Creaking Noise from Bottom Bracket?

thefd

Hi all,

I have this creaking noise which only sounds when I am standing to climb. It sounds as if it is coming from the left crank. I took the pedals off and greased them up and put back on and the noise continued. I then took the BB off and greased it up and put back on and the noise disappeared, but it has come back after a couple of weeks. It is on my 'summer bike' so it doesn't get much wet use, and I do about 125 miles a week (no commuting). It is Shimano 105.

How and when do I know if I need to replace the BB? When I took it off and put it back on it seemed to turn really well (without chain on), not noise or resistance, so I'm happy to keep using it at the moment, but at what stage should I change it?

I have done 1850 miles on it.

ugo.santalucia

You should change it when you've got enough of the creaking... it won't fail catastrophically.
These BB units cost 20 quid and if you can do the job yourself, it's not a big deal. They don't last a lot and 1K miles is not that unusual

thefd

ugo.santalucia wrote:

You should change it when you've got enough of the creaking... it won't fail catastrophically.
These BB units cost 20 quid and if you can do the job yourself, it's not a big deal. They don't last a lot and 1K miles is not that unusual

I have already bought a replacement unit (got it for £15.99 - price matched Ribble). I'm happy to do the work but would like to keep this one as long as possible.

antikythera

I had a similar problem... creaking "from the BB" at particular points (angle of rotation) and under specific conditions....

After replacing the bottom bracket cups it went away.... for a while.

So I searched the BR forums and found a number of threads discussing noises etc. and I worked through some of the recommendations. Turns out that all I needed to do was tighten my rear skewer (more than I normally would)!!!!

I'd recommend looking for some of those threads and run through some of the suggestions, the cause could be unexpected (and cheaper) than you might think

keef66

I too had a creaking when climbing. Replaced the 105 BB with an Ultegra one (£11 CRC bargain!) and found the creak still there. Checked / greased / tightened QR skewers, pedals and chainring bolts but to no avail. None the wiser, but now I have moved all the kit over to a new frame with a press fit BB and all is silent for the time being

marcusjb

ugo.santalucia wrote:

You should change it when you've got enough of the creaking... it won't fail catastrophically.
These BB units cost 20 quid and if you can do the job yourself, it's not a big deal. They don't last a lot and 1K miles is not that unusual

There's no way a BB, no matter how cheap, should only last 1000 miles!

Even on my fixed wheel bike (where BBs take a hammering) gets 5000 miles from cheap cartridge BBs.

The audax bike with a Royce BB has around 15000 miles on the BB - just in the last 200 miles has it started to feel rough on the right hand bearing. New bearings ordered and ready to go.

Edited to add - to be fair, I did destroy an FAG BB in a Brompton in probably 1500 miles - replaced with a Specialities TA Ti unit and it's been spot on since then.

ugo.santalucia

marcusjb wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

You should change it when you've got enough of the creaking... it won't fail catastrophically.
These BB units cost 20 quid and if you can do the job yourself, it's not a big deal. They don't last a lot and 1K miles is not that unusual

There's no way a BB, no matter how cheap, should only last 1000 miles!

Even on my fixed wheel bike (where BBs take a hammering) gets 5000 miles from cheap cartridge BBs.

The audax bike with a Royce BB has around 15000 miles on the BB - just in the last 200 miles has it started to feel rough on the right hand bearing. New bearings ordered and ready to go.

Edited to add - to be fair, I did destroy an FAG BB in a Brompton in probably 1500 miles - replaced with a Specialities TA Ti unit and it's been spot on since then.

I know...

But these are Shimano/Campagnolo external units and they are bad... one can moan or rant at please, but they will still be crap. Then someone will say that he needs the BB shell to be faced and some other will suggest fitting the cups with some professional tool that costs 1000 pounds... it will still be crap, as the design is flawed.

marcusjb

I forget that there are these modern fangled external things.

I'm on square taper for all of my bikes.

Works really, really well! (apart from FAG units in Bromptons).

ugo.santalucia

marcusjb wrote:

I forget that there are these modern fangled external things.

I'm on square taper for all of my bikes.

Works really, really well! (apart from FAG units in Bromptons).

I am on square taper on my bikes too... downgraded one from Campagnolo Ultra Torque... can't see where the downgrade is, to be honest

drlodge

"Let's sacrifice 90% longevity for an additional 1% in stiffness" the manufacturers thought, and lets call it a "performance upgrade" :roll:

My Campag CULT SR bearings are still OK after 2000 miles, but I packed them with grease which apparently reduces any advantage from the ceramic bearings. Like there's any real advantage to be gained from using tiny 3mm dia ceramic bearings...

thefd

Thanks for all the replies.

antikythera wrote:

After replacing the bottom bracket cups it went away.... for a while.

So I searched the BR forums and found a number of threads discussing noises etc. and I worked through some of the recommendations. Turns out that all I needed to do was tighten my rear skewer (more than I normally would)!!!

My rear skewer is really tight already.

I have changed the BB so will see how it goes. I'll report later how it goes.

lornt78

Common occurance. Don't think you needed to change your BB. When a BB needs changing it's pretty obvious because there is play in the bearings, noticable by wobbling the end of one crank laterally and feeling the end of the other crank wobble too. The right thing to do is take the bb out, wipe any crud off the threads, put loads of grease on the threads and screw the BB back in BANG TIGHT. You must not of installed it tight enough, that's why the creaking came back after a fortnight. Using loads of grease will help ensure you can get the BB off again.

thefd

lornt78 wrote:

Common occurance. Don't think you needed to change your BB. When a BB needs changing it's pretty obvious because there is play in the bearings, noticable by wobbling the end of one crank laterally and feeling the end of the other crank wobble too. The right thing to do is take the bb out, wipe any crud off the threads, put loads of grease on the threads and screw the BB back in BANG TIGHT. You must not of installed it tight enough, that's why the creaking came back after a fortnight. Using loads of grease will help ensure you can get the BB off again.

Ok - I put the new BB on and went for a ride (25 miles) before I saw your post. All seemed ok, no noise. After reading your post I thought I will put the old one back on and made sure it was really tight. Today I went for a ride and it is silent. I'll see how long it lasts and if the noise returns then I shall once again change for the new BB.

thefd

BTW - It is really greased up with copper grease!!

lornt78

Copper grease is probably best of all, but a bit expensive and not really necessary.

thefd

lornt78 wrote:

Copper grease is probably best of all, but a bit expensive and not really necessary.

No expense spared!!

lornt78

TheFD wrote:

lornt78 wrote:

Copper grease is probably best of all, but a bit expensive and not really necessary.

No expense spared!!

Well that's not strictly true, otherwise you would would have a better bike. Must be nice to have money to spare.

lornt78

Not surprised it's silent now. The people on these forums drivel on about a load of nonsense.

thefd

lornt78 wrote:

TheFD wrote:

lornt78 wrote:

Copper grease is probably best of all, but a bit expensive and not really necessary.

No expense spared!!

Well that's not strictly true, otherwise you would would have a better bike. Must be nice to have money to spare.

There is always a better bike!

lornt78

TheFD wrote:

lornt78 wrote:

TheFD wrote:

lornt78 wrote:

Copper grease is probably best of all, but a bit expensive and not really necessary.

No expense spared!!

Well that's not strictly true, otherwise you would would have a better bike. Must be nice to have money to spare.

There is always a better bike!

Ehm, I think that was kind of the point I was making about your claim of 'no expense spared'.

thefd

lornt78 wrote:

TheFD wrote:

lornt78 wrote:

TheFD wrote:

lornt78 wrote:

Copper grease is probably best of all, but a bit expensive and not really necessary.

No expense spared!!

Well that's not strictly true, otherwise you would would have a better bike. Must be nice to have money to spare.

There is always a better bike!

Ehm, I think that was kind of the point I was making about your claim of 'no expense spared'.

Ehm, I think that was kind of the point I was making about the fact that there is always a better bike out there, but as far as grease goes there is no expense spared.

lornt78

Gold grease?

thefd

lornt78 wrote:

Gold grease?