Annoying squeak... help me diagnose? Bottom bracket?

[Maxf]

My road bike has done about 4500 miles over 20 months.

Over the past 50 miles or so it's developed an annoying squeak when I push the right hand pedal down... worse if I put more power through but pretty much there non stop... never with the left pedal.

Ive checked the chainring bolts and they are tight. Bike shop say it must be the bottom bracket (I have an FSA BB-PF30) - I didnt think this would go so quickly with road use, but perhaps they do?

I'll check the pedals tonight, but other than those I think it must be the BB, unless anybody has any other ideas?

So, the next question is, which BB should I buy (is it worth spending a little more and what tools would be best to fit it? Is PF30 'push fit 30mm?'

I am trying to learn how to do these jobs as I go, buying the tools as I need them!

[anonymous-user]

is it a loose shoe cleat?

worth a check

[GOATever]

Maxf said:

My road bike has done about 4500 miles over 20 months.

Over the past 50 miles or so it's developed an annoying squeak when I push the right hand pedal down... worse if I put more power through but pretty much there non stop... never with the left pedal.

Ive checked the chainring bolts and they are tight. Bike shop say it must be the bottom bracket (I have an FSA BB-PF30) - I didnt think this would go so quickly with road use, but perhaps they do?

I'll check the pedals tonight, but other than those I think it must be the BB, unless anybody has any other ideas?

So, the next question is, which BB should I buy (is it worth spending a little more and what tools would be best to fit it? Is PF30 'push fit 30mm?'

I am trying to learn how to do these jobs as I go, buying the tools as I need them!

My checklist for squeaks goes; pedals, shoes rubbing the cranks, cleats, chainring bolts, the plastic cable guide under the bottom bracket, bottom bracket cups, bottle cages, the QR skewers, the points at which any spokes cross each other, seat post, saddle rails, stem, headset, bars. If you’ve checked all those out, and it’s still squeaking, reduce the pressure in the tyres by a few psi, and see if that helps, if it does, it could indicate the start of a rim failure ( very scary if it happens whilst your riding ). If it turns out to be the BB, I’d use it as excuse to convert your BB and chainset to a Hollowtech 2 set up. All you need to do, is drift the existing bearings out of the frame, and buy one of these.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Wheels-Manufacturing-Pres...

It replaces the crappy PF / BB 30. It just screws together in the frame. You will need 28mm spindled Hollowtech chainset though. It’s a very worthwhile conversion in my opinion.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Birzman-Headcup-Removal-T...

You’ll need something like this ( or make your own out of a bit of pipe ) to get the PF 30 BB bearings out.

Edited by GOATever on Tuesday 9th October 15:42

[Scabutz]

Can't help other than to offer some solidarity. Mine roadie has just started doing the exact same thing. I've done '000kms on it. Definite creak when pedaling,. Need to have a check but I am guess the bb.

[ALawson]

I am sure it isn't your right hip/knee/ankle!

[citizenmtb]

Mine is a frequent offender of the pushfit squeak.

I find it's usually dirt inbetween the crank arms/BB, i have a habit of removing the crank when i clean the bike every couple of times to clean off any dirt in there and refit. Usually goes away for awhile until it's dirty again.

[Maxf]

Thanks for the pointers all - fingers crossed it my shoes as I can sort that before i squeak all the way home tonight!

On the Hollowtech II bottom bracket - sounds great.... i have an Ultegra groupset, is this likely to be Hollowtech II?

[lufbramatt]

I'd be looking at cleat to shoe interface and pedal bearings needing a regrease.

[Watchman]

Good check list above.

I'd add the cassette. I found one of mine so loose that the sprockets were moving relative to one another, causing a noise which was transmitted through the frame making me believe it was the BB.

Edited by Watchman on Saturday 13th October 08:39

[GOATever]

Maxf said:

Thanks for the pointers all - fingers crossed it my shoes as I can sort that before i squeak all the way home tonight!

On the Hollowtech II bottom bracket - sounds great.... i have an Ultegra groupset, is this likely to be Hollowtech II?

If it’s a PF30 / BB 30 the chainset is only going to be a Hollowtech 2 if reducer shims are fitted,
You won’t get a HT 2 chainset to fit a BB30 / PF 30 without shims. Which actually may be exactly where the creak / squeak is coming from.

[GOATever]

Watchman said:

Good check list above.

I'd add the groupset. I found one of mine so loose that the sprockets were moving relative to one another, causing a noise which was transmitted through the frame making me believe it was the BB.

That’s the thing, Carbon frames are very good at transmitting sounds from somewhere other than the BB, making people assume it’s the BB.

[Oscar the Grouch]

I would unscrew the pedals and put some grease on the threads before looking at the bottom bracket - its a two minute job and its the source of creaking noise far more often than the bottom bracket.

[Maxf]

Oscar the Grouch said:

I would unscrew the pedals and put some grease on the threads before looking at the bottom bracket - its a two minute job and its the source of creaking noise far more often than the bottom bracket.

Thanks. I think this may be it. I got back late last night so didnt have time to strip anything down, but used some penetrating oil on the pedals and cleaned the chain/around the BB spacers - the noise has gone this morning, but I'll have a proper strip down this weekend to make sure it's not going to start up again as soon as I'm caught in the rain!

[Pamoothican]

I had this for about two years on my hybrid. Eventually tracked it down to muck/grit/mud getting in the seat tube.

I have a split in the frame at the back of the seat tube to allow it to tighten with the clamp. I have greased the seat post and put a bit of gaffer tape (colour coded of course) across the split and the problem has never come back.

What's your frame made of? Aluminium or carbon?

[Maxf]

Pamoothican said:

I had this for about two years on my hybrid. Eventually tracked it down to muck/grit/mud getting in the seat tube.

I have a split in the frame at the back of the seat tube to allow it to tighten with the clamp. I have greased the seat post and put a bit of gaffer tape (colour coded of course) across the split and the problem has never come back.

What's your frame made of? Aluminium or carbon?

Carbon frame.

I'm going to take it to bits this weekend, find the cause of the squeak and probably create 2 more!

[GOATever]

Maxf said:

Carbon frame.

I'm going to take it to bits this weekend, find the cause of the squeak and probably create 2 more!

Yep

[g7jhp]

Check the rear wheel hub/bearings.

If this is worn the cassette can move and you'll get all manor or creaks.

Easiest to swap on another set of wheels to see if this is the issue.

[langy]

I recently had a squeaky bottom bracket. I stripped it down, reassembled. Then realised it didn't squeak when i stood up.

Turned out that the saddle clamps needed tightening

Edited by langy on Saturday 13th October 10:31

Edited by langy on Saturday 13th October 10:31

[Watchman]

∆∆ LOL above


These days the creaks I hear are more likely to be from my knees.