The Complete Creak list

[Borriz]

So after months of searching and head scratching, I felt it necessary to share potential areas to find that creaking noise on your bike. A sign that noise might eminate from an area is black residue that accumulates between the part and frame. So here goes:

 

Seat post

Seat rails

Seat clamp and bolt

Pivots - in case of dual suspension bike

Headset

Junction where your headset tube meets fork

Crank

Derailleur hanger (believe it)

Dry chain

Hub - dry freehub or bearings

Complete wheel - had the incidence of creak and last resort was to rebuild back wheel - so potentially the fault was somewhere in the spoke tension or connection of spoke to hub (any advice of view point welcome).

 

Please add to this list if you encountered other areas?

[bikemonster]

Pedals - I once had some pedals that had a near-incurable creak. Fixed after the LBS could not sort it (new bike) by using some plumbers PTFE tape on the pedal spindle threads.

[JasonW]

I had a creak which I was convinced was BB related and which turned out to be a faulty rear skewer that was not tightening up properly!

[dirtrider]

Knees

[PhilipV]

Stem/headset interface.

BB bearings and cups.

Pedals creak internally when they run dry or develop play.

Hub axles/bearings.

Basically anywhere on the bike where a bolt needs to be tightened or when metal sits on metal.

[Minion]

Cleats.

 

[Bike Mob]

Headset spacers

Loose spokes

Chainring bolts

saddle clamp

 

+1 for rear skewer.

 

[Minion]

I think it would be easier to create a list of things that don't creak.

Let's see...uhmmm...handlebar tape?

 

[Cassie]

I think it would be easier to create a list of things that don't creak.
Let's see...uhmmm...handlebar tape?

Water bottle...doesn't creak - it sloshes!!

[The expat cyclist]

Pedals - I once had some pedals that had a near-incurable creak. Fixed after the LBS could not sort it (new bike) by using some plumbers PTFE tape on the pedal spindle threads.

 

Fixed my click-clacking pedals just this morning. Not with PTFE tape, but just some good 'ol grease on ye spindle.

 

I am now so quite I can creap the enemy from be-after!