Creak/click when pedaling

Tim76 · 10-09-2019 8:41am #1

Hi all,

I am getting an annoying creaking/clicking noise when riding my Giant Defy 0.

The noise only appears when I pick up speed and it is there whether I stand up or sit down.

So far I've removed and lubed the seat post and saddle, lubed the chain, removed the wheels and changed the tires (to winter ones) and sprayed a bit of GT85 on any moving parts of the drive train that I could get to without taking the bike apart.

But the noise still persists.

Any ideas what the cause might be?

Cee-Jay-Cee · 10-09-2019 8:51am

Bottom bracket bearings possibly or chainring bolts may be loose. Both can cause creaking while pedalling.

SwissToni · 10-09-2019 8:54am

Clean the drop outs.

07Lapierre · 10-09-2019 8:54am

It could be:

Remove your wheels, clean the dropouts, then put a drop of oil on your finger and rub the inside of the dropouts. Then clean the wheel axles with a cloth and refit the wheels. Ensure the Skewers are tight.

If the creak is still there....well at least you know it's not the wheels!

Next step. Make sure the Handlebar stem bolts and seat post bolts are tight. Tehn remove the pedals, apply some grease to the treads and then refit them.

Creak still there? Make sure the cleats on your shoes are tight.

If its STILL creaking... New Bike!

Wtf ? · 10-09-2019 8:59am

I think its the bottom bracket,crank too. This might help
https://www.instructables.com/id/Bottom-Bracket-Overhaul-bicycle-maintenance/

magicbastarder · 10-09-2019 9:13am

07Lapierre wrote: »

If the creak is still there....well at least you know it's not the wheels!

it still might be; i used to get a creak, generally only under load, from the spoke nipples twisting in the eyelets. was fixed with a tiny drop of oil where each nipple sits in the eyelet.

cdaly_ · 10-09-2019 10:50am

magicbastarder wrote: »

it still might be; i used to get a creak, generally only under load, from the spoke nipples twisting in the eyelets. was fixed with a tiny drop of oil where each nipple sits in the eyelet.

Similarly at spoke crossings. Again with the drop of oil.

monkeyslayer · 10-09-2019 11:24am

Had a similar problem with a bike recently that was driving me crazy... it was literally ruining my cycling for me. Could only notice when climbing under very high torque, I do a lot of hills so it was near constant sound for me but mechanics were at a loss to hear it rolling around a car park much less fix it, i went through everything i was convinced the sound was coming from below or behind me... so... pedals, seatpost, seat rails, headset, cleats, saddle, cranks, bb, spokes and rear wheel bearings all changed or taken apart and lubed... and we even considered it was the glued inserts in the carbon... decided it was new bike time and one day it dawned on me that the front wheel bearings were kind of new but took the wheel apart and found a few of them were absolutely shredded, water had gotten in at some stage over the summer and wreaked havoc. Blissful silence since

Tim76 · 10-09-2019 3:59pm

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I'll start at the wheels and work my way up. Hopefully I won't have to replace the bike just yet!

sparrowcar · 10-09-2019 6:41pm

Happened to me, tried everything and it turned out to be over tightened bolts on the stem bolts.
Torq wrench used from then on.

Tim76 · 10-09-2019 7:28pm

sparrowcar wrote: »

Happened to me, tried everything and it turned out to be over tightened bolts on the stem bolts.
Torq wrench used from then on.

It actually sounds worse when I cycle with no hands so I think I can rule out the stem this time

grogi · 10-09-2019 7:36pm

Tim76 wrote: »

Hi all,

I am getting an annoying creaking/clicking noise when riding my Giant Defy 0.

The noise only appears when I pick up speed and it is there whether I stand up or sit down.

So far I've removed and lubed the seat post and saddle, lubed the chain, removed the wheels and changed the tires (to winter ones) and sprayed a bit of GT85 on any moving parts of the drive train that I could get to without taking the bike apart.

But the noise still persists.

Any ideas what the cause might be?

Press fit?!

07Lapierre · 10-09-2019 8:33pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

it still might be; i used to get a creak, generally only under load, from the spoke nipples twisting in the eyelets. was fixed with a tiny drop of oil where each nipple sits in the eyelet.

Interesting but Spokes shouldn't be that loose? They should be under such tension that they shouldn't creak at all. While oil might stop the creak, the wheel may need to be trued.

Lusk_Doyle · 10-09-2019 8:46pm

Replacement knee required?

G1032 · 10-09-2019 9:42pm

You haven't checked the headset........

hesker · 11-09-2019 7:57am

Try working your way through this list.

https://jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

Should have a sticky on this

2 that have wrecked my head are

- wheel skewer too tight.
- very slightly loose bolt on the seatstay connection to the rear dropout

Was absolutely convinced both were bb before I found the source

ted1 · 11-09-2019 8:08am

Tim76 wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I'll start at the wheels and work my way up. Hopefully I won't have to replace the bike just yet!

If it’s there when not peddling it’s wheel. If it’s only there while pedalling it’s drive related

Tim76 · 11-09-2019 8:38am

ted1 wrote: »

If it’s there when not peddling it’s wheel. If it’s only there while pedalling it’s drive related

Only there when pedaling. Had a go at the wheels last night though - drop outs, spoke nipples & crossings. Going for a spin later and will report back but as you mentioned it is prob drive related.

grogi · 11-09-2019 10:46am

ted1 wrote: »

If it’s there when not peddling it’s wheel. If it’s only there while pedalling it’s drive related

There are asymmetric forces acting on the wheel when one pedals. It flex differently than while free wheeling...

magicbastarder · 11-09-2019 10:55am

ted1 wrote: »

If it’s there when not peddling it’s wheel. If it’s only there while pedalling it’s drive related

i would clarify - if it's there when not pedalling, it's not the drivetrain. if it's only there when pedalling, it's either the drivetrain or the wheel. or something else.
all three times i have had issues with creaks, it only happened under load - and every time it was an issue with the wheel.
one was the spoke nipple issue i mentioned, another time was fatigued spokes, and the third time was an issue with a particular model of aksium rear hub.

hesker · 11-09-2019 1:48pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

if it's only there when pedalling, it's either the drivetrain or the wheel. or something else.

....or something else. LOL. So true

A guy I knew had an annoying click only when pedalling. Turned out to be his bike helmet

grogi · 11-09-2019 2:55pm

hesker wrote: »

....or something else. LOL. So true

A guy I knew had an annoying click only when pedalling. Turned out to be his bike helmet

Veins in the forehead were coming out under stress?

dusty207 · 11-09-2019 3:02pm

Pedal hitting side strand (if you have one)

harringtonp · 11-09-2019 9:42pm

sparrowcar wrote: »

Happened to me, tried everything and it turned out to be over tightened bolts on the stem bolts.
Torq wrench used from then on.

Interesting. I have a creak too in my winter bike when pedaling hard. Headset is a little loose and was assuming it was that but I know I do have the stem bolts tight

magicbastarder · 11-09-2019 9:45pm

well, your headset could be loose even if the stem bolts are too tight?

harringtonp · 11-09-2019 9:48pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

well, your headset could be loose even if the stem bolts are too tight?

Yes the star nut is gone as when I tighten the top bolt it lifts up. Need to do something but in meantime stem bolts tighter than usual

Tim76 · 13-09-2019 9:51am

Tim76 wrote: »

Only there when pedaling. Had a go at the wheels last night though - drop outs, spoke nipples & crossings. Going for a spin later and will report back but as you mentioned it is prob drive related.

I thought I had it sorted but alas no. As soon as I got off the noisy main road and onto a quite hill I had the click for company the whole way to the top. Seems like it is definitely associated with load as it’s not as noticeable on the flats.

Will have a go at the pedals and chainring bolts next.

cdaly_ · 13-09-2019 11:53am

Tim76 wrote: »

I thought I had it sorted but alas no. As soon as I got off the noisy main road and onto a quite hill I had the click for company the whole way to the top. Seems like the it is definitely associated with load as it’s not as noticeable on the flats.

Will have a go at the pedals and chainring bolts next.

I think I cleared a once per revolution click recently by regreasing my pedals.

G1032 · 13-09-2019 5:10pm

Tim76 wrote: »

I thought I had it sorted but alas no. As soon as I got off the noisy main road and onto a quite hill I had the click for company the whole way to the top. Seems like it is definitely associated with load as it’s not as noticeable on the flats.

Will have a go at the pedals and chainring bolts next.

Headset......

Tim76 · 13-09-2019 8:18pm

Tim76 wrote: »

Will have a go at the pedals and chainring bolts next.

Ok, don’t think it’s the pedals.

Anybody know if you need special tools to tighten Shimano chainring bolts??

Eamonnator · 13-09-2019 8:25pm

Tim76 wrote: »

Ok, don’t think it’s the pedals.

Anybody know if you need special tools to tighten Shimano chainring bolts??

One of these
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-peg-spanner-tlfc21/rp-prod27808?gs=1&sku=sku87048&pgrid=55940684341&ptaid=pla-419668117172&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PLA+All+Products&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|sDezpEWfd_dc|pcrid|294740729966|pkw||pmt||prd|87048IE&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_OzrBRDmARIsAAIdQ_KPYqFawgF0IBHqKZtrYPTGJp-yMUmUMvWO2ySFGK6yybsOpIbHTxMaArTYEALw_wcB

and an allen key

SwissToni · 13-09-2019 9:39pm

Could be seat post against the seat tube,remove clean,lube.

Tim76 · 17-09-2019 11:46am

SwissToni wrote: »

Could be seat post against the seat tube,remove clean,lube.

Actually had this issue a couple of months ago and did what you recommended to sort it out.

I thought the current creak was due to the seat post as well but it is still there even when I'm dancing on the pedals so I've ruled it out this time. Might still give it a shot though as having a go at the bottom bracket and chainring bolts looks like a right ball ache.

SwissToni · 18-09-2019 2:38pm

Tim76 wrote: »

Actually had this issue a couple of months ago and did what you recommended to sort it out.

I thought the current creak was due to the seat post as well but it is still there even when I'm dancing on the pedals so I've ruled it out this time. Might still give it a shot though as having a go at the bottom bracket and chainring bolts looks like a right ball ache.

You don't necessarily need to be sitting, as far as I know it's the seat post acting against the seat tube as the frame flexes, if you have excess seat post you could cut a bit off the end.

sprite0 · 19-09-2019 3:31am

Had a similar problem recently. Only happened when pedalling so presumed something with the drive train. Stripped it all down, regreased where required and refittted but you guessed it still there. Turned out it was a cleat on my shoe. Took 20 seconds to tighten the cleat bolts and problem gone.

Tim76 · 30-09-2019 10:26am

OK, tried nearly everything at this stage except the bottom bracket. The last job was the chainring bolts which are definitely tight enough as they weren't budging, despite employing my newly bought chainring peg spanner . Bike still creaking on the climbs

The BB is a Shimano Press Fit and from what I can gather it looks to be a bit of a job to overhaul, especially seeing as my tool set is quite limited.

Would you guys recommend getting a torque wrench to ensure every bolt on the bike is tightened correctly before I attempt the BB job?

harringtonp · 30-09-2019 10:51am

Had a click sound on my summer bike recently and when looked at shoes found that 2 of the cleat screws on one of them were missing. Only had one spare screw but put it in and tightened the others and the clicking stopped.

The clicking only seemed to happen when I was pulling on the pedals in certain ways.

Easy to eliminate this as a cause by putting on a mates pedals and getting the mate to cycle your bike in their shoes.

hesker · 30-09-2019 11:06am

Tim76 wrote: »

Would you guys recommend getting a torque wrench to ensure every bolt on the bike is tightened correctly before I attempt the BB job?

I would recommend you try everything before you tackle the bb but you shouldn’t be afraid to tackle it either.

It can be very frustrating trying to identify the source but patience and perseverance is unfortunately the best way. Avoid checking the same things multiple times and keep exploring new possibilities. I have linked a fairly comprehensive list either in this thread or some other.

Cionn · 30-09-2019 4:39pm

I was recently advised that the bearing in my pedals are the cause of my creaking. simple solution is to swap the ones from my "good" bike to the creaking one. BB and chain-rings have been checked so it makes sense in my head. I have gotten 3 summers and 2 winters from the pedals and not looked at them once (my bad).

Creak/click when pedaling

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