freehub doesn't spin that freely IMO but it has always been like that?? Bike came from wiggle a year ago and has done just over 2000 miles. Everything feels solid otherwise from bottom bracket to wheel bearings.

cheers

Chris
:?

Ben6899

Do you use Look pedals? Could be the interaction between cleat and pedal causing the creaking - it's a common 'problem'. A bit of WD40 on the pedal and cleat surfaces should do the trick.

saladfunky

Ben6899 wrote:

Do you use Look pedals? Could be the interaction between cleat and pedal causing the creaking - it's a common 'problem'. A bit of WD40 on the pedal and cleat surfaces should do the trick.

Never thought of pedels TBH. They are shimano 105s again. I'll look into that possibilty.

thanks for your reply

Chris
:idea:

saladfunky

saladfunky wrote:

Ben6899 wrote:

Do you use Look pedals? Could be the interaction between cleat and pedal causing the creaking - it's a common 'problem'. A bit of WD40 on the pedal and cleat surfaces should do the trick.

Never thought of pedels TBH. They are shimano 105s again. I'll look into that possibilty.

thanks for your reply

Chris
:idea:

Just tried riding with normal shoes and the creaking is still loud and on every pedel stroke. So it isn't cleats. . . . .hmmm. would a freewheel creak if it had worn bearings?
:?:

verloren

Does it still creak if you stand up?

Ben6899

Are your pedal spindles well greased and tightened into the crank arms sufficiently?

marin_maniac

I was just about to post an identical thread!

I think I have the same problem! my problem seems to occur while going uphills and when I'm standing up and mashing the pedal. My creaking is on every pedal stroke and its loud!

I've got a Boardman Team Carbon, and was wondering about taking out the BB and re-greasing, although before I do that I'll try everything else first.

I took my new Shimano 105 pedals off and cleaned out the threads and re-greased. When I get home tonight I'm going to put a bit of grease on the clamp area of the stem. I had thought about greasing my ally seatpost, but thought that it wasn't the done thing for carbon bikes.

Sorry for the hijack!

amaferanga

Marin Maniac wrote:

I was just about to post an identical thread!

I think I have the same problem! my problem seems to occur while going uphills and when I'm standing up and mashing the pedal. My creaking is on every pedal stroke and its loud!

I've got a Boardman Team Carbon, and was wondering about taking out the BB and re-greasing, although before I do that I'll try everything else first.

I took my new Shimano 105 pedals off and cleaned out the threads and re-greased. When I get home tonight I'm going to put a bit of grease on the clamp area of the stem. I had thought about greasing my ally seatpost, but thought that it wasn't the done thing for carbon bikes.

Sorry for the hijack!

If its your seatpost that's creaking then it'd stop when you stand up!

saladfunky

verloren wrote:

Does it still creak if you stand up?

yes it creaks when standing up.
:?

saladfunky

Ben6899 wrote:

Are your pedal spindles well greased and tightened into the crank arms sufficiently?

I am now wondering about the pedels after replies are poining in this direction, they are fairly new but i might fitt my old set (which didn't creak for 20 odd years) and see if it stops. In my reading it seems the rear sproket is an unlikely cause? I have checked front sprokets and left crank arm for tightness too. These sealed bottom brackets should be ok too shouldn't they?

:idea:

saladfunky

Marin Maniac wrote:

I was just about to post an identical thread!

I think I have the same problem! my problem seems to occur while going uphills and when I'm standing up and mashing the pedal. My creaking is on every pedal stroke and its loud!

I've got a Boardman Team Carbon, and was wondering about taking out the BB and re-greasing, although before I do that I'll try everything else first.

I took my new Shimano 105 pedals off and cleaned out the threads and re-greased. When I get home tonight I'm going to put a bit of grease on the clamp area of the stem. I had thought about greasing my ally seatpost, but thought that it wasn't the done thing for carbon bikes.

Sorry for the hijack!

No Apology needed, thanks for joining the thread. These creaks are well annoying so hopefully we can crack it

Chris

saladfunky

Idea. . :idea:
.I am next going to try the spokes, where they overlap on the sprocket side of the wheel I have read these can get noisy after a while????????

:idea: :idea:

saladfunky

saladfunky wrote:

Idea. . :idea:
.I am next going to try the spokes, where they overlap on the sprocket side of the wheel I have read these can get noisy after a while????????

:idea: :idea:

Iv'e put some grease between the spokes where they touch. . .but that didn't work!!

:?

marin_maniac

Salad, just thought I'd give you an update.

Last night I greased:

*Stem bolts
*Contact area between stem and handlbars
*Cleat screws
*Skewers

Just got back from a ride and although I think the creaking is better (I think its placebo!) it is still there.

I have noticed that it gets worse whilst under heavy load i.e. if I'm turning a big gear going up hill.

Next stop is greasing chainring bolts, lubing contact area for SPD's, and apart from that I think I'm going to whip the bottom bracket off as a last resort and re-grease that.

bazbadger

I had a similar problem on my bike.

Creaking noise when pedaling - most noticeable when standing up and going for it.

It sounded like it was coming from the pedal / cranks as it happened when I was peddling and stopped (or so I thought) when i wasn't.

Checking the crank / chain ring bolts had no effect (as did the seat post!). Then I noticed that I could get the creaking sound by pulling / pushing on the bars when the off the bike - replicating standing up or going up a steep hill. This pointed to the headset / fork.

Turns out it was to do with the fork race. Taking the forks out and cleaning the race and re-seating everything solved it - no more creaking!

I can only assume that as it is an integrated headset, muck can get into the race (split ring type) from the front wheel - and it only takes a tiny bit.

Might be worth a try - as on a bike creaks can be very deceptive as to where they are actually coming from!

freehub

I'd check the BB if it's Hollowtech 2 with the external bb's. I only manage to resolve the creaking from that by taking the none drive side crank off and re installing it.

marin_maniac

Mine is a Sram GXP

saladfunky

Thanks for the replies, last nigth I put on a different rear wheel and went for a spin. Gave it a good test and it was silent!! So it must be to do with the wheel!!?? hmmm. might have to look at the freehub???? chain is only very slightly worn, everything feels firm and all spokes are tight. . .odd!

Ben6899

Are there rubber sleeves over the cones on the wheel? I have them on the Mavic CXP22 wheels that came with my Felt and they sometimes squeak in dry-wet-dry conditions. A drop of lube (or simply manipulating them if on the road) sorts it.

I know this is a squeak and yours is a creak, but I thought it worth suggesting.

MrChuck

Could still be the QRs if you used different ones when you changed the wheel...? Sometimes they can creak from the mechanism itself as well as where they contact the frame.

Baybash

Sorry for the hijack. I've the same problem with Shimano 105. I want to tighten everyting up to see if it's just a loose bolt. Any idea where I can find the torque figures for the chainrings (I can find the numbers for the cranks).

Squillinossett

My team carbon has also started to give of a mystery "creak"

Really cant put my finger on it, and it only started the other day. Will be using carbon assembly paste on:

Seatpost
Saddle Rails
Stem (both on bar and fork clamp area)

I will see if this works, will also try the pedal thing.

marin_maniac

Mine is still creaking. Borrowed some other wheels and went for ride this morning, but alas the creak is still there.

I'm slowly coming round to the fact that I'm going to have to re-grease/install the bottom bracket

saladfunky

Marin Maniac wrote:

Mine is still creaking. Borrowed some other wheels and went for ride this morning, but alas the creak is still there.

I'm slowly coming round to the fact that I'm going to have to re-grease/install the bottom bracket

oooo, It's not the chainset bolts then?

freehub

Have you tried the crank bolts?

Try pedalling with one foot at a time. Does the crick still appear? Does it disappear when you try take your foot off one of the pedals?

bazbadger

Try looking at the fork race! :roll:

marin_maniac

bazbadger wrote:

Try looking at the fork race! :roll:

What am I looking for then?

Which part (top or bottom) of the head tube is the fork race?

bazbadger

Sorry, was a sarcastic reference to my previous post!

If you loosen the headset to you can drop your fork out, you should be able to inspect the race that sits on the base of the fork steerer. If you can winkle it up (mine was a split type so was easy) you can clean and re-assemble.

Also, if it is a split ring type - make sure the ring is centered at the front or back of the fork - then sideways pressure will not be on the split.

This worked for me, hope it helps

marin_maniac

bazbadger wrote:

Sorry, was a sarcastic reference to my previous post!

If you loosen the headset to you can drop your fork out, you should be able to inspect the race that sits on the base of the fork steerer. If you can winkle it up (mine was a split type so was easy) you can clean and re-assemble.

Also, if it is a split ring type - make sure the ring is centered at the front or back of the fork - then sideways pressure will not be on the split.

This worked for me, hope it helps

So the race sits at the bottom of the fork steerer where the steerer meets the forks?

Without looking at it I'm presuming you mean clean around that part an re-assemble? Would it be worth while greasing it after cleaning it?

marin_maniac

freehub wrote:

Have you tried the crank bolts?

Try pedalling with one foot at a time. Does the crick still appear? Does it disappear when you try take your foot off one of the pedals?

I've just stripped the crank bolts, re-greased and then installed.

We'll see what happens in the morning!

freehub

Did you do it properly, in the correct order, crank on, then tighten the black plastic bolt with the special little tool so to not over tighten it, then the little clip, then the bolts