isitafox Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Front end of my bike has been doing my head in, even caused me to buy a new set of forks (any excuse would do for that) but still the front end creaks like mad. It did it before when I had my Echo Pure so I can instantly dismiss the frame and headset, I've removed the bars and tried pressing on them on a bench and they're definitely not cracked and I've looked the stem over and that is perfect. I've just regreased all the bolts in the stem and topcap even fitting a few new ones and it still creaks. Not as bad now as in the video below but I'm completely stumped, can anyone name that creak? The only thing I can think it possibly can be is the topcap rubbing on the top of the stem when there's pressure applied to the bars and stem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Nichols Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Jonathan? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItsMatt Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 cracked grips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted April 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Just removed the topcap and it still does it. Might have to buy a new stem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Mine did it before I took it all apart. Greased the bars where the stem clamps them and completely got rid of it. However it wasn't as bad as your creaking but it's worth a shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Nichols Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 (edited) I was going to suggest the stem, have you got a spare one you can chuck on for comparison? Greased the bars where the stem clamps them and completely got rid of it. :-O Danger, danger. Edited April 10, 2014 by Sam Nichols Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 What's wrong with greasing it? Oh lord is this how aids starts? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted April 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Not got a spare, might order a new one anyway as this was only a cheap 2nd hand one. Also fao Dan, measured the wheelbase and it's 1080 and +45bb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Sand all the paint off the inside of the bar clamp, and also from the inside of the steerer clamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 The stem didnt do that when I had it! Are you sure its not the bars? Put them on another bike and see? You're putting a fair bit of stress/fless on them by the looks of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Banks Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Try cleaning your headset bearings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted April 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Tried the bars and it's not them, still happens with the bars out. Had a bit more of a play and I reckon it might be the top bolt on the stem as there's about a 5mm gap from the top of the steerer to the top of the stem. Creaks when I tighten the top bolt up. Try cleaning your headset bearings. Also it's a brand new headset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Banks Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 hmm, I get a creakey front end on my bmx all the time, its because i ride it mostly in a dusty old skatepark, clean the bearings out and its alright for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Are they carbon spacers on the steerer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 To be honest you should find the source easily by having someone listening in and putting their ear against various bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted April 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Are they carbon spacers on the steerer? It's one big spacer, will have to get some seperate 5mm ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 I am guess it's a stem thing, but hard to say for sure without some further tests which are too time consuming to type out now! If you wanna give us a call Dave I can explain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 What about the brake levers? Does it still do it with those off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 grease all your bolts with copper grease. slight bit of LM grease on the stem where it connects to another component. will sort you out I imagine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamilyBiker Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 top of or underside of the spacer? was running stacker tower once and had the spacers rub on each other,was exactly that noise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trials hoe Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 Internal headset? Had same (just not as epic) noise with the breath frame I had (int. h/s) and was the bottom cup/frame contact area to blame, cleaned and smear of grease sorted it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Leigh Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 (edited) shite in youre headtube or tiny grains of stuff... not too sure. also what hs33 brake is that? Edited April 10, 2014 by JJ Leigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 shite in youre headtube That's not going to help matters dude 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted April 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 Right, for all the suggestions so far you've missed the fact it happened on my old frame with different forks and a different headset. My current ones are brand new so that writes them both off. I'm going to try a bit of grease on the back of the steerer where the stem pinches up to see if that's making the sound, I reckon it could be the stem opening up ever so slightly when there's pressure applied to the bars causing the creak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted April 11, 2014 Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 I am guess it's a stem thing, but hard to say for sure without some further tests which are too time consuming to type out now! If you wanna give us a call Dave I can explain. Said tests will narrow it down straight away - if you have time give us a call Dave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.