Rear Shock making a clicking sound, plz help

TheBeast45

Hi my shock has been making a very loud clicking sound for around a month. It is not coming from the saddle but from the shock. After taking the shock off it’s not doing it anymore, seems like the sound is coming from the front mounting point. I replaced the bushings but the sound didn’t go away. Any help is greatly appreciated.
https://youtu.be/zFSeE1sUONg —video of the sound

The Rookie

I wonder if one of the mountings is loose enough to be moving slightly and needs nipping up, had that on my old bike.

Or if you are pushing down on the saddle as that does sound more like a creaky saddle!

steve_sordy

Its not a cracked frame is it? :shock:

CitizenLee

Weird, sounds a bit ratchety for a worn bushing. For that you normally just hear one click when you compress and one when you unload.

Your noise almost seems to start when you grab the bike before you even compress it (at around 0:03 in the video).

Are you sure it's not the saddle?

TheBeast45

CitizenLee wrote:

Weird, sounds a bit ratchety for a worn bushing. For that you normally just hear one click when you compress and one when you unload.

Your noise almost seems to start when you grab the bike before you even compress it (at around 0:03 in the video).

Are you sure it's not the saddle?

No It’s def not the saddle, as if I push via the seat post it still does it.

TheBeast45

steve_sordy wrote:

Its not a cracked frame is it? :shock:

No I don’t think so

TheBeast45

The Rookie wrote:

I wonder if one of the mountings is loose enough to be moving slightly and needs nipping up, had that on my old bike.

Or if you are pushing down on the saddle as that does sound more like a creaky saddle!

I checked the bolts but none seem loose, it’s not the saddle as when I grab the bike by the seat post and compress the shock it still makes that sound

CitizenLee

I feel your pain mate, trying to diagnose annoying bike sounds is the WORST! 9 times out of 10 it's the seat or bottom bracket, even when you're 100% sure it isn't. Take the seat off completely and push down on the frame to totally rule it out.

Also, can you compress the shock when it's off the bike, without the spring? Just to test if it's coming from the spring mounting plate + it would rule out the upper and lower bolts if it still makes the noise.

TheBeast45

CitizenLee wrote:

I feel your pain mate, trying to diagnose annoying bike sounds is the WORST! 9 times out of 10 it's the seat or bottom bracket, even when you're 100% sure it isn't. Take the seat off completely and push down on the frame to totally rule it out.

Also, can you compress the shock when it's off the bike, without the spring? Just to test if it's coming from the spring mounting plate + it would rule out the upper and lower bolts if it still makes the noise.

I just took the saddle off and compressed the shock but the sound is still there. I tested the shock off the bike and it’s not making the sound, it seems like it’s coming from the front mounting point

CitizenLee

Ok, now try removing the spring, re-fit the shock and then compress it.

TheBeast45

CitizenLee wrote:

Ok, now try removing the spring, re-fit the shock and then compress it.

Yep it’s still making the sound

CitizenLee

That was quick!

In that case it may be worth a trip to your LBS to check it out, see if the mounting hole is flared or if there is an issue with the bushing.

Good luck!

TheBeast45

CitizenLee wrote:

Ok, now try removing the spring, re-fit the shock and then compress it.

I don’t know if this is useful but the paint around the front mounting bolts has worn away/chipped off