Seat post creak

[Steve vRS]

Yes, this old chestnut again.

Its a carbon, aero (i.e. shaped not round) seat post in a carbon Giant TCR frame. The clamp is tightened to the max torque stamped on the clamp and every now and again, it creaks when I hit a bump or sit down heavily. I'm pretty sure the offending noise is from the seat post as the noise is never repeated when riding out of the saddle.

Would carbon grip paste help here or should I just nip it up slightly beyond the max torque. The caveat here is that my torque wrench is a Wiggle cheapy so could be under reading or of course, over reading!

[Matt London]

I have Giant Tough Road with a D shaped seat tube. The creaking I get from it is the bane of my cycling life!

I have tried carbon paste, it worked for a while. I have used strips of tinfoil inserted into the seat tube, that worked for a while. I bought a new wedge clamp, that worked for a while. I had the frame replaced under warranty (I had to wait six months) and the seatpost was ok, for a while.

I have reapplied the tin foil and carbon paste a few times. The results are hit and miss. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

I will never get another bike with any proprietary components ever again!

[IroningMan]

Carbon paste. But also strip, clean, grease and reassemble the saddle clamp assembly - lots of creak potential there.

[PomBstard]

I had a similar problem with my gravel bike - Carbon post in a carbon frame - replaced the seatpost with alu and problem has never repeated. Of course, the bike is now about 23.7g heavier, but somehow I’ve managed…

[272BHP]

I often get creaks from the clamp.

I clean it before re-clamping which usually sorts it but should I use some kind of grease on it?

[Fusion777]

Definitely strip it all out and clean thoroughly. Can't remember if I used grease on mine or not after.

[mike9009]

IroningMan said:

Carbon paste. But also strip, clean, grease and reassemble the saddle clamp assembly - lots of creak potential there.

My experience too. Check the saddle clamping to the seat post......

[Cats_pyjamas]

Just seen this thread and thought I'd impart some insight. After the creak was driving me insane.

The tcr has an aero post and wedge clamp. Basically it's not a great design to prevent creaking, especially due to the low torque tightness of the wedge. The frame/post tolerances aren't particularly tight.

However I seem to have solved the really annoying creak.

1. Wipe away excess carbon paste from the post, frame seat tube and wedge assembly (do not degrease).

2. Smother bathroom (silicone) sealant on the post up to the point it leaves the frame. Slight smear on all surfaces of the wedge.

3. Reassemble, torque to spec and wipe clear any excess sealant.

4. Leave a couple hours to cure

5. Enjoy your silent bike.

Edited by Cats_pyjamas on Monday 1st July 12:58

[Matt London]

Cats_pyjamas said:

Just seen this thread and thought I'd impart some insight. After the creak was driving me insane.

The tcr has an aero post and wedge clamp. Basically it's not a great design to prevent creaking, especially due to the low torque tightness of the wedge. The frame/post tolerances aren't particularly tight.

However I seem to have solved the really annoying creak.

1. Wipe away excess carbon paste from the post, frame seat tube and wedge assembly (do not degrease).

2. Smother bathroom (silicone) sealant on the post up to the point it leaves the frame. Slight smear on all surfaces of the wedge.

3. Reassemble, torque to spec and wipe clear any excess sealant.

4. Leave a couple hours to cure

5. Enjoy your silent bike.

Edited by Cats_pyjamas on Monday 1st July 12:58

I posted earlier in this thread, I will maybe give this a try.

Oddly the creaking on my bike only occurs once the weather dries out, it has done so again this year. I had resigned myself to it.

[loskie]

Matt London said:

I have Giant Tough Road with a D shaped seat tube. The creaking I get from it is the bane of my cycling life!

I have tried carbon paste, it worked for a while. I have used strips of tinfoil inserted into the seat tube, that worked for a while. I bought a new wedge clamp, that worked for a while. I had the frame replaced under warranty (I had to wait six months) and the seatpost was ok, for a while.

I have reapplied the tin foil and carbon paste a few times. The results are hit and miss. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

I will never get another bike with any proprietary components ever again!

I have that same bike and that same creak. I've never met someone with one of these bikes.
I'm amazed they replaced the frame .

Edited by loskie on Saturday 6th July 16:57

[Cats_pyjamas]

Been riding to work the past week, 15 miles a day and did a 40 mile ride today. No creakyness. Though my rear wheel did develop a wobble in the week, so had to remove the cassette and nip up the lock rings with some cone spanners to preload the bearings a bit more.

[Matt London]

loskie said:

I have that same bike and that same creak. I've never met someone with one of these bikes.
I'm amazed they replaced the frame .

Edited by loskie on Saturday 6th July 16:57

My apologies for the omission of detail. The frame was replaced because it sheared 1/4 of the way down the down tube.

New frame, same problem.

Edited by Matt London on Saturday 6th July 22:16