Clicking from bottom/rear of bike

declan1

Hello everybody.

I have a rather annoying clicking noise coming from the bottom/rear area of my bike. I think it's around the bottom bracket area, but I could be wrong. Whenever I'm pedalling (putting power in or just turning the pedals without any power) a click will occur at a fairly random place. It happens maybe once or twice every pedal stroke, and is really annoying.

I went for a ride yesterday and it didn't click. I intended to go for a ride this morning, but discovered my rear tyre had a little puncture in it somehow. I repaired it and went for my ride, when the clicking started.

Thanks for any help! I hope I can fix it before I throw my bike against a wall! :evil:

cq20

My mate had the same thing recently. We thought it was the bb and it seemed to be coming from that area but it turned out to be the rear wheel bearings. LBS changed the bearings and the clicking disappeared.

declan1

cq20 wrote:

My mate had the same thing recently. We thought it was the bb and it seemed to be coming from that area but it turned out to be the rear wheel bearings. LBS changed the bearings and the clicking disappeared.

Somehow I can't see it's that as the bike is only a month or so old. I might take it to the LBS to get it checked out if nobody on here can help. Thanks anyway!

centimani

Just a quick and easy check, just make sure the FD cable isnt sticking out and striking the crank as you pedal. Not very likely because it tends to be every revolution,not intermittent, but worth a quick lookee anyway.

cycleclinic

Undo Q/R and re tighten it is the simpleast thing to do and somethimes solves the problem. Other wise it just about checking everything e.g grease on pedal threads, chain ring bolts tight and greased ......

rollemynot

centimani wrote:

Just a quick and easy check, just make sure the FD cable isnt sticking out and striking the crank as you pedal. Not very likely because it tends to be every revolution,not intermittent, but worth a quick lookee anyway.

I had this one recently..............felt like a right fool when one of my buddies pointed it out

mkviken

check the locking nut on the valve stem

ive had these come slack on rattle on the rim.

declan1

Went for another ride after trying all these things - still clicks. I've found it clicks once at 6 o'clock, and sometimes twice in quick succession after that. I'm nearly convinced it's coming from the bottom bracket area...

andyparker

I had this same exact problem today.

I got on YouTube and learnt how to take the cranks and bottom bracket out. Wiped it all down and regressed it. Reassembled it and no more creaking.

Give it a go - I am a total noob and managed it all within an hour.

alistaird

Pedals and/or cleats?

I've get an intermittent click and isolated it to the left pedal but it sounds like the BB. So does the click when just pressing one one or other pedal?

Just a thought....

A

declan1

AlistairD wrote:

Pedals and/or cleats?

I've get an intermittent click and isolated it to the left pedal but it sounds like the BB. So does the click when just pressing one one or other pedal?

Just a thought....

A

Nope. I've taken one foot out and pedalled then the other foot, but it still does it. It only started after I repaired the puncture. I think I adjusted the derailleur after I refitted the wheel but I've adjusted it all over the place since and it still doesn't fix the clicking...

alistaird

One other thought... could be spokes clicking?

A

declan1

AlistairD wrote:

One other thought... could be spokes clicking?

A

That's what I thought - how could I check for that?

It only clicks when I'm on the bike and riding it. If I stick it on the workstand it doesn't do it (which is why it's so hard to track down)

alistaird

I found it was the drive side of the rear wheel so I lightly greased where the spokes crossed and lightly oiled where the spokes met the hub and this solved the problem (for a while...)

A

godders1

Pretty much any noise on the back end of the bike tends to sound like it's coming form the BB area.

Try re-greasing your seat post.

sungod

as it started when you removed/refitted the wheel after a puncture, i'd check...

a) stand on the right hand side of the bike, lean over the bike so that your chest is applying pressure on the saddle, reach down and release the qr - did you feel a slight clunk as the wheel seated in the dropouts? - keep the weight on and tighten the qr

b) is it the valve stem clicking against the rim, a bit of tape on it will test this

declan1

sungod wrote:

as it started when you removed/refitted the wheel after a puncture, i'd check...

a) stand on the right hand side of the bike, lean over the bike so that your chest is applying pressure on the saddle, reach down and release the qr - did you feel a slight clunk as the wheel seated in the dropouts? - keep the weight on and tighten the qr

b) is it the valve stem clicking against the rim, a bit of tape on it will test this

Good suggestions - I'll try them after dinner; thanks! I'll also point out (can't remember if I have already) that it only clicks when I'm on the bike - on the workstand it doesn't. Also, It clicks whether I'm seated or standing, which rules out seatpost problems.

declan1

Ok, I've re-fitted the wheel with weight on it, and it didn't 'click' into position, so it must have been in correctly to start with. I've WD40'd the chain (I'm gonna leave it for a while 'till it evaporates, then oil it), so I'll see what that does. I've checked the chainring bolts, and they all look tight. I've adjusted the derailleur again, but nothing seems to fix it. I hope it doesn't need a new BB

declan1

Just went for a ride with a friend - still clicking, but he seems to think it's coming from the rear derailleur. Has anyone else had a click in that area?

When the bike's on the workstand and I spin the pedals, the wheel spins and the cassette doesn't move (obviously), but the cassette seems to 'float' a bit, and smoothly wobbles around - could this be the cause of the clicking?

declan1

Ok - sorry for the triple post guys; I'm just desperate to get this sorted! As I said in my last post I'm pretty sure the clicking is coming from the rear of the bike. What should I check to find the cause of it? Should I remove/refit the cassette and check the rear mech? What else needs to be checked?

Thanks!

D@VE

Checked the jockey wheels are inline and not bent to the side?

declan1

D@VE wrote:

Checked the jockey wheels are inline and not bent to the side?

They are inline with the relative cog on the cassette, but they (especially the bottom one) wobble rather a lot when the chain passes through...

uberkraaft

Does it click only when you're pedalling?

If so, and you haven't done this already, remove your pedals and lube the threads ... pop em back on & don't overtighten ...

I had this happen on a couple of bikes, drives you mad doesn't it?!

declan1

uberkraaft wrote:

Does it click only when you're pedalling?

If so, and you haven't done this already, remove your pedals and lube the threads ... pop em back on & don't overtighten ...

I had this happen on a couple of bikes, drives you mad doesn't it?!

Yup. I've tried pedalling with one foot out (on both pedals), but that may be a cause. I'll try that later - thanks!