Creaking GXP pressfit BB

[Mojoman]

Had a creaking BB so I decided to open it up and clean the crank and surrounding areas this morning. According to the documentation there should be a wave spring washer on the drive side of the crank but this is not there! Would this make a difference? The bike has only recently started creaking and its driving me nuts. Otherwise is there a better option to a GXP BB? Or should I fork out for a pressfit tool and look at removing the shells, ordering a washer and doing the job properly this time?

[Cav']

Mine started doing the same last week!

Its the most anoying sound ever

[Bat-ass]

The wave washer is there to keep the "gutter seal" (that red seal) against the bearing. If it isnt there,the seal drifts away from the bearing alowing the bearing to be more exposed to grit and grime. GXP BB's, in my experience are really good, if fitted right.

The creaking could be from dry interface between the pressed in bearing and the frame BB shell..... Also, a rule of thumb that i have learnt, whenever you get a creak, first thing to do is take off the wheels and grease the skewers..... you would be amazed at how a creaking skewer reverberates through the bike making you think it is a BB or headset!!!

[Mojoman]

Mine started doing the same last week!

Its the most anoying sound ever

Dont know about yours but the one on my bike is about 3 months old with about 1000km on it and no water/mud riding.

Not too impressed!

[Mojoman]

The wave washer is there to keep the "gutter seal" (that red seal) against the bearing. If it isnt there,the seal drifts away from the bearing alowing the bearing to be more exposed to grit and grime. GXP BB's, in my experience are really good, if fitted right.

The creaking could be from dry interface between the pressed in bearing and the frame BB shell..... Also, a rule of thumb that i have learnt, whenever you get a creak, first thing to do is take off the wheels and grease the skewers..... you would be amazed at how a creaking skewer reverberates through the bike making you think it is a BB or headset!!!

Thanks, already done that though. I suppose I should fork over for the tool and look at removing the BB.

More money thrown at the bike!

[Mojoman]

Any recommendations on the right tool to remove this PITA?

[Mojoman]

After a painful ride 3hr at VG yesterday listening to that not so comforting creak of the BB, I decided to have a crack at sorting it out. I did some research last night and saw the removal tool and pressfit tool would cost me well over R600-700 odd rand (which is absolutely ridiculous). So this morning I took off the cranks, had a good look with a torch and took some hollow tube of 2mm diameter and gently tapped out the drive side bearing by just slowly moving the tube around the bearing. Once this was out I could then tap out the non-drive side cup and unit and once that was out then I used a socket on the internal tube (which is fitted to the cup) and tapped out the cup on the drive side. The units had been installed dry so I used a little grease on the cup and BB shell.

 

Installation was the reverse of removal, I used a small block of wood and a rubbed mallet and slowly and gently tapped the cups back in square.

 

Will go for a ride later and hopefully the creaking is now gone.

[Mojoman]

Still creaking, so this morning I have again removed the BB and have totally stripped down the crank and clean all mating surfaces as well as bolts and used a little grease on the bolts and surfaces where there is metal on metal. Will try again with this....

[steveO:K]

might be a moot response but i am certain the creaking is not coming from the frame/bbcup interface. these cups are usually pressed in dry. According to sram the crank shaft must be well lubed when installed.

 

Just a question. Are u riding full sus or ht? and have you eliminated seat or seatpost creaking, they are also usual suspects.

[Mojoman]

might be a moot response but i am certain the creaking is not coming from the frame/bbcup interface. these cups are usually pressed in dry. According to sram the crank shaft must be well lubed when installed.

 

Just a question. Are u riding full sus or ht? and have you eliminated seat or seatpost creaking, they are also usual suspects.

Tried it greased up yesterday (cups into the frame), still squeaked. Put it in dry today and put grease on the the areas as specified by SRAM

http://www.sram.com/service/include-archived/sram/3

 

Did the seatpost yeaterday as well as the saddle rails (but the creak was there if you were sitting or standing). It is indeed a FS but when you are bouncing over rocks etc and freewheeling there is no creak nor squeak. The noise seems to come when the cranks are under load/pressure/force, if you are spinning along with very little force going down on the pedals then the noise is no longer there but when you put some power down then its back. Took pedals off yesterday and gave them a service as well as a good dribbling of oil on the springs and tension screws. I also used copper slip on the threads when I put them back on.

 

Am starting to get really PO with this!

[Doggone]

A long shot but check your deraillear hanger. On my Anthem we tried everything related to the bb creak only to be embarrased by finding the creak originated in the rear derailleur and the sound transferred in the frame to sound like it came from bb area.

 

If not then just check all bolts are tight

[Mojoman]

A long shot but check your deraillear hanger. On my Anthem we tried everything related to the bb creak only to be embarrased by finding the creak originated in the rear derailleur and the sound transferred in the frame to sound like it came from bb area.

 

If not then just check all bolts are tight

Thanks, will give that a go as well.

[Johan Bornman]

Tried it greased up yesterday (cups into the frame), still squeaked. Put it in dry today and put grease on the the areas as specified by SRAM

http://www.sram.com/...archived/sram/3

 

Did the seatpost yeaterday as well as the saddle rails (but the creak was there if you were sitting or standing). It is indeed a FS but when you are bouncing over rocks etc and freewheeling there is no creak nor squeak. The noise seems to come when the cranks are under load/pressure/force, if you are spinning along with very little force going down on the pedals then the noise is no longer there but when you put some power down then its back. Took pedals off yesterday and gave them a service as well as a good dribbling of oil on the springs and tension screws. I also used copper slip on the threads when I put them back on.

 

Am starting to get really PO with this!

 

Welcome to the crappy world of pressfit BBs. I responded to you a few days ago but someone is deleting my posts. I've lost about 4 over the last few days.

 

Although I'm quite sure it is your BB that's creaking, have a go at the crank itself. Very seldom the crank spindle creaks where it is pressed into the right crank. Put the spindle in a vice and push/pull forcefully on the crank in all planes to see if that is the problem.

[Mojoman]

Thanks Johan, are there any other options avilable to the pressfit or am I stuck until I get a new frame someday?

 

Am thinking of installing a new BB as maybe there is a crack or something in the unit causing the problem?

[Johan Bornman]

Thanks Johan, are there any other options avilable to the pressfit or am I stuck until I get a new frame someday?

 

Am thinking of installing a new BB as maybe there is a crack or something in the unit causing the problem?

 

No options. You are stuck with pressfit.

 

I have found that the BB shell sometimes ovalises from fretting between the BB cup and shell. This could of course also happen to the BB cup itself, so I suggest you measure them both to see which one changed shape. You'll need a micrometer as well as some ID measuring adapter for it. Not exactly something found in everybody's garage.

 

However, if you have a vernier, that would be a good start in measuring the BB cup itself.

 

I think there is merit in trying a new BB. Just try it. If it still creaks, you have a spare.

 

Wear between soft and hard materials is often misunderstood. Under certain circumstances, the harder of the two materials wear and the harder of the two could be the frame.

 

I observed this on a Trek Madone where the BB shell ovalised. Trek's response was an oversize bearing. On a GT where I found exactly the same, the importer's response was to replace the frame.

 

I think we haven't seen the end of BB development yet and I don't see pressfit in my crystal ball.

[marshace]

Had a creaking BB so I decided to open it up and clean the crank and surrounding areas this morning. According to the documentation there should be a wave spring washer on the drive side of the crank but this is not there! Would this make a difference? The bike has only recently started creaking and its driving me nuts. Otherwise is there a better option to a GXP BB? Or should I fork out for a pressfit tool and look at removing the shells, ordering a washer and doing the job properly this time?

 

Had same issue. Out in sticks on holiday so no help or lbs to go to. Had no special tool. Took out cranck, used sharp tool to lift out bearing seals, washed an rinsed with para fine to get out all the grit as best I could, syringe works well, blow out excess with compressed air, pushed in waterproof grease as best I could and but it back an was sorted.

Not impressed as bike only 3 months old !! Don't use high pressure washers and cannot understand how all grit got in. Generally avoid cycling through crank deep water as well.

Some research on web shows that you can remove with some basic tools. Will attempt when back at home.

 

How long should a BB last ?