Trek Fuel EX8 2010 - Suspension Overhaul

steelo

My bike has been pretty much unused for just over a year. I've ridden it 2-3 times in the last few weeks and noticed a lot of creaking and cracking noises coming from it. It's not the seat post i'm pretty sure of that as it happens when i'm up out of the saddle so I think it might be the bearings in the rear-suspension. Where is the best place to have them replaced?? Is this the sort of thing to get the LBS to do? What sort of price should I be looking at paying?

Thanks.

JohnBurt

not hard if you are an ok mechanic, but a quite a lot of labour vs the bits. Superstar do some good bearing tools if you need them. I think bearing kits are available on e-bay. just watch out for the pre-load washers on the link arm they deform quite easy and are expensive (£5) each for a 3mm washer??

cooldad

Look for Katec on Ebay, he also does Youtube vids of different bikes.

suspended

You probably won't even have to replace the bearings - just give things a clean-up. My 2011 EX9 was also making creaking noises and all that I did to remedy things was to remove the pivot bearing caps/screws with an Allen key, pull the suspension arms apart from each other, wipe everything clean (no need to press bearings out or remove bearing seals) and then reassemble. I did use a torque wrench, following the values specified on the bearing caps - remember that the values are in inch pounds, NOT foot pounds!

97th choice

Are you sure it's not the bottom bracket? I've also found that where the cable outers seat can also make a surprisingly loud noise.