FRAME

SS RIDER BODY WEIGHT FORCES STRE G PARTS THROUGH THE FRAME AND MOVIN
S

SUSPECT: SUSPENSION PIVOT

Why it creaks

CREAK
THE MBUK DOCTORS PUT YOUR BIKE ON THE EXAMINATION TABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF ALL THOSE ANNOYING NOISES AND PRESCRIBE THE RIGHT MEDICATION
Words Olly Forster Photos Joby Session

CURE EVERY

ts Worn or damaged par ted pivot bolt threads Dry and contamina Over tightened bolts ted pivots Dry and contamina The remedy and check for excess Remove moving parts lace where needed rep and r, wear and tea roughly, apply suitable emove bolts, clean tho R and tighten to threadlock compound ting set e recommended torqu

We ride in all conditions and on a variety of trail surfaces, so it should come as no surprise that our bikes can and do become compromised by what mother-nature throws in our way. The tell-tale signs of such compromises are delivered by our bike in the form of a variety of creaks and groans. But how do you nd their origin and then x and resolve these annoying creaks?

Process of elimination
Theres no two ways about it, a noisy bike is not a fun bike. More importantly, your bike is trying to tell you that somethings not quite right. The rst question to attack this problem is always: where is that noise coming from? Pinpointing the exact location of these annoying noises can be the trickiest part of this process, so its worth doing it right. First things rst. Take your bike somewhere quiet and if possible, grab a second pair or ears. To eliminate other areas or individual parts, simply apply pressure across the bike in the general direction of the noise. If your frames creaking, rock back and forth. Is it happening when you are stood up or sat down? Pedalling or freewheeling? Its all about eliminating one potential problem from another and isolating that creak to its point of origin. Once youve found it, you need to cure it. Follow our bike check process to cover all the main areas that could be causing the problem.

SUSPECT: DROP OUTS/REAR AX

Why it creaks

LE

/or ination on the axle and Dry threads and contam pinch bolts/Maxle Grit inside the hub

The remedy

thin layer of pinch bolts and apply Thoroughly clean axle, and remove xle Ma t pec Ins . ead thr grease across shaft and amount of all sm ly app chanism and any grit from lever me lube and remove excess thoroughly gh hub cavity and clean Drag a clean rag throu do not degrease

76 Mountain Biking UK

BIKE CHECK
SUSPECT: FRAME CRACKS
Why it creaks
sections Vibrations from two t one ins aga g of frame rubbin ess str der un r anothe

SUSPECT: HEADSET
Why it creaks
g under load Worn bearings movin rings and Fine grit amongst bea dtube hea and s between cup

The remedy

frame. Thoroughly inspect is me fra the if see to Check iod and per nty rra still within its wa AP AS e replac

The remedy

as per Replace worn bearings ndation me om rec s er manufactur s and clean cup gs, rin bea ove em R and all surfaces, degrease sh fre of er lay n thi ly app reall nst rei grease, and

SUSPECT: BRAKE CALLIPERS

Why it creaks
r or mount bolts Loose brake callipe d mount or frame tabs age Cracked or dam threads on mount Dry and contaminated lts and calliper bo

The remedy

gs on all bolts Check torque settin cks or damage cra for as Check all are and if needed, replace bolts, clean Remove all mounting n coat of grease and thi a ly app ly, gh rou tho e setting qu tor t rec tighten to cor

Over tig hten bolts ca ing or under tig n h problem cause any num tening b s er s o gettin torque s g the co of o r t r in rect g ca differen ce. Bolts n really make t he on m on the w hole goo odern bikes ar e d a ro unless o therwise und 4-6nm indicate d.

Torque it up

SUSPECT: STEM AND HANDLEBA

RS

CONTACT POINTS
SUSPECT: SADDLE
Why it creaks

IMPACTS AND TWISTING FORCES CAN CAUSE CREAKS

SUSPECT: SEATPOST Q/R/ALLEN CLAMP
Why it creaks
lever and Grit and dirt in the QR present ant ric lub or no grease lt Over tightened bo lt thread Grit and dirt on main bo

Why it creaks

t between stem Fine dirt and grit presen and/or stem clamp clamp and handlebar, e and steerer tub stem bolt threads Grit and dirt sitting on ssure pre der and grinding un

The remedy

on the rails and Grit and ne dirt can sit mp cla grind against the s ted clamp bolts thread Dry and contamina body dle sad the in se loo e Rails can becom and tear over time due to wear

The remedy

The remedy

rails and clamp Remove saddle, clean le mb sse rea and , ace interf embly, clean Disassemble clamp ass and lightly grease all parts, re-assemble all bolts Replace saddle

n Clean QR clamp and the ate ric lightly lub so that it Rene tension of bolt hout wit st tpo sea holds the to tighten. requiring excess force er and lev QR ate ric lub Lightly remove excess roughly Remove main bolt, tho n coat thi ly clean threads, app all nst rei and ase of gre

m and thoroughly Remove bars from ste reinstall and es fac clean both sur r tube ere ste m fro m ste ove Rem surfaces, th bo an cle and thoroughly all nst rei and threads Remove all bolts, clean layer of grease and n thi ly app ly, gh rou tho que setting reinstall to correct tor

SUSPECT: PEDALS
Why it creaks

SUSPECT: CRANKS
Why it creaks
crank bolt Grit and dirt sitting on der pressure un ing nd gri threads and crank arm on Grit and dirt present under load ing nd gri e axl splines and nk bolts cra ned Over or under tighte

eads Grit and dirt on axle thr inside n tio ina ust and contam R dy bo pedal

The remedy

The remedy

Removing th es will transform e annoying noises your bike and keep it feelin help g like get on it. Squ new every time you ealing brakes could mean contam in transmission ated pads, a noisy could simply dry chain and just be a rubb the gears is us ing noises through ually just a ba dly set up front mec h or guide.

Other noisy bike pa rts

ghly clean and Remove all bolts, thorou e settings qu reinstall to correct tor BB, clean m fro s arm nk Remove cra grease retly splines and axle, ligh all and reinst tighten all bolts Check torque settings, table thread sui ly app and ly according lock compound

nks arms, Remove pedals from cra appropriately ase gre res, ead thr clean que setting tor t rec cor and reinstall to pedal Carefully disassemble s website for er tur fac check the manu e, bearings instructions. Check axl t and rus for g and seals lookin thoroughly, an cle n tio ina tam con parts, re-grease replace any damaged and reassemble

DRIVETRAIN

BIKE CHECK
ROTATING FORCE S GRIND THINGS TOGETHER AND P ULL THINGS APAR T

SUSPECT: B OT TO M B R A C K E T
Dirt and grit sitting on th e BB threads gr indi creaking unde ng and r pressure Both worn an d contaminated bearings Remove BB from frame, thoroughly cl ean all thread s, grease and re assemble Check for m ovement and resistance w hile cycling th e bearings by hand or with the cranks in place and replace if ne eded

Why it crea ks

The remedy

SUSPECT: CHAIN
Why it crea ks

Grit on the th reads creaki ng under pressu re

RING BOLTS

Remove bolts , thoroughly clean, apply suitabl e lo and reassem ctite solution ble

The remedy

SUSPECT: RE

AR MECH

aks Why it cre ry clutch

SUSPECETC: H HANGER REAR M

aks s Why it cre ounting bolt thread
m Grit on

Worn or d tamination on Grit and c nism cha e m e in th ritty main g d n a ry D g ds creakin bolt threa s s e under str

dy The reme ssure to chain

dy The reme ech hanger, clean

Remove m and dropout, er bolt, hang and use suitable le b m e reass nd k compou thread loc

SUSPECT: JO

C K E Y W H E E LS

aks Why it cre or worn bearings

s Damaged olt thread ounting b m n o t ri G

Apply pre r unique k fo and chec noise from ult g in k n clu ons tch and c lu mech c you if r le a e ld your loca rned are conce nism and cha e m n a le C r lodged fo t c inspe roken ation or b contamin e c repla parts and d e g a m a d if ech from m e v o Rem , n threads a frame, cle le thread lock ab apply suit nd tighten to da compoun g rque settin to t c e corr

dy and The reme oth jockey wheels

Remove b ear and tear, and rw inspect fo eded. ne if e c repla clean bolts and e v o m e R suitable ly p p ly. A thorough nd o p k com u thread loc ble to sufcient em and reass g ttin torque se

Mountain Biking UK 79

FORKS
Creak relief
and where

WEIGHT, IMPACTS, TWISTING AND BACK AND FORTH FLEX CAN MAKE THINGS NOISY

SUSPECT: CROWN BOLTS

Why it creaks
on dry Dirt and grit sitting pinch bolt threads ween Fine grit sitting bet stanchions and crown

What lube to use,

The remedy

Grease Used majority of al liberally on a vast l your bolts an to repel water d threads Oil Principally fo your drivetra r moving parts like in, this can be se specic, but many plastic ason chain guides react to dry oil Spray lube A n esse for all moving ntial ingredient pa away from yo rts but keep ur brakes and suspension pi vots Anti creak co mpo grease isnt en und If you nd ough, anti-cr compound is that bit more eak resilient than grease very messy! Carbon com po aluminium po und If you run an st in a carbon and vice vers a, youll really frame need this Thread lock compo parts that rece und Essential for ive excessive vibrations, pr ev undoing. Stic enting them from k to the blue though!

clean Remove each bolt, threads, lightly grease t and reinstall to correc g torque settin ove Undo all bolts and rem s. wn cro m fro stanchions es fac sur all an Cle and reinstall

SUSPECT: AXLE
Why it creaks
Dry threads and axle contamination on the ity cav b hu Grit inside grinding against the rotating axle pinch bolt Compacted grit on gh ou thr /or threads and axle/Maxle lever Damaged axle shaft

The remedy

e, apply Thoroughly clean axl oss acr ase gre of thin layer shaft and thread moving Check all bolts and clean, axle parts. Thoroughly all nst rei and ate re-lubric gh hub Drag clean rag throu ghly rou tho an cle cavity and do not degrease damage Inspect for signs of and replace if required

WHEELS
Why it cre ak

SUSPECT: CAS SET (LOOSE LO CKRING) TE

ROLLING, ROTATI NG AN CAN CAUSE CREA D TWISTING FORCES KS IN VARIOUS PL ACES

s Lockring co uld be loose allowing d irt a compact a nd grit to nd cassette e grind between lements
Remove lo ckri cassette, cl ng and ea surfaces a n all nd to correct reinstall torque sett ing

SUSPEC : FREEHUB T B O DY
s Water a nd ne has replace dirt residue d the grea se inside, grin ding under load Why it cre ak

The reme dy

Remove and inspect free body for si gns of deca hub y. If everything looks good , clean, degrease, re-grease all moving pa rts and rea ssemble

The reme dy

S U S P E C T : WO RN/LOOSE BEARINGS
s Materia l wear com bined with contamina dirt tio excess mo n causes grinding an vement d
Isolate d amag un-weighti ed bearing by ng movement. wheels and feeling fo r Re area and re move if worn, clean new with n ew bearing

Why it cre ak

SUSPECT: LOOSE DIS C R OT

Why it cre aks

OR

The reme dy

Apply su itable thre ad lock compound to threads and tighten all bolt torque sett s to recommended ings

The reme dy

Without being corr ectly attach to the hub ed bod against the y, the disc will rub brake calli per