I got a new BB after riding with a creaky one (and the crank had play) for several weeks. I've taken it back to the shop multiple times – they are always able to tighten the crank but after riding for a bit the play returns (along with a horrible ticking / clicking noise when standing and pedaling, and a "gritty" feeling when pedaling.) The shop said they didn't see any frame damage and it is fine. I'm losing my mind over not being able to get rid of these issues for like 2 months now..
Does this play in the crank with a new BB mean my bike frame is damaged?
byu/MrWhy1 inbikewrench
by MrWhy1
22 Comments
Perhaps the crank bolt is coming loose?
Just because parts are new, doesn’t mean that they are good. Remove the crank and check the new BB. If it’s good, it’s likely your frame. If the BB is bad, you still need a new one and should check the other components for what could be causing repeat failures.
No. Crank is probably loose. Could be axle.
Hard to tell from your video and history on this. Could be a combination of problems. Guessing if it’s a new bb and the shop said no frame problem then it’s your crank.
If, as you stated, the issue has been [temporarily] fixed multiple times already by tightening the crank bolt, why do you suspect frame damage? Wouldn’t it be more logical to suspect the crank bolt?
Unless it’s a pressfit bottom bracket without a sleeve, it’s highly unusual for a BB to creak. This is almost certainly an issue with your crankset.
Crank bolt + loctite on thread
It looks like the crank arm is loose on the axel, which usually means either a loose bolt OR check the actual slot on the crank arm and see if it is worn or malformed, I had a crank do this for the longest time and it wa simply that the arm had been damaged meaning the bold had to be tight as hell or else it would wobble
pressfit or bsa bb? also, ever had a crash recentl? that shouldn”t move like that (it ssems its nut just that arm but based on your video, the entire crankset’s rocking)…
Crankset, do you have a spare to put on to test?
No. Tighten the crankset
BBs do come loose and I’ve had to tighten some many times until it decides to stay. They just back out, needs to be tightened more.
I wonder if the shop is torquing the crank bolts to spec. When properly tightened, crank bolts generally don’t loosen. But you’d be surprised how much torque it actually takes if you’re not using a torque wrench.
Some people above recommended using Loctite, but I prefer greasing the crank bolts. It helps reduce friction and static binding, allowing you to tighten them more effectively. Loctite is probably fine, but it’s not a substitute for torquing the components to spec.
Looks like a specialized bike with the S-Works carbon power crank? BB was a BB30? What have you replaced it with? The S-works crank is tough to set up. You need to preload the nondrive side correctly or it will come loose.
Seems like it has not enough preload. You can and should adjust it.
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If this has occurred multiple times, I might say, find new mechanic? New LBL one that the “guy with a wrench” isn’t such a “guy with a wrench”
Because you can clearly see the other pedal/crank arm moves aswell means **the whole bottom bracket is loose**.
Replace it if tightening only keeps fixing it temporarily.
If your problem is the same problem I had, you may just need a $1 spacer for your bottom bracket.
It took half a dozen visits, to 3 different shops before someone was “oh yeah the new sram whatevers are a slightly different size and don’t fit the omniums anymore. $1 spacer, $12 to put it in.”
So I can see from the video that the crank is not loose because they are both moving, I cant see what gen it is but if it is a bsa bb then check if you have the correct one. Even 0,5mm difference is going to be like this. Second choice if it is a pressfit bb than the frame can be worn out or damaged.
If your bb is new
Both cranks are moving,either your frame is fucked or the crank spindle has a huge amount of wear.
Crankset spacers put in a wrong order can cause this.
The frame is more than likely fine. Don’t think it’s a frame issue at all.
It’s your mechanic/LBS I would be skeptical of at this point. This isn’t something you should have to keep going back for at all. I would try elsewhere at this point.