Creaking BB

[Brett Eloff]

Having some trouble with a creaking around the BB area - on my Scott RC Pro with Raceface ring & carbon cranks.

Bike shop replaced BB with pricey Token Ninja product. Creaking is back after less than 100km riding. And exact same noise as experienced before the bearing was replaced.

Now they want to replace a big pivot bearing. But the creaking only happens when pedalling. So surely the pivot can't be the problem?  

Any advice most welcome.

Brett

[Barry]

Did you try swapping your pedals and maybe cleats then test it. 

[Alouette3]

Check chain ring is greased and torqued correctly too

This is a rabbit hole, prepare yourself 

[Brett Eloff]

Thanks Barry, Alouette3. Will try...

But I do sense an impending Rabbit Hole.

[Pandatron]

48 minutes ago, Brett Eloff said:

Having some trouble with a creaking around the BB area - on my Scott RC Pro with Raceface ring & carbon cranks.

Bike shop replaced BB with pricey Token Ninja product. Creaking is back after less than 100km riding. And exact same noise as experienced before the bearing was replaced.

Now they want to replace a big pivot bearing. But the creaking only happens when pedalling. So surely the pivot can't be the problem?  

Any advice most welcome.

Brett

Its the carbon cranks, this was a major problem, the raceface next SL.

I had mine replaced under warranty,

[Barry]

1 minute ago, Pandatron said:

Its the carbon cranks, this was a major problem, the raceface next SL.

I had mine replaced under warranty,

Yes the debonding between the aluminum and carbon. The drive side crank arm develops a slight bit of play noticeable if you wiggle it gently. 

[Brett Eloff]

Thanks Pandatron, Barry; I think we may be getting somewhere on this...

[ALLMTB]

Is the creaking there when seated or when standing and pedaling as well?

I had a similar issue and eventually it was the seatpost clamp.

[droo]

"BB creaks", especially on full suspension bikes, are far more likely to be pivot replated than anything else. A pivot service would be the first thing I'd do.

While the crank is out for the pivot service, check the bonding at the pedal inserts and the spline insert, and check that the preload collar on the crank spindle hasn't cracked from being over torqued.

Creak hunting is a process of elimination - the only time I'll guarantee that your bike won't creak is if I've done a full mechanical service. I'll also never trust even my own ears to work out where a creak is coming from - noises resonate through frames and present in completely different places to where they're actually happening.

[Brett Eloff]

Thanks 'Drop'! Appreciate all the helpful advice on this forum.

[Brett Eloff]

'Drop'? I meant 'Droo'!

[ATMan777]

This helped me sort out a very irritating problem I was sure was BB related. 

“You can take a look at the BB then slap yourself because it’s never the BB…”

 

and it wasn’t in my case
 

 

[Brett Eloff]

14 hours ago, ATMan777 said:

This helped me sort out a very irritating problem I was sure was BB related. 

“You can take a look at the BB then slap yourself because it’s never the BB…”

 

and it wasn’t in my case
 

 

Great video, thanks!

[michaelbiker]

Have had creaks from a loose threaded BB, saddle rails, dirty seat post / seatpost collar, derailleur even had issues with a creaky chain. All pretty easy things to check and fix yourself. The loose BB is quite easy to check but not see easy to tighten unless you have the right tool. Last year I had an issue with my BB and Easton carbon cranks (similar to the Raceface) - everyone on the forums said it was the crank arm delaminating which it wasn't thankfully and only a BB that had worked itself loose.

[Brett Eloff]

Thanks for your insights Michael.

The bike is back at the shop - 'reserve bike' too.

Test rode this morning to see I could isolate a delaminating crank arm. Tried pedaling only one side at a time, but the creak still comes through. It's definitely a creak that is generated by higher pedal loading. So decided to have the bike shop cannibalise some older XT cranks & ring from my reserve bike. There is definitely play on the drive side crank arm in the female pedal thread, so that's some delamination in there. So won't hurt to swap out the cranks for now. 

Starting to understand why Shimano never got into carbon cranks...

Bike shop guy is adamant that the creaking is coming from one or more pivot bearings & wants to replace all four. This is after replacing EIGHT bearings already: BB, Headset, 4 in the rear wheel & two in the front 🥵

I'm not convinced it's pivot bearings...

Also hope they can adapt my BB standard to a 104 BCD ring & crank arrangement.

Don't really want to buy new cranks!

Ultimately, I'll have to start working on bikes myself. Just procrastinating that one for now.

[Eugene]

Almost every creak sounds like it is coming from the bb and almost every creak happens on the pedal stroke. 

There are so many things that could cause it. Process of elimination is the only way to go. 

I once had a creak that drove me nuts, I could not find the problem

2am in the morning, I suddenly had a thought. Jumped out of bed, went to the garage, tossed the bike upsidedown and there it was, a crack in the shell of the saddle. Another saddle and the problem was solved.