Had my bike serviced a month and a half ago. Guy said he put in a new BB because the old one was creaking.
Bike had been making this sound and when riding its almost constant and much louder. Do you guys think it is my BB?
Thanks for the input!
by jandeman73
4 Comments
Does it make this sound while riding out of the saddle?
Are you seating on the saddle in this video?
The path of creek repair:
1. Tighten cleats on your shoes and check for rocks jammed in.
2. Check for loose bolts on bottle cages.
3. Check bolts on the crank (need a special tool).
4. Check for a loose headset (might need a shim if there is too much space ).
5. Check for a loose seat bolt.
6. Try other pedals, their bearings can be shot.
7. Replace BB.
8. If it’s a BB with a plastic cup between, get a BB with metal internal that treats between the two pieces. Some frame designs aren’t great. Press fit BB are more likely to have this issue if the BB is set up poorly or it’s faced poorly. Wheels manufacturer makes good BB to prevent creeks. Hambini is the gold standard for tolerance and fit. There are other BB. Companies that are good for this – these are just two.
Sound travels with a creek, it’s not always the BB. I go cheapest and easiest to hardest and most expensive when I troubleshoot.
When you think it’s the bottom bracket, it’s not the bottom bracket.
Can you feel anything as you pedal? Does this sound happen both in and out of the saddle? Can you recreate the sound off the bike? When did the sound start, immediately after servicing or after some other event?
Last guess is bottom bracket, but first guess is seat post, clean that area out of old lube or fiber grip. Sometimes it gets crusty and you may have to clean out the bottom bracket shell if some crud gets down there too, but not the bottom bracket itself.
Second guess, something to do with your back wheel. There’s a twangy sound to it that sounds like thin metal like the spokes.
Seat Post, Front Hub,… Maybe get off the bike and try to recreate the sound while holding the bike at its frame and move the crank in different directions.